GECs
Hong Kong Asia – Film Financing Forum calls for entries
MUMBAI: The next Hong Kong Asia – Film Financing Forum (HAF), scheduled for 20 – 23 March 2007, is now accepting submissions. The deadline for sending in the project is 31 October 2006.
The upcoming edition of HAF will be organised by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFF), with assistance from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Hong Kong, Kowloon & New Territories Motion Picture Industry Association Ltd. (MPIA).
The HAF is a key financing forum held concurrently with Hong Kong Filmart – the Asian film, television, and multi-media business platform. In 2006 the HAF awarded six prizes to filmmakers judged to have outstanding projects by the advisory board. Prizes totalled over HK$400,000 in cash and HK$200,000 in in-kind support, informs an official release.
The HAF aims to connect Asian filmmaking talent with upcoming theatrical film projects with financiers, producers, funding organisations, distributors and buyers in order to foster international co-production ventures. The HAF is a unique opportunity for filmmakers to present and discuss their projects individually with an array of potential partners in its three days, the release adds.
Filmmakers from across Asia who have participated in past HAF events include Pen-ek Ratanaruang, Tsai Ming-Liang, Kore-Eda Hirokazu, Nonzee Nimibutr, Jira Maligool, Jiang Wen, Lou Ye, Miike Takashi, Stanley Kwan, Ann Hui, Iwai Shunji, Peter Chan, and Ning Hao, who commented, “HAF is an excellent platform for film directors to offer their scripts for consideration to interested companies, allowing both parties to meet and communicate.” The HAF was instrumental in the production of Ning’s Crazy Stone, and was considered an invaluable resource by the director. Ratanaruang’s Invisible Waves and Tsai’s The Wayward Cloud each went on to screen in competition at Berlin, and Maligool’s The Tin Mine was Thailand’s official entry for Academy Award consideration.
Completed HAF projects have gone on to screen at the world’s most prestigious international film festivals, among them Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto, Locarno, Pusan, and Deauville. The HAF international partners include CineMart and Hubert Bals Fund of Rotterdam, Pusan Promotion Plan, Paris Cinéma, and the Rome Film Festival.
The HAF’s international advisory board includes a host of respected industry professionals. Among them are Ido Abram (The Netherlands), Terence Chang (USA), Roger Garcia (USA), Oh Jung Wan (South Korea), Jerome Paillard (France), Liz Wrenn (UK), Daniel Yun (Singapore), Aihara Hiromi (Japan), Mingmonkol Sonakul (Thailand), Tian Zhuang Zhuang (Chinese mainland), and many more.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
