The department of Cinema and Television, under Hong Kong Baptist University's School of Communication, was reformed and renamed the Academy of Film in June 2009.
A Grand Openning Ceremony was held on 5 January 2010 to mark the opening of the territory's first Academy of Film. Officiating at the ceremony were Mrs. Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, HKSAR Government; Mr. Jack So Chak-kwong, Chairman, Hong Kong Film Development Council; Mr. Ng See-yuen, Honorary President, Hong Kong Film Director's Guild; Mr. Wilfred Wong, Council and Court Chairman, HKBU; and Prof. Ng Ching-fai, President and Vice Chancellor, HKBU. Many Professors from UIC were also invited to the ceremony.
To support the Academy of Film, Mr. Jack So presented a cheque of around HK$3.4 million to HKBU at the ceremony on behalf of the Hong Kong Film Development Council. The Jackie Chan Charitble Foundation also pledged to donate a total of HK$500,000 to establish a scholarship.
In his opening remarks, Professor Ng Ching-fai expressed his gratitude to the Hong Kong Film Development Council and the Jackie Chan Charitble Foundation for their support to HKBU. He said the School of Communication, building on its solid foundation, has expanded its Department of Cinema and Television to what it is now called the Academy of Film. This development, he added, ties in with the strategic direction of the Government in supporting the creative industry.
Prof. C F Ng, Dr. Michael Fitzhenry meeting with renowned figures from the CTV industry
At the ceremony, a total of 15 renowned figures from the local and Mainland cinema and television industry were awarded the title of Honorary Consultant of the Academy of Film, including Director John Woo, Dr. Hou Hisao-hsien, etc.
The Academy of Film under the School of Communication Offers a wide range of comprehensive and professional programs in the discipline of film, ranging from Higher Diplomas to undergraduate and postgraduate programs which aim to provide young people who want to pursue a career in film and television with access to a systematic source of knowledge, among which Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media and Master of Arts in Television Communication Management are desirable for UIC students, especially CTV students.
Source: HKBU press release
Edited by Richard Xu
Photos taken by Dominic Man
MCO
