The 3rd International Film Festival & Awards, Macao, was recently unveiled with a grand opening ceremony at the Macao Cultural Centre. The Film Festival presented over 50 spectacular films for the audiences under the theme “A New Avenue to the World of Films”. Held for film industry professionals at home and abroad, the IFFAM Industry Hub was also unfolded for three days.
About 800 personages marked their presence on the red carpet and gathered at the opening ceremony including Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Alexis Tam; Executive Chairman of the China International Culture Communication Center and Honorary Advisor of the 3rd IFFAM, Long Yuxiang; Director of Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and President of the 3rd IFFAM Organizing Committee, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; the two Executive Vice Presidents of the 3rd IFFAM Organizing Committee, namely, President of Macau Films & Television Productions and Culture Association (MFTPA), Alvin Chau and President of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Mok Ian Ian, along with internationally-acclaimed film directors, film stars and film industry professionals from around the world. Hong Kong TV show hosts Jerry Lam and Scarlett Wong are the hosts of the opening ceremony.
Adapted from a true story, the Opening Film “Green Book” starring Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali was directed by Peter Farrelly. The film revolves around a story between an Italian-American bouncer and a black pianist on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Southern United States in the 1960s. The film highlights their friendship amid the looming threats of racism, a social issue confronted by people back in the old days.
54 remarkable Chinese and Western films were screened through IFFAM’s various sections including Competition, New Chinese Cinema, Gala, Flying Daggers, Best of Fest, Director’s Choice, Special Presentations and others besides during the opening and closing evenings. 14 film entries of Local View Power are also presented to the audiences.