Awards offer a golden chance to shine for budding local filmmakers

The Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards (IFVA) officially kicked off their 14th year of competition on Thursday. The platform has been a breeding ground for new local talent. IFVA director Teresa Kwong Pui-see (right) pointed out that director Nelson Yu Lik-wai, this year's only Hong Kong representation at the Venice Film Festival with Plastic City, was a former winner.

She was joined at the press conference by two of this year's judges. Oxide Pang Chun - who with his brother Danny Pang Fat just remade their first movie Bangkok Dangerous for Hollywood - is a perfect choice as arbiter of film talent. We're not so sure about the other guy, Canto-pop singer Juno Mak Chun-lung, who has zero film directing experience. However, he says he's a big fan of horror flicks. Nevertheless, they both had some advice for budding entrants. The visually oriented Pang urged applicants to fully utilise the advantage of the high-definition era, while Mak suggested young artists think outside the box.

'Use your imagination,' Mak emphasised. 'Don't worry that you may not be able to turn your ideas into a film, it's more important to have a great idea. Don't limit yourself. If I wasn't a judge, I'd probably want to submit a work of my own. I think when I retire from music I'd like to be a full-time director.'