Lights, camera, funding: Hong Kong filmmakers to get up to HK$2m from government for low-budget features
Filmmakers can seek up to HK$2m of government cash towards a maximum budget of HK$10m, but some see rules as too rigid
Government grants of up to HK$2 million will help get Hong Kong feature films made, boost job opportunities for local talent and put the city's stories on the big screen under a new scheme unveiled yesterday.
The Film Development Council said the new Film Production Grant Scheme would accept applications from projects with production budgets of HK$10 million or less.
The government will award 20 per cent of the budget to approved projects, up to a maximum of HK$2 million. It will be open to feature films, documentaries and animated productions, as long as they are commercially viable.
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Unlike existing schemes to support the film industry the grants will be a direct subsidy for film production and the government will not expect a return on its investment.
Film Development Council chairman Ma Fung-kwok said such a scheme was necessary as past experience showed it was difficult to find investors for small to medium-sized productions.
"Investors don't find them attractive. These projects have limited budget so they cannot afford to have a stellar cast or action sequences. And investors find them risky investments," Ma said.
The scheme was first announced in Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's policy address in January, but the details were only revealed yesterday.