Several of the latest and most lauded short films from around the world will be screened in Hong Kong next month. Katie Lau reports There's little doubt that short films are a neglected art form - critically and commercially - when compared to feature films. But an upcoming festival will show that shorts can just be as interesting and sophisticated as their bigger siblings.
The 2nd IndPanda International Short Film Festival is staged by InD Blue, a non-profit film and video organization established in 2003 and run by Jonathan Hung and Henry Chan. This year's festival boasts a program of more than 140 titles, grouped into an eye-popping 17 categories ranging from love and sex to animation and works by new talents.
Says Hung: "It's no-holds-barred for short filmmakers because they don't need to worry about the market or the censors. All they need is an idea and a plan to execute it, even if they have only minimal resources. Taking it back to basics means they get truly creative."
The selected titles, all made in the past two years, feature BAFTA, Sundance, Cannes and Berlin film festival award winners.
The opening program, supported by the Consulate General of France, showcases the best of French shorts including the 2006 Cesar Award winner After Shave, nominee The Fear, Little Hunter and The Crab Revolution, a humorous animation about a little known species called "depressed crabs."
Another important highlight is the winner of the Grand Prix at Annecy Intern
ational Animated Film Festival and BAFTA nominee, The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello. Directed by Australia's Anthony Lucas, the short is a gothic horror mystery that tells the story of a disgraced aerial navigator's attempts to redeem himself. With a strong tradition of short filmmaking, quality Korean productions are also not to be missed. If You Were Me 2 is an anthology of shorts by five renowned filmmakers and is part of a National Human Rights Commission of Korea project.
Hong Kong's A Minute, an Eternity features 60-second, self-financed films by 12 local animators including John Chan and Lo Che-ying.
A section is also dedicated to showing works by students from Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
Promoting new talent is one of the festival's goals, but it does not mean quality is compromised. "The films we have chosen are solid and mature," Hung says. For instance, Liu Nian, shot by a mainland student studying in Hong Kong, proffers a unique perspective of life in the SAR.
Formerly an organizer of the Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards, hosted by the Hong Kong Arts Center since 1995, Hung is determined not to tread the same territory as the IFVA, which functions primarily as a local competition.
He set up InD Blue to promote more international short films and help lend the art form the respect and recognition he believes it deserves. He also aims to subvert the local stereotype that short films are random, home video-style efforts produced by amateurs.
Now a freelance writer, Hung is using family money to break free of the usual funding obstacles and promote overlooked talent.
"These filmmakers need to be encouraged and treated properly."
Hung admits he will be relieved to see the festival break even, which requires more than 70 percent of tickets to be sold. But the most rewarding moments come when he receives permission from filmmakers and distributors to show their work and from viewers, too, who often send thank-you notes.
"It keeps me going," he says.
The 2nd IndPanda International Short Film Festival.
Aug 3-16, various times,
Broadway Cinematheque.
HK$55.
Ticketing: 2388 3188; www.cinema.com.hk/
In various languages with English subtitles.
More info at www.indpanda.com
