HKIFF50 Names Firebird Awards Juries

The 50th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF50) has revealed an impressive line-up of jury members for this year’s Firebird Awards competition, featuring acclaimed filmmakers such as Ildikó Enyedi, Ben Rivers, Edwin, Park Ki-yong, and Philip Yung. The Firebird Awards recognise innovative and emerging voices in global cinema, with entries judged on their creativity, technical skill, and artistic excellence.  HKIFF50 has assembled four independent juries to select 12 award winners from a shortlist of 42 films across four categories.  The winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on 12 April, marking the closing night of HKIFF50.        The jury for the Firebird Awards Young Cinema Competition (Chinese-language), now in its eighth year, includes Philip Yung, the Hong Kong director known for Port of Call and Papa, Liang Ming, a two-time Firebird Awards Best Director winner for Wisdom Tooth and Carefree Days, and Edward Lam, a leading Hong Kong theatre director, scriptwriter, and founder of Edward Lam Dance Theatre.  For the Firebird Award Young Cinema Competition (World Cinema), Ildikó Enyedi—winner of the Berlinale Golden Bear for On Body and Soul—will serve alongside two other distinguished industry professionals.  Enyedi will also present her latest work, Silent Friend, starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai, through a masterclass and post-screening discussion.  Joining her on the jury are Indonesian director Edwin, whose latest thriller Sleep No More will screen at HKIFF50, and Wim De Witte, Programme Director of Film Fest Gent.  The Documentary Competition jury will be led by Park Ki-yong, director of Old Love and former Chairperson of the Korean Film Council.  He is joined by Jessey Tsang, a Hong Kong filmmaker acclaimed for documentaries such as Flowing Stories and Winter Chants, and producer Eric Nyari, known for Black Ox and the Oscar-nominated Black Box Diaries.  The Short Film Competition will be judged by three esteemed jury members: Ben Rivers, the English experimental artist-filmmaker whose Mare’s Nest, winner of Locarno’s Green Leopard, will be showcased at HKIFF50; South Korean animation director Joung Yumi, who brings Glasses, selected for Cannes Critics’ Week; and Man Lim-chung, an award-winning Hong Kong art director and costume designer, whose directorial debut, Keep Rolling, opened the 44th HKIFF.   The Firebird Awards Competition is a highlight of HKIFF50, which runs from 1 to 12 April.  The festival will announce its full programme and screening schedule on 10 March. Tags:Edward LamHong Kong International Film FestivalLiang MingPhilip Yung