International
Hong Kong film financing forum announces awards
MUMBAI: The Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) will be held from 22 – 24 March 2005 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).
Four awards will be presented to filmmakers at the Haf Awards presentation ceremony on 24 March.
Haf is being co-organsied by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories Motion Picture Industry Association (MPIA). Haf is a matchmaking forum and aims at facilitating possible co-productions and co-ventures between Asia’s most promising filmmakers and a host of film financiers, distributors, buyers and agents.
Earlier this year a Reading Committee of seasoned industry professionals selected 28 promising film projects from across Asia for this year’s Project Book. Four of these film projects will be selected to be the recipients of monetary and in-kind awards from a host of industry supporters.
The Haf Award will present HK$100,000 to a Haf project from the 10 Hong Kong-based projects selected in this year’s Project Book. Chosen by the Haf Reading Committee, this award will be granted to a film project for the creativity of the synopsis.
The Focus Award will present HK$120,000 to a Haf project submitted by a director with three or fewer feature drama films to his/her portfolio. Then there is The Hubert Bals Fund Award worth HK$100,000. The Hubert Bals Fund Award of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, an International Partner of the Haf, will present the award to a Haf project by a filmmaker from a developing country. Selected by a representative of the Hubert Bals Fund, this award will be granted to a filmmaker from either China, Indonesia, Thailand, Iran or the Philippines. Hubert Bals says, “The future of cinematography is not to be expected from Europe or the US, but all the more from lesser known film cultures.”
The Cinedigit Award will present two awards valued at HK$100,000 each to two Haf film projects regarded as possessing the best potential for co-financing. Selected and presented by the Hong Kong based production company Cinedigit Sound the two awards will recognise the synopsis of filmmakers with promising co-financing ability.
There will also be a film financing symposium on 22 March 2005. The speakers will include Screen International’s Patrick Frater and Cinefinance’s Fred Milstein.
International
Moskino and Bollywood: Moscow Film Cluster and Film City Mumbai signed a cooperation agreement
Moscow Film Cluster has signed a cooperation agreement with Film City Mumbai. The parties agreed to cooperate in developing the film industry, promoting shooting locations and supporting filmmakers.
The memorandum was signed on the sidelines of the India International Film Tourism (IIFTC) Conclave in Mumbai. At this forum, the Moscow Film Cluster presented Moscow’s opportunities for film shooting, including infrastructure projects such as Film City Moskino and Film Factory. Special attention was paid to the Moscow rebate system – up to 45% – and the co-production development.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Film City and Moscow Film Cluster provides for the establishment and development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the film industry development, including joint promotion of shooting locations, support for filmmakers, implementation of marketing and industry events, development of incentive support measures and strengthening of economic and cultural interaction between India and Moscow.
The parties also intend to promote the development of the audiovisual sector through the exchange of experience, joint initiatives and the search for opportunities to create new industry partnerships and clusters.
Moscow Film Cluster is a major city initiative led by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin to develop the capital into a global cinema hub. It brings together key production infrastructure – such as the Moskino Film Сity, Film Factory and Gorky Film Studio – along with the Film Commission, digital platform and cinema chain to streamline shooting, support productions and attract international filmmaking to Moscow.
Also, Moscow offers a rebate of up to 45%: 30% as direct production cost compensation, up to 15% for visa and accommodation support. The Moscow Image Grant provides up to $255,000 for films showcasing iconic city views.
The Moscow Film Cluster booth attracted considerable attention from Indian producers and studios. Over 80 business meetings were held, including those with major Indian companies.
One of the booth guests was the famous Indian actress Khushboo Sundar, known to Soviet and Russian audiences for her role in My Soul and considered the leading star of Tamil cinema, in whose honor one of the local temples was even built. Prithul Kumar, representative of the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and one of the officials responsible for regulating the film industry in the country, also expressed interest in the development of the Moscow Film Cluster.
One of the highlights of the India International Film Tourism Conclave was the awarding of The Greatest of All Time in the For Cinematic Excellence category. The movie was shot in Moscow. The jury members noted the project’s contribution to the development of tourism.
The shooting of The Greatest of All Time AGS by Entertainment was organized with the assistance of the Moscow Film Cluster and the Moscow Film Commission and took place in April 2024 on the streets of Moscow. The scenes were shot in such famous locations as Patriarch Bridge, Teatralnaya Square, Manezhnaya Square, Kazarmenny Lane, Podsosensky Lane, Nikolskaya Street and one of the festival venues of Moscow Seasons.
The Greatest of All Time became a landmark event in Indian box office history. It ranked fourth in box office earnings among all movies released in India in 2024 and is one of the most successful Tamil-language movies in history.
At the same time, the shooting of another joint Russian-Indian movie started at the Moskino Film City in Moscow. A film project dedicated to badminton became one of the first participants in the Moscow rebate program.
A project by Smena & WISH Media (Russia) and Kartina Entertainment And Sports Private Limited (India) will tell the story of a badminton player who travels to India with the Russian national team to compete in a tournament. Russian viewers will see for the first time the scale of sporting competitions in Asia, where badminton is a cult sport and draws packed stands of fans.
The agreement on the joint production of the Smash movie was signed st the Moscow International Film Week in August 2025. And as Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said, a rebate application was also submitted at that time to reimburse part of the costs incurred during the shooting process in the Russian capital.
