The 1st International Film Festival & Awards‧Macao (IFFAM) will be held in December. The organizers held a press conference today (27 May) to introduce the IFFAM Organizing Committee and the International Professional Team as well as the current preparation work. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Alexis Tam attended the press conference and witnessed the signing of a cooperative agreement between Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and Macau Films & Television Productions and Culture Association (MFTPA).
Witnessed by Secretary Tam, MGTO and MFTPA signed the cooperative agreement during the press conference, confirming their joint initiative to organize IFFAM. Cultural Affairs Bureau and Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau are co-organizers of the event. The Organizing Committee also gave out certificates of acknowledgement to the sponsors and entities concerned.
The inaugural edition of IFFAM is scheduled to take place at Macao Cultural Centre and Macao Science Center from 8 to 13 December. The organizers have formed an IFFAM Organizing Committee and an International Professional Team to carry out the preparation work. Close to 100 local and international members of the press, international buyers, film directors, film stars, film producers, distributors, investors as well as key persons from major film festivals around the world will be invited to attend the 1st edition of IFFAM. The volume of participants is expected to reach 500.
During her speech, MGTO Director and President of the IFFAM Organizing Committee, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, remarked that IFFAM will introduce world-class exchange opportunities and raise Macao’s international profile to a new level. Not only that, the event will unleash the synergistic effect between culture and tourism and enrich the cultural appeal of the destination, thus producing long-term benefit for the sustainable development of the tourism industry and the creative and cultural industry in Macao.
President of MFTPA and Executive Vice President of the IFFAM Organizing Committee, Alvin Chau, stated that the 1st IFFAM will mainly invite original film works that are relatively more popular in the market, with the aim to forge IFFAM into one of the major international events and marketplaces in the Asian film industry.
Festival Director of IFFAM, Marco Müller, expressed that owing to Macao’s economic, cultural, historical and geographic factors, IFFAM has the potential to become a major film-hub. Many key film-operators agreed that there is still space in East Asia for a new hub for exchanges in the film industry, and Macao certainly holds a potential and chance to occupy a key position in the global arena.
Organizing Committee
The IFFAM Organizing Committee comprises governmental representatives, film professionals and scholars, etc. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes takes up the role of President, while President of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng, President of Management Committee of Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, José Tavares, and President of MFTPA, Alvin Chau, are the Executive Vice Presidents of the IFFAM Organizing Committee. MGTO Deputy Directors Cecilia Tse and Cheng Wai Tong, Vice President of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Chan Peng Fai, Member of the Committee of Cultural Industries, Melina Leong, Vice President of Macau University of Science and Technology, Tong Ka Lok, and Vice President of MFTPA, Chen Ji Min, act as vice presidents of the IFFAM Organizing Committee. Council Chairlady of MFTPA, Alice Azedo Augusto is the Secretary General of the Organizing Committee, whereas Executive Vice Council Chairlady of MFTPA, Lei Sou Ian, is the Deputy Secretary General. Internationally-renowned film producer Marco Müller is the Festival Director, whereas famous producer in Asian film industry, Lorna Tee, acts as the Head of Festival Management.
International Professional Team
The International Professional Team for IFFAM includes Festival Director, Head of Festival Management, Ambassadors, International Advisory Board as well as International Consultants. The members include Festival Director Marco Müller and Head of Festival Management Lorna Tee, while celebrated Hong Kong directors Johnnie To and Ann Hui, Korean director Choi Dong-hoon, as well as famous director and cinematographer from Europe, Clemens Klopfenstein, act as the Ambassadors. The four Ambassadors all boast a background or profile related to Macao. Three of them have shot film scenes in Macao before, while Director Ann Hui once studied in Macao.
The International Advisory Board consists of 7 film experts from the East and the West, including Chinese film director and producer Huang Jianxin, veteran American film producer based in Asia-Pacific, Michael J. Werner, Korean producer Oh Jung-wan, veteran producer and distribution expert from Hong Kong, Nansun Shi, famous American screenwriter James Schamus, French art director for film festivals, Olivier Père, and famous Portuguese producer Luís Urbano.
In charge of film selection, the Team of International Consultants includes Alëna Shumakova for Russia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, Deepti Dcunha for India, Diego Lerer for Latin America, Marie-Pierre Duhamel for Western Europe, Sandra Hebron for the United States and the United Kingdom, Shan Dongbing for China and Tomita Mikiko for Japan.
The Team of Honorary Advisors includes President of Galaxy Entertainment Group, Michael Mecca, President of Sands China Limited, Wilfred Wong, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Wynn Macau Limited, Linda Chen, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Ltd., Grant Bowie, famous Hong Kong film star Eric Tsang, Chief Executive Officer of Sun Entertainment Culture Ltd., Alex Dong, acclaimed Hong Kong celebrity agent Paco Wong and President of China Great Wall Art & Culture Center, Junguo Shi.
The Media Partners for the 1st IFFAM are Teledifusão de Macau, S.A. (TDM) and FOX Networks Group. The official Internet Marketing and Media Partner for the event is MOME Ltd.
In addition, the three-time Oscar winner of Best Achievement in Art Direction, Dante Ferretti, has been invited to design the trophy for the IFFAM awards.
Diverse and fascinating program highlights
The program of IFFAM features various highlights including Competition, Gala, “Hidden Dragons” Genre Cinema Panorama, Best of Fest Panorama and a retrospective called “Crossfire”. The Film Market/Industry Office and Masterclasses will also be held during the event.
Competition – the competition will present 12 feature films. A jury composed of five film-personalities will appraise and award the best film works; Gala – 5 of the most important new movies of the year will be presented out of competition, in a series of red-carpet presentations; “Hidden Dragons” – 6 films representing the latest current and style of contemporary Asian genre cinema will be presented; Best of Fest Panorama – screening 8 award-winning feature films from major international film festivals in 2016; “Crossfire” – featuring 12 genre films from South America, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and so on, selected by 12 East Asian genre film masters; Film Market/Industry Office – film industry entities will be invited to set up film market booths; Masterclasses – international film professionals will be invited to share their experience with local audience and members of the film industry.
Competitions and exchange project foster creativity
Other sidebars include: IFFAM – “Macao Audience Choice Award” Trophy Design Competition welcomes entries from Macao residents and designers, and will select the best design for the trophy of “Macao Audience Choice Award” in IFFAM. Chinese Language Short Content Competition – targeting young creators, the competition welcomes Chinese language short content works which feature elements of Macao. By inspiring young talents to develop their own film works, the competition aims to extend the impact of IFFAM across Chinese-speaking territories. Young Talents Project – International Short Screenplay Competition encourages young people to write screenplay and fosters their creativity; the competition also welcomes participants from Portuguese-speaking countries. After the first round of selection, assistance will be provided to translate Portuguese screenplay entries into English version. In the British Film Academy Project, professional lecturers from the British Film Institute will conduct a one-week training program on film production targeting local residents and students.
Promotional activities
The organizers not only will carry out an array of promotional activities in Macao and overseas, but also will promote the event in various major film festivals including Shanghai International Film Festival and Busan International Film Festival, as well as through the help of MGTO’s representatives overseas.
The film and television industry creates a strong momentum for local tourism development and effectively builds up a destination’s colorful image. Not only that, the industry also fosters tourism growths and raises the destination profile. Last year, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Alexis Tam proposed hosting an international film festival, hoping that the event can gather outstanding film works as well as prominent actors and film stars from around the world, thus bringing in world-class exchange opportunities and unleashing a synergistic effect through advancing local cultural and creative industry development and Macao’s destination glamour. Through the film festival, the SAR Government also aims to broaden the diversity of tourism and cultural products as well as signature events, enriching the cultural elements offered by the destination, in order to produce long-term benefit for the sustainable development of the tourism industry and the creative and cultural industry, which will promote Macao’s endeavor to become a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.
第一届澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼将于本年12月举行，主办单位今(27日)召开记者招待会，介绍澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼筹组委员会及国际专业团队的组成以及筹备工作，社会文化司司长谭俊荣亦有出席并见证澳门特区政府旅游局与澳门影视制作文化协会签署合作协议。
在谭俊荣司长见证下，澳门特区政府旅游局与澳门影视制作文化协会在记者招待会上签署合作协议，共同主办澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼，澳门特区政府文化局及民政总署为合办单位。澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼筹组委员会亦分别向相关组织及赞助单位颁发认可状。
第一届澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼(简称：影展)将于本年12月8至13日在澳门文化中心及澳门科学馆举行，主办单位组织了澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼筹组委员会及国际专业团队并开展筹备工作。将邀请近百位本地及国际媒体代表、国际买家、导演、影星、制片商、发行商、投资者以及多位来自世界主要影展的重要人物等约500人出席第一届澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼。
澳门特区政府旅游局局长、澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼筹组委员会主席文绮华致词时表示，澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼引进世界级的交流机会，进一步提升澳门的国际知名度，同时发挥文化旅游的协同效应，丰富澳门旅游的文化内涵，为文化创意产业及旅游业的可持续发展带来长远效益。
澳门影视制作文化协会会长、澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼筹组委员会执行副主席周焯华致词时表示，今届澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼将主要邀请较受市场欢迎的原创电影，目标为打造澳门国际影展成为亚洲其中一个主要的国际电影盛事及市场活动。
影展总监马可•穆勒表示，澳门的经济环境、文化特色、历史背景、地理位置等环境因素有利澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼发展成为一个主要的电影中心，世界各地许多主要的电影业界专业人士认为在东亚地区仍有潜力发展一个世界性的电影交流中心，而澳门正具备此潜力及机会发展成为国际电影交流中心。
筹组委员会
澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼筹组委员会由政府代表、专业电影人及学者等组成，澳门特区政府旅游局局长文绮华担任主席；文化局局长吴卫鸣、民政总署管理委员会主席戴祖义及澳门影视制作文化协会会长周焯华担任执行副主席；旅游局副局长谢庆茜及程卫东、文化局副局长陈炳辉、文化产业委员会成员梁小牧、澳门科技大学副校长唐嘉乐、澳门影视制作文化协会副会长陈季敏担任副主席；澳门影视制作文化协会理事长陈丽斯担任秘书长、澳门影视制作文化协会常务副理事长李素茵担任副秘书长；着名电影制片人Marco Müller (译名：马可•穆勒) 担任影展总监；亚洲电影界知名制片人郑碧雪担任影展经理。
国际专业团队
澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼的国际专业团队包括影展总监、影展经理、影展大使、国际顾问及电影节目顾问组成。分别是影展总监马可•穆勒(译名)及影展经理郑碧雪；着名香港导演杜琪峰及许鞍华、韩国导演崔东勋、欧洲着名导演及摄影大师Clemens Klopfenstein担任影展大使。4位大使与澳门有着渊源，当中3位导演曾在澳取景，而许鞍华导演曾在澳门读书。
国际顾问团队由7位来自欧美及亚洲的电影专家组成，包括中国导演及监制黄建新、活跃于亚太地区的资深美国监制Michael J. Werner、韩国电影监制Oh Jung-wan、香港资深电影监制及电影发行专家施南生、来自美国的着名编剧James Schamus (译名：詹姆斯•夏慕斯)、来自法国的电影节艺术总监Olivier Père (译名：奥利弗友雷)、葡萄牙电影监制Luís Urbano (译名：路易斯•奥班奴)。
电影节目顾问团队负责物色电影，成员包括Alëna Shumakova(俄罗斯、中亚及东欧电影)、Deepti Dcunha(印度电影)、Diego Lerer(拉丁美洲电影)、Marie-Pierre Duhamel(西欧电影)、Sandra Hebron(美国及英国电影)、单东炳(中国电影)及Tomita Mikiko(日本电影)。
名誉顾问团队有银河娱乐集团总裁万卓祺、金沙中国有限公司总裁王英伟、永利澳门有限公司执行董事兼首席营运总裁陈志玲、美高梅中国控股有限公司首席执行官及执行董事简博贤、香港着名影星曾志伟、太阳娱乐文化行政总裁唐才智、香港着名艺人经理人黄柏高及中国长城艺术文化中心总裁史俊国。
媒体伙伴有澳门广播电视股份有限公司及福斯传媒集团 (FOX Networks Group)；大会网络营销及媒体伙伴为澳动传科有限公司。
此外，将邀请获三届奥斯卡最佳艺术指导奖得奖者Dante Ferretti设计澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼的奖杯。
内容精彩多元
澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼内容包括电影竞赛、电影盛会、"藏龙"、世界影展全景观、Crossfire精选，期间亦将举办电影市场及"大师班"等项目。
竞赛单元-云集12部长片的竞赛，由5位评委进行评审；电影盛会-本年度最重要的5部电影，将于非竞赛形式放映，届时将有红地毯仪式；"藏龙" -焦点放在6部最新颖、最具特色的亚洲类型片；世界影展全景观 -本年度主要国际影展的8部得奖长片作品；"Crossfire"-由12位亚洲重量级导演推介12部来自南美洲、欧洲、东南亚、澳洲等的类型片。电影市场-将邀请电影行业单位设置交易市场摊位；"大师班"-将邀请国际知名电影从业员与澳门观众及业界进行交流。
比赛交流促创作
其他活动尚有澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼–"澳门观众大奖"奖座设计比赛，让澳门市民及设计者能参与是次活动，从参赛作品中遴选佳作，设计出属于澳门国际影展暨颁奖典礼主题的奖座，奖座将用于颁发澳门观众大奖的奖项。华语微电影比赛-鼓励有兴趣投身电影业界的年青人创作澳门元素的作品，推动青年人创作，促进澳门国际影展在华语地区的影响力。青年人才发展计划-国际微电影剧本创作比赛，鼓励青年人进行剧本创作，启发青年人的创意；同时鼓励葡语系国家人士参与，经初步遴选后，活动方将协助葡语剧本翻译为英语，英国电影学术交流项目(British Film Academy Project)，由英国电影协会(BFI)专业导师授课，举办为期一星期的电影制作课程，对象为澳门市民及学生。
宣传活动
主办单位将在澳门及外地开展一系列的宣传活动，同时也在各地旅游展、上海国际电影节及釜山国际影展等国际活动上宣传这次盛事，亦透过旅游局驻外代表协助宣传。
影视业对推动旅游业发展有重大帮助，并能有效塑造当地的多元形象，带动旅游业发展及提升知名度。澳门特区政府社会文化司谭俊荣司长去年提出举办国际性的电影展，期望云集国际上的杰出电影作品及优秀影星及演员，引进世界级的交流机会，以发挥促进文创产业、增添旅游吸引力的协同效应，同时推进旅游文化产品及盛事多样化，丰富澳门旅游的文化内涵，为澳门文创产业及旅游业的可持续发展带来长远效益，有助推进澳门"世界旅游休闲中心"的构建。
