The 11th Microfilm Production Support Scheme (Music) Matching cum Kick-Off Ceremony Brings Advertising and Music Talent Together to Foster the Development of Diversified Creative Industries in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, Sept. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Organized by Hong Kong Association of Interactive Marketing ("AIM"), with Create Hong Kong ("CreateHK") of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ("HKSAR") as the Lead Sponsor, the Microfilm Production Support Scheme (Music) ("Support Scheme") has come to its 11^th edition. Entering into its second decade, the Support Scheme will continue to bring local advertising and music practitioners together to create fascinating works, with a view to nurturing more talent for Hong Kong's music, film and TV production, digital advertising and microfilm production sectors. With a view to proactively fostering the development of diversified creative industries in Hong Kong, the Support Scheme strives to nurture more emerging directors and screen writers, as well as to encourage local singers to participate in on-screen performances.

The Support Scheme has been highly praised by both digital advertising and music industries in Hong Kong since its launch in 2013. Over the past ten years, it has successfully nurtured numerous directors and scriptwriters for local music, digital advertising, film and TV production sectors. These creative talent were able to pursue their dreams by bringing their original microfilms produced under the Support Scheme to international competitions, in which various awards were attained. Their outstanding performance also impressed different clients both in and outside of Hong Kong, thus creating countless business opportunities for local creative industries.

The AIM organized the 11^th Microfilm Production Support Scheme (Music) Matching cum Kick-Off Ceremony ("Kick-Off Ceremony") at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai on 18 September 2023. Mrs. Lowell CHO, Assistant Head of CreateHK, officiated at the ceremony as the Guest of Honor. She was joined by Mr. Francis FONG, Chairman of the AIM, and Mr. Ricky FUNG, BBS, CEO of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (Hong Kong Group) Limited ("IFPI (HK Group)"), to kick off the 11^th Support Scheme.

In the Kick-Off Ceremony, Mrs. Lowell CHO sent her congratulations to the selected digital advertising production companies, directors and singers participating in the 11^th Support Scheme. She also expressed her gratitude to the AIM for organizing the current edition of the Support Scheme, as well as to the IFPI (HK Group), the vetting committee and the mentors for their generous support to the Support Scheme.

Mr. Francis FONG in his speech expressed his gratitude to CreateHK as the lead sponsor of the Support Scheme. He also expected to see more synergy effects generated by the Support Scheme for both digital advertising and music industries that could further unlock more business opportunities through cross-sectorial collaboration among the creative industries.

Same as the previous editions, the 11^th Support Scheme supports Tier 1 "Advertising Production Start-ups" and Tier 2 "Small Advertising Production Enterprises". During the Kick-off Ceremony, a drawing of lots was held to pair up the Tier 1's participating advertising production start-ups and singers/groups/bands ("singers") who were then formed a total of 22 teams to produce their original microfilms under the Support Scheme. As for Tier 2 "Small Advertising Production Enterprises", ten participating teams each formed with a director, a scriptwriter and a singer by themselves together with an advertising production enterprise also made their debut at the Kick-Off Ceremony.

The Support Scheme subsidizes the participating teams, yet with increased sponsorship amount in the 11^th edition. For the selected companies in the Tier 1 "Advertising Production Start-ups", each receives a maximum subsidy of HK$130,000 to produce an original microfilm of four to eight minutes with the matched singers, while those in the Tier 2 "Small Advertising Production Enterprises" shall receive a maximum subsidy of HK$240,000 each to produce an original microfilm of 12 to 16 minutes with the singers paired up by themselves. The Support Scheme also provides comprehensive trainings which cover scriptwriting, directing, production and post-production to the participating teams. In addition, a mentoring team formed by industry experts will provide professional guidance for the participating teams to enhance the quality of their microfilms produced under the Support Scheme.

Furthermore, the AIM will promote the 32 microfilms produced under the 11^th Support Scheme to the industry and the public via different channels, including the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART) 2024, local TV channels, social media platforms, and the official website of the Support Scheme, etc.

To recognize the outstanding microfilms produced by these participating teams, the following awards will be presented, namely the "Best Microfilm Production Award", the "Best Microfilm Actor Award", and the "Best Microfilm Actress Award" (each with its Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards), as well as the "Best Microfilm Scriptwriting Award", the "Best Microfilm Cinematography Award", and the "Best Microfilm Art Direction Award", winners of all these will be selected by professional judges, and the "Most Popular Microfilm Award", winner of which will be voted by public. The winning teams with outstanding performance will be further recommended for participation in international microfilm or short film-related competitions, that can enhance their popularity and benefit the teams with possible further commercial opportunities.

The Support Scheme, its launch in 2013 has fully committed to nurturing local advertising production start-ups and small enterprises to master microfilm production skills. Highly praised by both digital advertising and music industries in Hong Kong, the Support Scheme has successfully built a platform for these participating enterprises with opportunities to grow. New directors were identified, and advertising production crews and singers were pulled together under the Support Scheme for further collaborations, bringing them more business opportunities. Through the microfilms produced under the Support Scheme, the participating teams have attracted wide attention from clients of different industries both in and outside Hong Kong. They were invited to take part in subsequent production of advertisements, TVs and films. And the participating singers who have provided their songs for use and performed in the said microfilms also increased their exposure. In turn, they were rewarded with further promotion and more performance opportunities.

Details of the two tiers of the 11^th Support Scheme and their lists of participating advertising production companies, directors, and singers are outlined as below:

Tier 1 "Advertising Production Start-ups"

This tier provides 22 teams, each formed by a local advertising production start-up established in no more than six years, with its local director who has no more than six years' experience and a local singer paired up by drawing of lots, with a maximum subsidy of HK$130,000 each as production fund to create an original microfilm with storyline of four to eight minutes.

The selected advertising production start-ups and their matched singers in the Tier 1 "Advertising Production Start-ups" of the 11^th Support Scheme listed in alphabetical order of the English company names are as follows:

Tier 2 "Small Advertising Production Enterprises"

This tier provides ten teams, each formed by a local small-scale advertising production company established in no more than 12 years, with its local director who has no more than 12 years' experience, a local screenwriter and a local singer teamed up by themselves, with a maximum subsidy of HK$240,000 each as production fund to create its original microfilm with storyline of 12 to 16 minutes.

The ten participating teams in the Tier 2 "Small Advertising Production Enterprises" of the 11^th Support Scheme listed in alphabetical order of the English company names are as follows:

Following the Kick-off Ceremony, the participating teams have kick-started the production of their microfilms under the Support Scheme, and will showcase them at the premiere in March 2024, and during FILMART 2024.

For more details about the Support Scheme, please visit: http://www.microfilm-music.hk

Organizer: Hong Kong Association of Interactive Marketing

Lead Sponsor: Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organizers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.