Hong Kong’s role as a leading film-making centre in Asia is being given new momentum through the Jockey Club Cine Academy (JCCA), a three-year film education programme run by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) with a donation from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
Today (6 February), the Club’s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So joined HKIFFS Board Member Fred Wang and JCCA Ambassador Karena Lam at a press conference to announce the past achievements and future activities planned for the Academy, the first comprehensive film education programme for both Hong Kong educators and students.
In thanking the Trust for its generous donations and support in organising activities, Mr Wang noted the remarkable success of the programmes which had received overwhelming support from participants. The Master Class recorded 96% attendance rate, and more than 200 people joined HKIFF Tours, while the International Short Film Competition received more than 600 entries. In addition, the Joint University Programme to showcase student’s work had attracted a thousand visitors.
Teachers who attended the Educators Workshop, which was fully subscribed, said it had deepened their understanding of film and broadened their horizons, helping them inspire students in a more dynamic approach when teaching the “Arts Education” category of “Other Learning Experiences (OLE)” under the “New Senior Secondary Curriculum” in local secondary schools. As an encouragement, some of the workshop graduates received their certificates at today’s event.
The Academy’s Youth Volunteer Programme recruited more than 120 people to take part in HKIFF-related activities last year. One of them, Aster Shin who served more than 100 service hours for HKIFF, received an award to acknowledge her work during the press conference today. “I have taken part in many different kinds of jobs while assisting HKIFF as a JCCA volunteer. Everything is so new to me and it is indeed an eye-opening experience,” Ms Shin remarked. “I’m thrilled to join every activity.”
Launched in 2010, the JCCA is designed to foster film literacy and enhance creativity among Hong Kong youth. The Academy runs seven courses: Educators Workshop, Youth Volunteer Programme, Festival Tours, Master Class, Face to Face, Short Film Competition and Joint Universities Programme. Further details of the programme are available at www.hkiff.org/jcca.
The Club has been a staunch supporter in grooming local film and television talents. Besides the Jockey Club Cine Academy, it also funded the establishment of the Jockey Club Television and Film Studio for the Academy of Film at Hong Kong Baptist University in 2010, and the Jockey Club Audio-Visual Production Centre at the Open University of Hong Kong last year. To raise the production quality of local documentaries, the Trust also funded the “Hong Kong to the World” project jointly with Create Hong Kong, organised by Radio Television Hong Kong and National Geographic Channel International.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has become one of Hong Kong's best known and respected organisations, providing the public with world-class sporting entertainment as well as being the city's major non-Government community benefactor, now donating more than HK$1 billion a year to charitable and community projects. It has been a part of Hong Kong through good times and bad, sharing the city's growth and development with its people, and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for future generations.
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The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (3rd right), HKIFFS Board Member Fred Wang (2nd left); Executive Director Roger Garcia (2nd right); Artistic Director Li Cheuk To (1st left); JCCA Ambassador Karena Lam (3rd left) and film director O Sing-pui (1st right) at the press conference.
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The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (2nd right) and HKIFFS Board Member Fred Wang (1st right) present a student card to Jockey Club Cine Academy Ambassador Karena Lam (left) in symbolising her support for the Academy.
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The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (3rd right) and HKIFFS Board Member Fred Wang (3rd left) present certificates to Educators Workshop Instructor Wong Ain-ling (2nd right) and the graduates.
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Aster Shin (centre) receives an award from the Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (right) and HKIFFS Board Member Fred Wang (left) to acknowledge her more than 100 service hours for HKIFF.
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The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (back row, 3rd left) with a group of JCCA volunteers.
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Photos 6/7:
Jockey Club Cine Academy Ambassador Karena Lam (Photo 6) and film director O Sing-pui (Photo 7, left) share their views on the Academy.
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