[2016.07.13] MPIA SUGGESTS HONG KONG FILM AWARD VOTING CHANGE

courtesy of mingpao.com

The topical film TEN YEARS due to its sensitive content was banned in the Mainland. In April at the Hong Kong Film Award TEN YEARS won Best Film and led to controversy. Representing film bosses, the Hong Kong Chamber of Films and the Hong Kong Motion Picture Industry Association questioned TEN YEARS' Best Film award. Media Asia boss Peter Lam Kin Ngok expressed disappointment in the result and demanded an examination of the voting standards. Reportedly the MPIA chief Hung Cho Sing has officially suggested standard change to the Hong Kong Film award board of directors and cancel the second round Hong Kong Film Award professional voting.

Hung Cho Sing said that everyone have noticed the problem with the old standard long ago, but some people did not like change; the Hong Kong Film Award meeting will take place last week and everyone would discuss and study to find a good method. Hung Cho Ming said that the Hong Kong Film Award second round voting standard had problems. The 55 person professional jury represented 55%, and the 1000 person of 13 affiliated organizations would only occupied 45%. The result was completely controlled, which was unfair. He suggested to cancel the professional voting, for the 1000 people of the 13 affiliated organizations to vote with one vote per person. He said, "It's impossible for 55 people to dominate the situation. The Chamber of Film and the MPIA occupied 95% of the film releases, there is no reason for those 55 people to choose Best Film. This standard has problems." Hung Cho Sing said that he might not be able to attend the meeting next week. Leung Lee Siu Ha will represent the MPIA. Hung Cho Sing said that without any change to the current standard, Hong Kong Film Award would be in jeopardy.