ENG-2018 — Page 139

5

Commerce and Industry

Nurturing Talent

The First Feature Film Initiative identifies new filmmakers through a competition on screenplay and production proposals, and fully subsidises the winning teams to make their first feature- length commercial films. In 2018, three winning projects were awarded the production grant and two were released commercially with positive reviews.

CreateHK also works with the industry to provide local and overseas training to groom talent in different areas of filmmaking, including post-production services.

Enhancing Local Production

In 2018, two films were approved under the Film Production Financing Scheme and four films under the Film Production Grant Scheme of the fund. Five films funded by these two schemes were commercially released.

Expanding Markets and Audiences

CreateHK funds the promotion of the annual Entertainment Expo Hong Kong organised by the HKTDC, including the expo's iconic Hong Kong International Film and TV Market, which attracted 850 exhibitors from 37 countries and regions and over 8,700 visitors.

CreateHK promotes Hong Kong-produced Cantonese films in the Mainland by subsidising their distribution and publicity. It organised a promotional tour to Hungary in 2018 to publicise Hong Kong's production and post-production services.

CreateHK funds trade organisations to arrange screenings, seminars and film appreciation courses to cultivate film literacy among the public, especially young people.

Support for Non-Film Creative Sectors

CreateSmart Initiative

The CreateSmart Initiative (CSI) supports promotional and educational projects from seven non- film creative sectors, providing $223.5 million to 57 such projects in 2018. The government injected $1 billion into the initiative in May.

Nurturing Talent and Facilitating Start-ups

Through the CSI, CreateHK supports the manpower development of creative industries and the nurturing of start-ups. Activities in 2018 included the following:

• The Design Incubation Programme, which aims to nurture design start-ups, admitted 23 incubatees.

• The Fashion Incubation Programme, which aims to nurture up-and-coming fashion. designers, admitted six incubatees.

• Graduate programmes admitted 47 graduates of relevant creative disciplines to internships at digital advertising and digital entertainment companies.

97