HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 14 November 2022 - Organised by the Academy of Film (AF) at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), the Global University Film Awards (GUFA) 2022 held its magnificent award presentation ceremony in virtual mode on 11 November. The entry from France's Le Fresnoy clinched the Gold Award. The full list of winners is attached in the Appendix.

This year's award presentation ceremony was broadcast live in online format in a wonderfully designed cinematic setting, using virtual sets and advanced technology to recreate classic scenes in blockbusters such as The Matrix, the Harry Potter film series and In the Mood for Love.

In his opening remarks at the ceremony, Dr Clement Chen, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU, shared the delights of seeing GUFA held for the third time. "We hope to stand as a beacon of encouragement to emerging filmmakers, allowing them to create their art without commercial considerations and industry pressures. At university, they are free to let their imagination fly, share their concerns and explore creative ideas. We at HKBU embrace these ideals and, for over four decades, have been offering the finest teaching and training in the cinematic arts. We continue to celebrate this legacy today as we nurture tomorrow's filmmakers."

In his speech, Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, said: "HKBU is the first institution in Hong Kong to offer film and video production programmes and we always have our eyes on the future. Filmmaking is a global community, and GUFA is a way for all of us to celebrate new young talents from all over the world. It gives me great delight to have a sneak peek at the future voices of filmmaking and to celebrate their progress."

Widely known as the "University Oscars", this year GUFA received more than 2,300 submissions from about 100 countries and regions. Celebrated professionals in the film industry, including directors Ms Mabel Cheung, Mr Derek Tsang, Ms Jessey Tsang, Mr Ray Yeung, and actress/producer Ms Josie Ho presented 15 awards to the young film talents from all over the world, letting them shine on a glamorous virtual stage.

To further showcase the exemplary works at GUFA 2022, a public screening of the winners will be held on 15 November at HKBU. Members of the public are welcome to attend. For more information, please refer to the GUFA website, GUFA Facebook page and GUFA YouTube channel.

GUFA recognises the excellence of film productions by university students from across the world by connecting the global film community and its audiences with the outstanding works and groundbreaking ideas presented by the participants. The event not only showcases the students' talents but also fosters the exchange of ideas and enhances professional networks, building synergy between young regional talents and the international creative industry.

Appendix: Award winners

Award	Winning film	University
Best Narrative	Good German Work	Konrad Wolf Film University of Babelsberg, Germany
Special Mention of Narrative	When Summer Ends	Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
Best Cine-VFX	Little Gestures	Pearson College London, United Kingdom
Special Mention of Cine-VFX	17 Souls	University of Television and Film Munich (HFF M�nchen), Germany
Best Documentary	Pupus	Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia- Sede Sicilia, Italy
Special Mention of Documentary	Broken	Yangon Film School, Myanmar
Best Experimental Film	$75 000	Le Fresnoy, France
Special Mention of Experimental Film	In Plain Sight	Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Best Animation	Graziano and the Giraffe	Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, Italy
Special Mention of Animation	A Dog under Bridge	China Academy of Art, Mainland China
Best Director	To Each Your Sarah	Korea National University of Arts, South Korea
Best Script	Russian Vodka	University of Applied Science and Technology, Iran
Gold Award	$75 000	Le Fresnoy, France
HKBU Academy of Film's Choice	Intimate Distance	Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
HKBU Academy of Film's Choice Special Mention	Love Delivery	Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong

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