| |
| 1. |
Q: |
Is there any deadline for submission of application under the Fund Scheme? |
| |
A: |
The Fund Scheme is open for application throughout the year and there is no deadline for application.
|
| |
| 2. |
Q: |
How much is the application fee for each application? |
| |
A: |
No application fee would be charged. |
| |
| 3. |
Q: |
How can I obtain the application form and the application guide? |
| |
A: |
The application form and the application guide can be downloaded from the Hong Kong Film Development
Council (HKFDC) website (www.fdc.gov.hk) or obtained from the office of the HKFDC Secretariat. |
| |
| 4. |
Q: |
What films have been financed by the Fund Scheme? |
| |
A: |
Please refer to “Film Production Financing Projects” in “Approved Projects” of the HKFDC website. The
information would be updated on monthly basis. |
| |
| 5. |
Q: |
Is there an annual quota on the amount of government finance and the number of financed films to
be approved under the Fund Scheme? |
| |
A: |
There is no annual quota on the total amount of finance or the number of financed films established by
the Fund Scheme. |
| |
| 6. |
Q: |
Is there any requirement on the applicant’s working experience in film production? |
| |
A: |
Among the Applicant, the Film Producer and the Film Director, one category or a total of two categories
must have produced a total of at least two released films immediately preceding the date of the
Application. |
| |
| 7. |
Q: |
What are the eligibility criteria in respect of the applicant? |
| |
A: |
The Applicant must be a film production company formed and registered under the Companies Ordinance
(Cap.622) or the predecessor Ordinance (as defined in section 2 of Cap.622). |
| |
| 8. |
Q: |
Is there any restriction on the participation of the main film crew in other film
productions? |
| |
A: |
An Applicant may only receive Government Finance for up to two (2) Approved Film Projects at any one
time. For this purpose:
- if the Applicant, its Associate or its Associated Person has successfully obtained funding
support in two or more Approved Film Projects under this Fund Scheme as at the date of the
Application being lodged, its Application will not be considered;
- if the Film Producer of the Film Project is currently taking the role of producer in two or more
Approved Film Projects under this Fund Scheme as at the date of the Application being lodged,
any Application involving this Film Producer will not be considered; and
- if the Film Director of the Film Project is currently taking the role of film director in one or
more Approved Film Project under this Fund Scheme as at the date of the Application being
lodged, any Application involving this Film Director will not be considered.
|
| |
| 9. |
Q: |
Is there any restriction on the nationality of the main film crew and cast? |
| |
A: |
All film director(s) must be permanent resident of Hong Kong, in addition, in any two of the four
categories of Main Film Cast (namely, Leading Actor, Leading Actress, Support Actor and Support
Actress), at least one person employed in each such category must be a permanent resident in Hong Kong.
|
| |
| 10. |
Q: |
Is there any restriction on film genre? |
| |
A: |
The Fund Scheme encourages freedom of creation and welcomes the use of the Fund Scheme for production of
different genres of commercial drama feature films (except documentary). |
| |
| 11. |
Q: |
Does the Fund Scheme accept application for short film productions? |
| |
A: |
The film must be a drama feature film produced for commercial theatrical release at least in Hong Kong.
|
| |
| 12. |
Q: |
Is there any requirement on the screenplay? |
| |
A: |
The screenplay must be written in the industry format and registered with the Federation of Hong Kong
Filmmakers. |
| |
| 13. |
Q: |
Is the applicant allowed to revise the screenplay after its submission to the HKFDC
Secretariat? |
| |
A: |
Yes. |
| |
| 14. |
Q: |
Is there any requirement on the theatrical release of the film? |
| |
A: |
The film must be potentially capable of qualifying for a certificate for public exhibition in Hong Kong
under the Film Censorship Ordinance (Cap.392), and is released in Hong Kong commercial theatres. |
| |
| 15. |
Q: |
Is there a limit on the production budget? |
| |
A: |
The production budget must not exceed HK$60 million. |
| |
| 16. |
Q: |
If the final production cost exceeds the budget, will the Government share the
overspend? |
| |
A: |
The Government shall not be responsible for the extra production costs. The overspend shall be
responsible for and met by the film production company. |
| |
| 17. |
Q: |
Can the “pre-sale income” be treated as capital investment? |
| |
A: |
All monies derived from the pre-sale of a film which has not yet completed production (i.e. the pre-sale
income) shall be deemed as the revenue of the film but not capital investment. Upon the execution of the
financing contracts with the Government and the establishment of a collection account, the applicant is
required to deposit all the collected income into the collection account for distribution to the
financiers (including the Government) on a pro rata basis by the International Sales Agent. |
| |
| 18. |
Q: |
Can the promotion and distribution costs be included in the production budget? |
| |
A: |
The production budget is restricted for film production only. The promotion and
distribution costs shall be raised by the film production company and be repaid from the income of the
film afterwards. |
| |
| 19. |
Q: |
Is there any restriction on the sales and distribution expenses of a film? |
| |
A: |
The aggregate sales and distribution expenses (including publicity and advertising costs) shall be
capped at HK$1 million or 15% of the production budget (whichever is the greater), or such greater
amount as may be approved by the Government. |
| |
| 20. |
Q: |
Is there a cap on the amount of Government Finance? |
| |
A: |
The Fund Scheme will contribute up to HK$9 million per approved Film Project. |
| |
| 21. |
Q: |
Is a film allowed to receive financial support from the other Government department of Hong
Kong? |
| |
A: |
The Applicant must not have obtained or applied for other financial support (whether in the form of
equity or loan financing, grant or sponsorship or any other form) from the Government for the Film
Project. |
| |
| 22. |
Q: |
Is an application under the Fund Scheme allowed to receive other overseas financing, for
example, the finance granted by the other governments? |
| |
A: |
The Fund Scheme does not impose any restriction to an application which involves overseas financing.
However, the applicant should pay attention to the relevant terms of cooperation to ensure that they are
not in conflict with the requirements under the Fund Scheme, in particular, when the financier is the
government of other country. |
| |
| 23. |
Q: |
Apart from the duly completed application form, what other related documents should be submitted
by the applicant? |
| |
A: |
Other related documents include statutory declarations from all persons having a controlling interests
of the applicant, e.g. all applicant’s company directors, shareholders; certificate of incorporation of
the applicant and certificate of change of name of the applicant (if any); applicant’s latest annual
return together with any notification of change of secretary and director filed with the companies
registry; audited accounts or financial statement of the applicant; shooting script; shooting schedule;
identity cards of the main film crew and cast; film director’s filmography; cashflow schedule;
agreements or letters of intent in respect of financiers; and any other agreements or letters of intent.
(For details, please refer to page 48 of the application form). |
| |
| 24. |
Q: |
What is a “certified true copy”? |
| |
A: |
A “certified true copy” is one which is duly signed by a company director of the
application to confirm that the document submitted is a true copy of the original. |
| |
| 25. |
Q: |
Is there any other requirement that has to observed apart from the submission of a duly
completed form and related documents? |
| |
A: |
No principal photography of any part of the Proposed Film shall be commenced prior to the date of the
Government's written acknowledgement of receipt of the Application. |
| |
| 26. |
Q: |
If an application is rejected, will the applicant get back all the submitted information and the
related documents? |
| |
A: |
The application form and all information and the related documents submitted by an
applicant will be retained by the Government and HKFDC Secretariat for record and audit purposes and
will not be returned to the applicant. Applicants should make copies of these documents for their own
record. |