Ateliers du Cinema European (ACE) and consultancy Sinapses Asia will launch the first ACE Co-production Lab Hong Kong at this year’s Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).

The four-day event (March 21-24) is a project-based workshop, with a strong training aspect, focused on 16 projects from producers in Greater China and the European Union (EU) which have the potential to be co-produced by the two regions. Backed by the EU’s MEDIA International programme, the event will run concurrently with next year’s edition of HAF and Hong Kong Filmart.

Producers will be given the opportunity to connect around marketplace presentations, screenings and case studies on co-production and distribution in the EU and Asian markets.

Film experts and professionals from the two regions will be invited to share their experiences of Euro-Asian co-production with the producers of the 16 selected projects. Individual pitching and consulting sessions will also be set up, along with seminars about various aspects of co-production.

The lab also aims to provide an environment for producers to meet new partners and potential co-producers.

Sinapses Asia, which organised Asian Side of the Doc in partnership with French documentary market Sunny Side of the Doc at Filmart 2010, is also planning further programmes for the 2011 edition of the Hong Kong market. However Sunny Side of the Doc will not be returning.

Meanwhile, HAF has also announced a new $12,900 (HK$100,000) cash award – called the HAF Script Development Fund – to support young filmmakers from the Chinese-speaking territories in script development.

The award is open to directors who have made no more than three films. Eligibility and submission details will be provided on HAF website by early December.

Topics