[2023.06.25] JOHNNIE TO URGES NEW DIRECTORS TO HAVE "PASSION AND PERSISTENCE"

Johnnie To and Lo Ting Fai attend the 17th Fresh Wave International Short Film Festival local competition award ceremony

Judge Lawrence Lau feels most of 17 entries have quality
courtesy of mingpao.com

Johnnie To Kei Fung, MakerVille CEO Lo Ting Fai and director Lawrence Lau Kwok Cheung yesterday attended the 17th Fresh Wave International Short Film Festival local competition award ceremony. Ho Sze-wai with BEFORE THE BOX GETS EMPTIED (JIK DOH NGOR HONG GEIN BEI ONG) won the Fresh Wave award and Best Cinematography; Bobby Yu Shuk-pui with LYKKE TIL (JOOK KWAN ONG HO) won Best Director; Lam Lo with AL NIENTE (NIU NIU) won Best Screenplay and Audience's Choice Award. Special prizes went to PLEASE HOLD ON (MEI NUNG JIP TUNG), BETWEEN TWO EARS (LEUNG YI) and THE RETICENT WAVE (YEH YEH LOI FONG DIK YEH).

To Kei Fung said, "Having seen young people who have participated in the Fresh Wave Film Festival entering the business one by one and making great changes, I feel that this platform has almost completed its mission. Now the most important is to see how far these directors would reach. In the process I also have seen more opportunities. Today whether you win or not it is unimportant, no prize doesn't mean you are not qualified to direct. The director's journey is very long. With passion and persistence one day you will succeed." Judge Lau Kwok Cheung felt that out of this year's 14 participants, most had quality in terms of technique. He hoped that young people would attempt more different genres and material to show their skills and put more of their visions on the world.