Speech at Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting

Nurturing film talents

Mr CHAN Chun-ying commented that more resources should be allocated on film production, including talent nurturing, rather than on marketing and promotion. He enquired on the amount of funding earmarked for talent nurturing under the Film Professional Training Programme (“FPTP”) and the Young Film Professionals Overseas Training Program (“YFPOTP”). Mr YIU Si-wing said that it was not unusual for films produced in the Mainland or the US to have a large budget on promotion and distribution efforts. He agreed that the consultant should be invited to consider, given the current resources available, whether FDF was effective in helping local film producers.

DS(CCI) responded that about $8.2 million would be allocated for FPTP and around $4 million for YFPOTP. FPTP would offer 200 places of professional training for frontline workers of the film industry. Six successful applicants from YFPOTP have been offered overseas training opportunities in advanced film industries to develop their skills. The total amount approved for the above programmes would be around $12 million. Mr CHAN Chun-ying commented that more resources of FDF were being spent on supporting marketing and promotion efforts, he suggested that the Administration should review whether a larger share of the resources should be devoted to supporting film production instead.

Mr CHAN Chun-ying suggested that the Administration should arrange the funded film projects to be released through the television channels of Radio Television Hong Kong after they had been screened in local cinemas, in order to increase their exposure among local audience. Assistant Head of CreateHK (2) responded that how a local production should be screened was a matter for the corresponding distributors or directors to decide. The Administration would not interfere with the films’ distribution.