The Film Development Fund (FDF) Scheme for Financing Film Production (the “Scheme”) has been implemented since 2007 to part-finance small-to-medium film productions and the results have been satisfactory. Up to the end of January 2013, a total of 66 applications have been received, of which 28 have been approved. After a recent review conducted by the Government, the following measures have been implemented to further improve the Scheme:
(i) In respect of nurturing talents for the industry, Government’s maximum contribution under the Scheme towards an approved film project which is directed by a new director (who directs a commercial film for the first or second time) and assisted in the production by an experienced producer (who has produced two or more feature films for commercial theatrical release in Hong Kong) has been set at 40% of the production budget of the film project, with the production budget of the film project being capped at HK$10 million. Apart from the above requirements, the application would need to meet other eligibility criteria as stipulated in the Guide to Application.
(ii) In respect of the mechanism for assessing the film projects, in addition to the existing two groups of Examiners on “production budget” and “income budget”, a new group of Examiners on “creativity”, comprising experienced film directors and scriptwriters, have been set up and appointed to assess the creativity of the film projects for consideration of the Fund Vetting Committee (FVC) of the Film Development Council. Under the new assessment mechanism, every film project under application will be assessed by a total of nine Examiners selected at random by a computer from the three groups of Examiners (three Examiners from each group). Besides, the FVC will also consider the “local production components” of film projects under application. Film projects with more production components carried out in Hong Kong (including post-production) will achieve a higher assessment score and hence stand a higher chance of getting approval for Government Finance.
A revised list of Examiners has been uploaded to the webpage listed below: