The Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) has officially launched the second edition of the International Film Camp (IFC), during a press conference held on June 20 at The Langham, in Hong Kong.
Running from September 11 to 15 at Sands China’s integrated resorts in Macau, IFC 2025 offers a rare opportunity for emerging filmmakers from Macau, Hong Kong, and across Asia to work alongside renowned professionals and develop their scripts through direct and intensive mentorship.
Participants will be selected based on an original short script built around the theme “My Best Friend.” Sixteen finalists will join the five-day program, which culminates in a final pitch session. Winning projects may receive up to HKD 300,000 in production funding, along with ongoing support from the AFAA to bring their films to international audiences, particularly through film festivals.
This year’s chief mentor is acclaimed Hong Kong producer John Chong, whose filmography includes more than 100 titles, such as Cloud Atlas and the Infernal Affairs trilogy. Chong says the program values practical experience over theory. “We’re not focused on academic research. All our mentors are industry professionals — producers and directors with established careers,” he explains, adding that this year’s edition reflects that ambition: “Half of the top professionals in the field have joined the International Film Camp, bringing their expertise directly to the participants.”
Although Macau is a small city, the emotions people feel and the situations they face are universal. I hope we can take these stories — rooted in Macau but with global resonance — even further
Tracy Choi, Macau director
Among them is Stanley Kwan, one of Hong Kong’s most respected filmmakers, who will lead a masterclass. Known for cinematic works that explore identity and emotion, Kwan shares a principle he often repeats to young directors. “I always tell my students and young directors a phrase I consider essential: ‘So near, yet so far; so far, yet so near.’ I believe this is one of the hardest things to achieve as a creator, but also something we must strive for — not to lose ourselves in our own emotions, and to know when to step back and reflect on our work; on whether the audience will be equally moved.”
From Macau, director Tracy Choi joins this edition as a special guest. “Although Macau is a small city, the emotions people feel and the situations they face are universal. I hope we can take these stories — rooted in Macau but with global resonance — even further.”
Frankie Lee, one of the winners from the first edition, returns this year to share his experience. “Since we were all newcomers and film enthusiasts, it was amazing to have the opportunity to dedicate an entire week purely to creative work. During those seven days in Macau, everything revolved around film. I was able to fully focus on my project and go through the pitch process. That level of concentration is hard to come by in everyday life. It was truly a unique experience.”
This year, the program also includes a performance perspective, with actor Rachel Leung joining as a guest participant. “Most of the young directors I’ve worked with have a very strong desire to tell a story,” she says. “As an actress, what I seek most is the chance to live different lives.”
“Every department has its expertise, but what makes cinema such a beautiful medium is that, through communication and creativity, we can create something that goes beyond what we imagined.”
By turning Macau into a hub for film production, we are promoting cultural tourism and strengthening the city’s international visibility.
Grant Chum, CEO and Executive Director of Sands China Ltd.
At the press conference, Sands China CEO and Executive Director Grant Chum underscored the cultural and strategic value of hosting the IFC in Macau. “Films are the best medium to tell a city’s story,” he says. “By turning Macau into a hub for film production, we are promoting cultural tourism and strengthening the city’s international visibility.”
The IFC is organized by the Asian Film Awards Academy, with support from the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government. The program is sponsored by Sands China Ltd., the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, and the Film Development Fund. Shaw Studios joins as the official post-production partner.
The first edition, in 2024, received more than 500 applications. Eight projects were selected for full mentorship and funding. Two premiered at the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy, while others screened at festivals in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia.
