“The 6th Animation Support Program” Premiere cum Award Presentation Ceremony

“The 6^th Animation Support Program”

Premiere cum Award Presentation Ceremony

Showcases 22 Local Original Animations with Distinctive Styles

To Sustain the Workmanship of Animators

As one of the major annual events in the animation industry of Hong Kong, the “Animation Support Program” has entered into its sixth edition and its Premiere cum Award Presentation Ceremony will be held at the Louis Koo Cinema of the Hong Kong Arts Centre Cinema today. After months of intensive effort, 22 selected animation enterprises have completed their original animations and are eager to showcase their works to the industry.

Organized by the Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association (HKDEA) and sponsored by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Animation Support Program aims to nurture local animation start-ups and small animation enterprises with a view to promote the development of local animation industry. The premiere was officiated by Dr. Bernard Chan, JP, Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR Government together with other guests like Mr. Gabriel Pang, the Chairman of the HKDEA, Mr. Victor Tsang, Head of CreateHK and Ms. Fiona Lam, Assistant Head of Create Hong Kong.

“It is the sixth ASP since its first launched in 2012. With the sponsorship of CreateHK, we have nurtured 101 animation start-ups and small enterprises by offering them an opportunity to demonstrate their creativity and skills by creating their original animations. This year, 22 selected local animation enterprises are ready to showcase their unique animations after months of comprehensive training and mentoring by industry leaders and mentors.  ASP brings not only the next rising stars but also pushes the industry to the next level with more creativity and techniques year after year.  I am very confident that ASP will continue to be one of the major events in the Hong Kong animation industry every year.” said Mr. Gabriel Pang, the Chairman of the HKDEA.

“In addition, to acknowledge the outstanding animations produced this year, we will present the Best Animation (Start-up) Awards (Gold/Silver/Bronze/Merit), the Best Animation (Small Enterprises with Training in Basic Productions) Award (Gold/Silver/Bronze/Merit) and the Best Animation (Small Animation Enterprises with Training in Advance Productions) Award (Gold/Silver/Bronze/Merit) to the winner.” Mr. Gabriel Pang continued.

Dr. Bernard Chan, JP, Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development congratulated the success of the 6^th ASP and wishes that animations produced under the program will receive great compliments during their exhibition at the upcoming Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) 2019.

The 6th ASP features three categories, “Animation Start-ups”; “Small Animation Enterprises with Training in Basic Productions” and “Small Animation Enterprises with Training in Advance Productions”, 10, 8 and 4 animation enterprises have been selected respectively by a vetting committee comprising industry professionals.   Each selected enterprise received a maximum funding of HK$105,000 to $500,000 in accordance with the category admitted for producing their own 3-minute, 5-minute and 10-minute original animation with storyline. A mentorship program was also provided for them to receive advices and guidance on technical and production skills, and business development from professional animators.

After months of mentoring and editing, 22 selected enterprises presented their final animations to the industry through today’s premiere.  Among them 14 enterprises were also presented with the Best Animation (Start-ups) Awards, the Best Animation (Small Enterprises with Training in Basic Productions) Awards and the Best Animation (Small Enterprises with Training in Basic Productions) Awards. The awards were presented by Dr. Bernard Chan and Mr. Victor Tsang respectively.

The premiere also marked the beginning of a series of promotional activities for the 22 animations produced this year such as local TV channels broadcasting, social media platform, internet, exhibition at the FILMART 2019 and screening on other major commercial platforms for reaching out to more viewers and potential business partners. Moreover, the selected animation enterprises will be encouraged to participate in various contests such as the DigiCon6 ASIA Awards organized by Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) Television, the King Boon Award of the China International New Media Short Film Festival Awards held in May during the China International Cultural & Creative Industry Expo, the Shanghai TV Festival and the Festival International du Film d’Animation d’Annecy held in June, etc, so as to assist them in building brand presence and sales network across different platforms locally and regionally for potential business growth.

To view these 22 animations produced by the participating enterprises of the 6^th ASP and to learn more about the 6^th ASP, please visit the official website: www.animation-ssp.com.

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For media enquiries, please contact AQ Communications Ltd., the PR representative of the 6^th Animation Support Program:

Jay Chan       Tel: (852) 2137 9702 / 9517 4217          Email: jchan@aqcomm.com

Sarah Chui              Tel: (852) 2137 9707 / 9133 7434                Email: schui@aqcomm.com

List of Participating Companies of the “6^th Animation Support Program” (in alphabetical order of company names)

Tier 1: Animation Start-ups

Tier 2: Small Animation Enterprises with Training in Basic Productions

Tier 3: Small Animation Enterprises with Training in Advance Productions

Eligibility of Participation

Participating start-ups and small enterprises should be:

• a local enterprise holding valid business registration certificate;
• an enterprise with primary focus on animation production; and
• meet the requirements in the following table:

Vetting Committee Members (in no particular order)

Mr. Gabriel Pang, Chairman, Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association

Mr. Anthony Lee, Vice-President, Hong Kong Film Directors’ Guild

Mr. Eddie Leung, Senior Teaching Fellow, School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong

Mr. Neco Lo, General Secretary, Hong Kong Animation and Cultural Association

Mr. Felix Ip, Animation Director / Comic Artist

Mr. Toe Yuen, Animation Movie Director

Mr. Wong Ying, Visual Effects Supervisor / Screenwriter

Mr. Eddy Hui, Honourary Secretary, Hong Kong Designers Association

Judging Panel Members (in no particular order)

Mr. Gabriel Pang, Chairman, Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association

Mr. Anthony Lee, Vice-President, Hong Kong Film Directors’ Guild

Mr. Eddie Leung, Senior Teaching Fellow, School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong

Mr. Neco Lo, General Secretary, Hong Kong Animation and Cultural Association

Mr. Felix Ip, Animation Director / Comic Artist

Mr. Wong Ying, Visual Effects Supervisor / Screenwriter

Mr. Eddy Hui, Honourary Secretary, Hong Kong Designers Association

Ms. Joycelyn Choi, General Manager of Programming, MOViE MOViE

Mr. Mathew Chow, Managing Director, Simage Animation & Media Ltd

Mr. Lam Kee To, Hong Kong Famous Script Writer

Mr. Tim Cheung, Founder of AnimHouse! Studios

Mr. Kinson Cheung, Director of Kino Creative

Mr. Naveen Ma, Dean of HK School of Animation & VFX

Mentors (in no particular order)

Mr. Anthony Lee, Vice-President, Hong Kong Film Directors’ Guild

Mr. Eddie Leung, Senior Teaching Fellow, School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong

Mr. Neco Lo, General Secretary, Hong Kong Animation and Cultural Association

Mr. Felix Ip, Animation Director / Comic Artist

Mr. Toe Yuen, Animation Movie Director

Mr. Wong Ying, Visual Effects Supervisor / Screenwriter

Mr. Eddy Hui, Honourary Secretary, Hong Kong Designers Association

Mr. Lam Kee To, Hong Kong Famous Script Writer