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Film Development Fund
The Film Development Fund (FDF) aims to provide financial support for projects conducive to the long-term development of the local film industry. In 2009, five film production financing projects involving a total funding of $13.84 million, and 21 other film-related projects beneficial to the healthy and long-term development of the film industry involving a total funding of $36.6 million, were approved.
Film Services Office
The Government set up a Film Services Office (FSO) in April 1998 to provide support for the film industry by facilitating film production in Hong Kong and promoting Hong Kong films locally and abroad. Starting from June 1, 2009, the FSO was transferred to CreateHK.
To facilitate location filming in Hong Kong, the FSO has secured the support of over 3 400 organisations, including government departments, on the use of their premises for location filming, and has published reference materials on locations for the industry. The FSO also provides a one-stop service to location filming requests which are particularly complicated in nature, and co-ordinates the processing of applications for filming involving lane closure, parking of filming vehicles, hiring of police for intermittent traffic control, and the use of hospitals and government land for filming purposes. In 2009, the FSO handled 537 complicated filming requests, of which 69 involved lane closure and 109 vehicle parking. In addition, the FSO co-ordinates the processing of notifications of filming at pedestrian precincts, Tsing Sha/Tsing Ma Control Area, fish rafts, and at other unusual locations. The FSO maintains a dedicated website providing information on filming locations, which also supports on-line submission of notifications and applications for filming.
To promote Hong Kong films in the international market, the FSO assisted the overseas Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices to organise Hong Kong Film Festivals in major cities in the United States, Australia and the Asian region, and promoted Hong Kong as an ideal city for location filming at the global 'Locations Trade Show' held annually in Los Angeles in the United States. In 2009, 114 overseas film crews came to Hong Kong for location filming.
The FSO is also responsible for licensing special effects operators and issuing permits for the discharge of special effects materials for the film and entertainment industry. In 2009, it processed 2 185 such applications.
Hong Kong International Film Festival
Organised by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited, the 33rd Hong Kong International Film Festival offered a wide range of programmes during the 23-day festival in 2009. Awards presented during the event included the Asian Digital Competition awards, the Humanitarian Awards for Documentaries, the FIPRESCI Prize, the SIGNIS Award and the Fresh Wave Short Film Competition Award. Nearly 340 films from over 50 countries and territories were shown during the festival. Fringe activities included talks, seminars and exhibitions.
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