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At Awards Gala at The Metroplex, the 40th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) revealed the winning films for five award categories, namely the Young Cinema Competition, the Documentary Competition, the Short Film Competition, the FIPRESCI Prize and the SIGNIS Award, in recognition of filmmakers’ outstanding achievement in the industry. The evening was also enhanced by the Asian Premiere of Crosscurrent (2016) with director YANG Chao’s attendance and meeting with the audience.
Each competition was judged by an independent jury, consisting of renowned industry figures such as Sylvia CHANG - renowned director and actress, Denis CÔTÉ– film director and actor, Stephen TEO – acclaimed film scholar, LAM Kam-po – local film critic and YANG Li-Chou - Taiwan documentary director. (see Appendix for complete list of jurors).
The Young Cinema Competition pays tribute to the future of the industry and aims to discover and honor budding filmmakers who push the envelope with their unique and innovative works. Eight films from a range of countries including China, Austria, Ghana/USA, Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia, Germany/Poland and Thailand competed for awards. The coveted Firebird Award was given to Life After Life (2016), directed by ZHANG Hanyi. Händl KlLAUS’s Tomcat (2016) won the Jury Prize this year.
Many filmmakers embrace the documentary genre to address a variety of social issues. The Documentary Competition pays tribute to documentarians who inspire audiences with their insights. The Firebird Award went to Behemoth (2015), directed by ZHAO Liang. The Jury Prize was awarded to Vitaly MANSKY’s Under The Sun (2015).
The Short Film Competition is a valuable platform for local and international filmmakers. The Festival selected 20 entries this year, among which Leonor TELES’s Batrachian’s Ballad (2016) won the Firebird Award. Pimpaka TOWIRA’s Prelude to the General (2016) received the Jury Prize.
FIPRESCI is an association of the national organisations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world. The FIPRESCI Prize recognises enterprising filmmaking and promotes young talent in Asian cinema. The award this year went to Pimpaka TOWIRA’s feature film The Island Funeral (2015).
Established in 2004 and co-organised by the HKIFF and SIGNIS Hong Kong, the SIGNIS Award salutes films that fully express social and humanitarian concerns, as well as spiritual and artistic values. Martin ZANDVLIET’s Land Of Mine (2015) won the SIGNIS Award and Cesc GAY’s TRUMAN (2015) received the Commendation.
The award ceremony was followed by the premiere at The Metroplex of Crosscurrent in the presence of director YANG Chao. The film was selected to compete for the Golden Bear at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival and Mark Ping-Bin LEE won the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution (Cinematography) award.
After his Cannes-awarded feature Passages in 2004director YANG Chao returns with Crosscurrent, about barge captain and failed poet GAO Chun (QIN Hao), who transports illegal cargo up the Yangtze River but encounters hardened prostitute AN Lu (XIN Zhilei) at each port. As the boat moves closer to the river’s source, AN Lu’s life unfolds in reverse, eventually bringing GAO Chun face-to-face with the pivotal moment that would chart the course of her life. Shot expertly by Mark Ping-Bin LEE, this earthbound magical-realist drama explores man’s eternal quest for the unknown and unknowable.
“This film is a love poem for the most important river in China. There is a big classical tradition of Chinese poetry from the Tang Dynasty through the other dynasties to the present day that adopted various approaches to describe the Yangtze River. I am trying to extend the poem by means of cinematography,” said director YANG Chao.
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Chatelin Bruno 
