The next annual Hong Kong Independent Film Festival, HKIndieFF, probably the biggest celebration of international independent films in Hong Kong, will be held at the Hong Kong Arts Centre in January 2013. Already a much-awaited once-a-year institution since 2010, HKIndieFF 2013 will present a rich selection of international indie films in a 10-day festival of entertainment and enjoyment, from 18 January 2013 to 27 January 2013.  HKIndieFF is organized by Ying E Chi, a non-profit organization formed in 1997 by a group of independent filmmakers whose mission is to promote independent productions.

HKIndieFF 2013 -- Coming Soon

HKIndieFF needs your support in order for this festival to be a roaring success. Funding cuts by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council Yearly Development Assistance means that we are not fully supported by them this year, unlike in previous years. Therefore, your support is vital to us. Without your support, we will not be able to hold HKIndieFF 2013.  With your support, HKIndieFF 2013 will not only be a success -- in fact, it will give assurance to independent filmmakers produce more excellent independent films for all of us to enjoy.

If you like or enjoy watching independent films, don’t hesitate, come and be part of us, and give us your support.  Let us prepare for HKIndieFF 2013 together.

The work of HKIndieFF -- since 2010

HKIndieFF has been an annual event since 2010, in which we focus entirely on independent films. Without any commercial considerations, the whole of each year's HKIndieFF is reserved exclusively for international independent films, so as to widely promote independent films in Hong Kong.  In particular, HKIndieFF aspires to introduce more independent films from other Asian regions to the Hong Kong audience. After each screening at the HKIndieFF, we initiate face-to-face discussions with the audience, and we also invite directors, scholars and critics to engage in thought-provoking dialogue.

To heighten the independent spirit of HKIndieFF, we hold special screenings and introduce internationally renowned independent film directors to Hong Kong. For example, in 2010, we introduced to the Hong Kong audience the “Father of American Independent Film”, John Cassavetes, and we hosted special screenings of five of his films. In 2011, one of our highlighted programmes was “Indie Focus – Ogawa Shinsuke”.  We showcased a total of seven of Ogawa Shinsuke’s films, alongside two discussion seminars.  In addition, we invited Feng Yan, a documentary film director from mainland China, the translator of the book “Harvesting Film”, and Peng Xiaolian who finished Ogawa’s last production, to come to our festival and shared their insights with the audience.

In addition, the "Chinese Independent Filmmaking Alliance (CIFA)" had its debut at the HKIndieFF 2011-12.  CIFA is a collaboration of independent films screening & cultural exchange among art groups from five geographic regions: Hong Kong (Ying E Chi), Taiwan (South Taiwan Film Festival), Chongqing (Chongqing Independent Film and Video Festival), Shenzhen (Art De vivre) and Macao. With the belief that films can and should be made foremost to convey people’s views and opinions, and to reflect upon contemporary socio-political issues, CIFA dedicates itself to bringing forth films that are alternatives to the mainstream commercial cinema. In order to maintain the diversity of cinematic culture, the work of CIFA is to promote these films through social screenings in these five geographic regions, hence widening the films’ public exposure, raising the public’s interest in and support for independent films, as well as opening up opportunities for cultural exchange and interaction among independent filmmakers themselves and also with the audience. The first year's response has been excellent -- after screening Taiwan's "Led by my hand" and Beijing’s "After a warm winter", we were authorized to sell their DVDs. At the same time, Hong Kong's independent films are screened in various other cities, and we were also invited by Shanghai to organize a “Hong Kong Independent Film Festival”.

"Indie Focus – Ogawa Shinsuke” Discussion Seminar

The challenges faced by independent films

Due to the decline of Hong Kong’s film industry, it has become increasingly more difficult for independent films to survive as lack of funds has always been the main problem that is encountered by independent filmmakers.  This inevitably results in even fewer public screenings for low-budget independent films.  However, this problem has been compounded in recent years because of two factors: first, many Hong Kong-produced films are now invested in by movie companies from mainland China, and secondly, the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between Hong Kong and mainland China. These result of these two factors is that most Hong Kong movies are no longer subject to the punishing import quota that exists for non-Chinese films.  Obviously, from a director’s point of view, the 1.3 billion population in mainland China is much more tempting than only 7 million people in Hong Kong.  However, in order to cater to mass appeal in China, as well as needing to pass censorship rules there, a director’s limitless creativity then tends to be restricted, and directors therefore now are inclined to produce big budget mainstream commercial films, instead of low-budget independent ones.

No matter how the entire Hong Kong film industry is filled with mainstream commercial films, there is still a group of filmmakers in Hong Kong who feel passionate about making independent films.  We and all independent filmmakers believe that independent films, by emphasizing the creativity of filmmakers rather than commercial elements, is conducive to producing creative, innovative cinema of high artistic value that audiences can appreciate.    

Since people in Hong Kong are now more concerned about social issues relating to the environment, community and human relationships, independent films have caught a great deal of attention, and the efforts of independent filmmakers have finally paid off. Let’s take “Big Blue Lake” as an example -- it is an independent film directed by Jessey Tsui-Shan Tsang, our former Chairlady and a member of our current board of directors.  “Big Blue Lake” was a rare public release by a local film company.  Not only did it mean that more people were able to watch an independent film on cinema screens, but it also demonstrated to the public that local film distributors are indeed willing to invest in independent films. More surprisingly, Jessey Tsang was awarded the Best New Director at the 31^st Hong Kong Awards for “Big Blue Lake”, a true tribute to the entire independent film industry.

Ying E Chi

Ying E Chi has organised annual screening events for many years such as the “Annual Screening”, “Indie is Fun?”, “Hong Kong Asian Independent Film Festival” in the early years, and the HKIndieFF since 2010.  Our goal and belief have never changed -- we believe that apart from the mainstream, there is always something unique and interesting that we should be more concerned about.

We have held hundreds of screenings at various venues in Hong Kong including art house cinemas, art centres, city halls, colleges and universities. We have also released a very popular HK Indie film series on VCD and DVD. In addition to theatrical release, we also work with governmental agencies, film organizations, local arts group and schools to widen the audience base in Hong Kong for local independent films.

Since we were founded in 1997, we have issued more than 70 long and short works. Beside Hong Kong, we have also released films in other parts of the world.

Backing goal

The backing goal, which we set as HK$60,000, will be used exclusively on HKIndieFF 2013 in a variety of areas, which will include the cost of screenings, the cost of holding discussion seminars, and the cost of inviting guest speakers, etc. The backing period will last for 60 days.

We need your help to make this happen.

So please back us and spread the word!

Rewards

Level 1: Back HK$100

We will thank you by crediting you under “Special Recognition” on our website.

Est. delivery: Dec 2012

Level 2: Back HK$300 (Additional HK$50 as international shipping costs)

A DVD of one of the films among “Three Narrow Gates”, “Dead Slowly” and “Days after N coming”. Plus we will thank you by crediting you under “Special Recognition” on our website.

Est. delivery: Dec 2012

Level 3: Back HK$600 (Additional HK$50 as international shipping costs)

A DVD of one of the films among “Three Narrow Gates”, “Dead Slowly”, “Days after N coming”, “Hand in Hand” and “The Right Thing”. Plus we will thank you by crediting you under “Special Recognition” on our website.

Est. delivery: Dec 2012

Level 4: Back HK$1,000(Additional HK$50 as international shipping costs)

Two HKIndieFF 2013 tickets for you to enjoy one of our independent films with a friend. Plus a DVD of one of the films among “Three Narrow Gates”, “Dead Slowly”, “Days after N coming”, “Hand in Hand” and “The Right Thing”. Plus we will thank you by crediting you under “Special Recognition” on our website.

Est. delivery: Jan 2013