The Film Development Fund has allocated $1.2 million to provide equipment for the first comprehensive training programme on film production in Hong Kong.

The programme is being organised by the Federation of HK Film Workers and the HK Institute of Vocational Education, with the assistance of the Film Services Office of the Television & Entertainment Licensing Authority.

It will provide professional training in six areas - film production, assistant director's role, art direction, film editing, cinematography, lighting, and post-production.

This three-year programme, scheduled to start in April, will provide 240 training places each year. More than 1,000 applications have been received so far.

More than $48m allocated to 69 projects 

Since the launch of the Film Development Fund in April 1999, it has allocated more than $48 million to 69 projects in six major categories - award scheme, training course, seminar, survey and study, data compilation and overseas promotion.

The Film Guarantee Fund, another Government initiative to support local film production, has approved loan guarantees totalling more than $11.2 million for five local film productions to help them to secure loan facilities from local lending institutions.

Film Services Office's work targets endorsed 

On a related front, the Film Services Advisory Committee has endorsed the following work targets of the Film Services Office in the coming year:

* to continue to promote Hong Kong as a major film-production centre in the region;

* to facilitate the staging of the three major film industry events in 2005;

* to assist the industry in implementing the Training Programme for Film Workers;

* to promote the Film Guarantee Fund and conduct a review of the fund before the end of 2004; and