Guilty pleasures: Animation for Kids and Adults at 37th HKIFF / 11th HAF's Filmmakers Share Their Thoughts

Guilty pleasures: Animation for Kids and Adults at 37th HKIFF

Walt Disney once said, "Animation can explain whatever the mind of man can conceive."

Fans of animation can now witness the expressive potential of this ever popular genre at the 37th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), which will feature two special compilations, "World Animation for All" and "World Animation for Adults", as well as a mesmerizing showcase of the works of young and edgy Chinese animator Xun Sun, during its 17-day programme from 17 March – 2 April 2013.

World Animation for All

Going to the movies is a beloved family pastime for many, and no other choice of film would be more suitable than a mix of animated shorts that is both educational and entertaining. Ideal for the young and old, "World Animation for All" brings a total of seven charming tales from Canada, Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands among other places, including: , an exquisite stop-motion chronicle of the life cycle of an adorable sea turtle in a perilous world filled with predators; and , where a French soldier, paralysed with fear in a trench during the First World War, disconnects his mind from reality and escapes to a world where wars are fought by toys.

World Animation for Adults

While kids will revel in the endless joy of "World Animation for All", the highly anticipated "World Animation for Adults" ventures into areas that are usually off-limits in mainstream animation, full of symbolic meanings about eroticism, psychology and violence. From a blindfolded man and woman in – a perverse and eerie story from South Korea, to the French production

– with its female driver indulging in the steamiest fantasies about her be-suited passengers on a humdrum day, this compilation serves up all the naughtiest and wittiest fun animation can offer.

Xun Sun Programme

The festival will also feature a programme of shorts by Chinese visual artist Xun Sun, who rose to fame with his signature monochromatic, hand drawn style, exploring the schism between history and myth, past and present in a "new" but disillusioned China. The 37th HKIFF will present his early work, the fleeting , where characters truly become their meanings; the discordant, surreal woodcut animation, ; the expressionistic , where the world is on the verge of collapse; the reality-challenging and ; the romantic ; and the absurdist utopia of .

The 37th HKIFF will run from 17 March – 2 April 2013. Stay tuned for more updates on our programme and events!

11th HAF's Filmmakers Share Their Thoughts

The 11th Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) asked the filmmakers of the 2013 HAF projects and 2nd Annual HAF/Fox Chinese Film Development Award finalists to share their thoughts on their projects being selected as finalists, what they hope to achieve at the forum, their impressions of the Hong Kong film industry, their favourite and least favourite part of the filmmaking process, etc. They came back with some very candid and interesting answers.

Please visit our HAF's official website, Facebook Fan Page and Weibo to get to know our shortlisted filmmakers.

Online Guest Registration System Are Available

The 11th HAF will take place from 18-20 March at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Film financiers, investors and participants can now register online to attend the 11th HAF www.haf.org.hk/ guestregistration. Enjoy early bird discount if register on or before 28 February 2013. Eligible applicants can schedule meetings with various project representatives during the three-day forum.

Visit www.haf.org.hk for more information.