Derek Tsang and Jimmy Wan’s The MacLennan Affair took the HAF Award for a project originating in Hong Kong at the closing ceremony of this year’s Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).

The project is based on the true story of events that led to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Hong Kong. Tsang and Wan previously directed Lover’s Discourse and Lacuna.

Balloon from Tibetan filmmaker Pema Tseden took the HAF Award for a project originating outside of Hong Kong. Both Balloon and The MacLennan Affair were awarded cash prizes of $19,300 (HK$150,000).

This year also marked the introduction of the HAF/Fox Chinese Film Development Award, which went to psychological suspense drama Two Graves to be directed by Netherlands-born, Hong Kong-based filmmaker Sammie Lau.

The award came with a cash prize of $12,900 (HK$100,000) and a development contract with Fox International Productions. “This is my first feature so it’s an amazing opportunity to work with Fox,” said Lau.

HAF also handed out awards in five other categories (see full list below).

“2012 has been a record-breaking year for HAF in both the number of entries and meetings, and the quality of the projects has been exceptional,” said Roger Garcia, executive director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS).  

FULL LIST OF HAF 2012 AWARDS:

HAF Award for a project originating in Hong Kong – Derek Tsang and Jimmy Wan’s The MacLennan Affair.

HAF Award for a project originating outside of Hong Kong – Pema Tseden’s Balloon (China)

HAF/Fox Chinese Film Development Award – Sammie Lau’s Two Graves (Hong Kong)

HAF Script Development Fund – Zhao Ye’s A Night Of Their Own (China). The $12,900 award aims to encourage the creation of quality Chinese-language screenplays.

The Wouter Barendrecht Award – Kamila Andini’s The Seen And Unseen (Indonesia). The winner was awarded a cash prize of $6,410 (HK$50,000) from the Wouter Barendrecht Film Foundation, Create Hong Kong and Hong Kong Film Development Fund.

The Technicolor Asia Award – Tan Chui Mui’s Imperial Exam (China). The award came with an in-kind prize worth $25,000.

The Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) Award – Arvin Chen’s Afternoon Delight (Taiwan). The award came with a $2,700 cash prize and invitation to participate in this year’s NAFF projects market.

Paris Project Award – Tsang Tsui-shan’s documentary Flowing Stories (Hong Kong) and Gurvinder Singh’s The Fourth Direction (India). Both films have been invited to participate in this year’s Paris Project at the Paris Cinema International Film Festival.

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