The International Film Camp held its awards and closing ceremony on Tuesday at The Londoner Macao. The event, organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy and sponsored by Sands China, offered a series of masterclasses and seminars led by distinguished mentors, covering directing, screenwriting, funding, distribution, post-production, pitching and participation in film festivals, equipping emerging filmmakers with knowledge in film production, industry operations, and marketing practices.

Now in its third edition, the camp selected 16 up-and-coming filmmakers from over 450 applications. Participants hailed from diverse backgrounds across the Chinese mainland, Macau, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, and Kyrgyzstan.

Sands China’s Executive Vice Chairman and Executive Director Wilfred Wong is also Chairman of the Asian Film Awards Academy. Introducing this year’s theme, “When Strangers Meet”, he stressed that filmmaking is ultimately about “bringing together people with different backgrounds, experiences and ways of seeing the world.

A panel of experts selected eight outstanding short film projects for this programme among the submissions, with each selected producer receiving production funding of HKD 300,000 (USD 38,248.5/ MOP 309,092.45)

Shaw Studios, a leading film production company in Hong Kong, has also provided professional post-production services for the chosen projects. The Asian Film Awards Academy will also oversee the production process of the films and support the submission of some of the more outstanding works to major international film festivals.

Grant Chum, chief executive officer and executive director of Sands China Ltd., highlighted the achievements of this year’s programme, saying it is “injecting fresh impetus into the growth of Macau’s film industry.”

“By enabling filmmakers to experience Macau from their own creative perspective, we hope to inspire industry practitioners to see the city with fresh eyes and rediscover the depth and diversity of its cultural heritage,” he said.

A growing network of Asian filmmakers

Besides providing funding and technical support, the camp aims to build connections between emerging filmmakers across Asia, encouraging collaboration that extends far beyond the programme itself.

Addressing participants at the ceremony, Wong stressed that filmmaking thrives on collaboration and cultural exchange.

“The reason why we organise this event”, he said, “is because we feel that if you can all collaborate together, and you are spread all over Asia, in time we have a big community of people, of Asian cinema people who can work together.”

Wong also mooted the idea of linking alumni, mentors, speakers and industry professionals from across the region. “The network could become a platform for future partnerships and resource sharing,” he said.

For local award recipient Chan Chun Sin, the programme provided an opportunity to connect with filmmakers from different cultural backgrounds.

He added: “My biggest takeaway was meeting creators from all over the world. Every creator has a story they eager to tell. Everyone wants to express what’s deepest in their heart through images.”

The exchange also inspired Chan to view Macau through a new lens. His short film project, Tower, was inspired by the city’s distinctive urban landscape after he returned from studying in Taiwan.

“Walking along the Cotai Strip, I was struck by the surreal coexistence of replica European landmarks – that absurdity inspired me to create Tower,” he recalled.

Rather than shying away from these characteristics, he sees them as part of Macau’s unique identity.

“Macau’s cityscape is something you cannot find anywhere else,” he said.

Through the project, Chan hopes to tell a distinctly local story while offering a fresh perspective on Macau.