The Hong Kong Film Project Presentation was led by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Film Development Council, and presented six projects. Through funding schemes, the HKSAR Government supports film production, market development and talent training, helping the Hong Kong film industry connect with international markets. Mak Sing-hei, representing the Hong Kong Film Development Council, said: “We attach importance to talent development, and through the First Feature Film Initiative we fund Hong Kong directors to make feature films.” Lost Love, shortlisted at this year’s Golden Rooster Awards for Best Small and Medium-Budget Feature Film and Best Directorial Debut, is a winning project of this initiative. The six films presented balance commercial genres and production budgets: the fantasy Stars, Sun, Moon; the suspense films Reverse Conspiracy, Unknown Incident and Catching Her; the inspirational sports film One Sword Into the Soul; and the romance After Burning. Their range of genres and subjects reflects the current state of Hong Kong cinema.

At the presentation, four guest mentors, including veteran Hong Kong director, screenwriter and producer Gordon Chan, talked with the filmmakers and offered advice on creative direction and production approaches. Drawing on the differences between the Chinese-language and international film markets, the mentors encouraged young filmmakers to develop their characters and stories further and to expand the artistic range of genre films.