Over the years many people have asked how they could view award-winning works from past years. On one hand we have worked hard to open up different venues of distribution including film festivals, DVD release, as well as a planned short film archive, but one the other hand the collection of shorts keeps growing and our resources are limited. So on the occasion of ifva’s 15th anniversary, let us take the opportunity to start looking back at some of the outstanding works from each of the category, not just for the sake of nostalgia but so that we can spark some rethinking and discussion about the role of ifva and its future direction.
As early as 1997, ifva spotted the vast potential in the fast developing digital media technology, and inaugurated the Youth Category, which allows aspiring film and video artists under the age of 18 to take part. In addition, we went into the community and toured various schools and community centers with video screenings and workshops, and became pioneers in youth media education. In the 12 years hence, media education has become ever more popular and widely accepted, and has now even been incorporated in some school curriculums. This year, our youngest entrant is six years old, and a former Gold Award winner in that category is among the finalist in the Open Category. We cannot say for certain that our investment in the creative potential for youths have reached the harvest stage, but it is undeniable that the Youth Category entries in the past years have been among the most creative, fearless and daring in any category, and judging from their spirited debates during the judging process, this category’s judges are often pleasantly surprised and much impressed by the works. After all ifva has always championed the independent spirit, which means using the audio-visual medium to express what one thinks and believes. We are fortunate that in this category we can still find the independent spirit in abundance. I hope this somewhat subjective selection of the best works from past years’ Youth Category award-winners will help inspire the next generation of young video artists.
Teresa KWONG, ifva Director
"I hope all teenagers will be able to work out something that represents their true feelings. Being genuine scores higher than creating something…”
Jan LAMB (from the juror comments of the Youth Category of the 3rd ifva)
Programme 1: When I Was 17
Self-taught young artists picked up the camera and recorded
what they saw and felt, and the end result is astoundingly honest and
palpably authentic. The significant year of 1997 was inscribed with the
attitude of life of FAN Yuk-man and his friends—I Am 17 Years Old
in 1997 (1997/ 9' 30"/ in Cantonese with no subtitles) won the Youth
Category Gold Award at the 3rd ifva. Eleven years later, SHAM Ka-ki, an
actor in the youth film High Noon, borrowed the director's camera after
shooting wrapped and shot Life Must Go On (2008/ 19' 30"/ in Cantonese
with Chinese and English subtitles) in 14 days. The Gen Y director said, "I
don't want to change the world, I just don't want to be changed by the
world." These seemingly personal statements reflect the aspirations of a
whole generation in the past decade. The two works could be viewed as
a trilogy together with Monica LEE's 17 ½ (1998), which unfortunately
could not be screened this time.
Programme 2: From School to Community
Young people go to school every day and have to deal with
endless homework and exams. How does school life influence their
psychological development? CHOW Hong-ching made Little Shoes (2005/ 2'/ no dialogue and subtitles) by himself after attending his first
video workshop, which looks upon the world through the point-ofview
of a child. Report (2006/ 30'/ in Cantonese with Chinese subtitles)
by LUNG Yin-ping, HO Pui-yi, CHAN Wing-yiu and CHU Siu-kei, tackles
the subject of HKCEE head on with a well-observed and layered
documentary. From the school we move on to the community. LOU Yeenam
hung out in internet cafes to capture young people's obsession with
computer games in Until I Die (2004/ 19'57"/ in Cantonese with English subtitles).
LEE Ka-wai and LAI Chiu-ting place their camera on the side of the road
and challenge us to care about blind people within our community in Voice in the Darkness (2007/ 9'/ in Cantonese with Chinese and English
subtitles).
Programme 3: The Best of Times
Oh the joys of being young!
The teenage LO Hoi-ying was a Bruce LEE
and Stephen CHOW fan. In Hong Kong
Guy (1998/ 55'/ in Cantonese with no
subtitles) he looks into the mirror and
imitates his idols to hilarious effect, then ventures out of Hong Kong to
embark on a martial arts adventure with his friends. AU Wah-hei and LEE
Wing-cheung's The Colour is Green (1997/ 15'/ in Cantonese with no
subtitles) reminds one of Éric ROHMER's A Summer's Tale. The directors
perfectly capture the fleetingness of youthful romance in this short video
filled with sunshine, the sea, sand and green grass. TANG Lok-to's My
Rose (2008/ 6'/ no dialogue and subtitles) is also about a love triangle,
but is set at night on a light rail train, with the song The Best of Times by
at17 playing in the background.
ifva rediscovery: Youth Category Programme and Discussion
Date / Time / Venue
Programme 1: When I Was 17 and Programme 2: From School to Community a discussion with be held between the two programmes.
15/3 (Mon) / 7pm / AbC
Programme 3: The Best of Times
17/3 (Wed) / 7:30pm / AbC
Details
Programme 1: When I Was 17
Beta / Hong Kong / Col / 30mins
Programme 2: From School to Community
Beta / Hong Kong / Col & B/W / 61mins
Programme 3: The Best of Times
Beta / Hong Kong / Col / 77mins
Tickets
HK$50/*$30
Booklet and Booking Form
Download the 15th ifva Festival Booklet now! You may enjoy 20% off for each purchase of 10 or more tickets at standard price tickets; 30% off for each purchase of 20 or more tickets at standard price tickets on screening programmes via “ifva Group Booking Form” on or before 26 February 2010.
* Tickets for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA)
recipients (Tickets for full-time students and CSSA recipients are available on a first-come-first-served basis)
