Vincci Cheuk’s 38.83 and comedy drama Good Trip were among the big winners at the close of this year’s Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).
A total of 25 cash and in-kind prizes were handed out at the HKIFF Industry Project Market Awards at Hong Kong Filmart on Thursday (March 19), worth more than $360,000.
Winning two awards apiece were 38.83 by Hong Kong’s Vincci Cheuk; Good Trip from Hong Kong’s Norris Wong and Wong Hoi; and The Sea Speaks His Name (Laut Bercerita) by Indonesia’s Yosep Anggi Noen;.
Also picking up a brace of prizes was The Excreman – On The Road by Hong Kong’s Brian Tse; A Ghost In The Market from Taiwan’s Chin Chia-Hua; and Somewhere In The South by Malaysia’s Tan Ce Ding.
Cheuk is known for directing Louis Koo drama Vital Signs while Yosep made 2023 crime drama 24 Hours With Gaspar, which premiered at Busan and was picked up by Netflix.
Further notable winners included Life Is Yours, the second feature of Japan’s Emma Kawawada, whose My Small Land played at the Berlinale in 2022. Loaded Films, which produced Chie Hayakawa’s Cannes Competition title Renoir, is on board the project alongside Toei Company.
Last year’s HAF winners included Dead Tide, which has completed shooting and was launched at Filmart in Hong Kong this week.
This year’s HAF received more than 500 submissions from 70 countries and selected 46 projects. More than 1,300 meetings took place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from March 17–19.
HKIFF Industry Project Market Awards 2026 winners
HAF IDP Award / HK$100,000 ($12,800 each)
38.83 (HK-Japan) dir. Vincci Cheuk
Vulnerable Observer (HK-China-Malay) dir Jiang Xiaoxuan
HAF WIP Award / HK$100,000 ($12,800 each)
Good Trip (HK) dir. Norris Wong, Wong Hoi
The Sea Speaks His Name (Laut Bercerita) (Indo) dir. Yosep Anggi Noen
Sky Animation Award / HK$100,000 ($12,800 each)
The Excreman – On The Road (HK) dir. Brian Tse
HAF X CNC Award / €10,000
Fishers Of Men (India) dir. Sanju Surendran -
Red Sea Fund Award / $10,000
A Ghost In The Market (Taiwan) dir. Chin Chia-Hua
Taipei Film Commission Award / HK$50,000 (US$6,400)
Mama Mia Let Me Go! (HK-S Kor-Tai) dir. Cheung Wai-yu
La Fonte Award / HK$100,000 (US$12,800), cash value: HK$30,000; In-kind value: HK$70,000
Life Is Yours (Japan) dir. Emma Kawawada
Kantana Award / Three in-kind awards of total $137,500 (~HK$1,072,500)
Virtual Production Award: 38.83 (Hong Kong, Japan) dir. Vincci Cheuk
Digital Intermediate (DI) Post-production Award: A Ghost In The Market (Tai) dir. Chin Chia-Hua
Sound Post-production Award: A Vampire, Probably (Tai) dir. Ken Yang
White Light Post-Production Award / Two in-kind awards each valued $15,000 (~HK$117,000 each)
IDP: The Funeral March (Japan-China) dir. Fujita Naoya
WIP: A Thousand Stars In The Galactic Night (China) dir. Shu Hui
Aputure Award / in-kind award of HK$300,000 ($38,500)
Heading South (China) Yuan Yuan
Phenom Films Award / in-kind award of HK$300,000 ($38,500)
Roxanne (China) dir. Chen Xudong
Pica Pica Media Post-Production Award / in-kind award of $30,000 (~HK$234,000)
Somewhere In The South (Malay) dir. Tan Ce Ding
Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) Award / In-kind award, selected project to present at NAFF 2026
Strange Root (Sing-Indo-Ger-Neth) dir. Lam Li Shuen
Udine Focus Asia Award / In-kind award, selected project to present at Focus Asia 2026
Somewhere In The South (Malay) dir. Tan Ce Ding
HAF Goes to Cannes Programme
Offers market screening opportunities for filmmakers to look for sales agents, distributors and film festivals at Cannes
- Farewell My Blue Bird (China) dir. Zhang Tao
- Good Trip (HK) dirs. Norris Wong Yee-lam, Wong Hoi
- The Sea Speaks His Name (Laut Bercerita) (Indo) dir. Yosep Anggi Noen
- Will You Still Be My Friend (Tai-Sing) dir. Lu Po-Shun
- The Excreman – On the Road (HK) dir. Brian Tse
Fantastic 7 Award
The winner is invited to attend the “Fantastic 7” event at the Cannes Marché. The programme offers an open pitch opportunity for filmmakers to look for production partners, sales, and distribution.
The Veil (Bra) dir. Gabriel Motta
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