25th ifva Awards
Youth Category Jury Meeting Transcript
Jury Members ： Adam Wong (Wong), Tsang Tsui-shan (Tsang), Lo Chun-yip (Lo), Lee Cheuk-pan(Lee), Chui Tien-you (Chui).
Organizer representative： Kattie Fan (Fan), Samantha Szeto (Szeto), Wong Ming Lok (Lok).
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Fan:

Today, our goal is to select a total of 5 awards: Gold, Silver award winners and 3 Special
Mentions among the 10 finalist works. The Gold and Silver award winners will receive
HK$20,000 and HK$10,000, respectively, while the Special Mentions will receive
certificates. We can first state your views and opinions on the works one by one and thendiscuss the prizes. The first work is Her voice.

Wong:

I think the subject matter of this work is the most typical among Youth Category entries,
namely the conflict between aspirations and reality. Even the examples the filmmakerchooses, such as using himself to represent aspirations while reality is represented bycompany stocks and opposition of family members, etc., are quite cliched. However, thefilmmaker does add certain topics such as New Territories indigenous people’s housing
rights and the use of female and ordinary women characters to express the inequalities ofsociety. However, these subject matters are not new to me, even though the director does
show some creativity and effort in his treatment. Despite the ordinariness of the subject
matter, the director does manage to give the work a sense of texture and feeling.

Chui:

What the director wants to express is quite simple, and he could have stated his ideas in astraightforward manner, but instead, he uses various shots and filming techniques, whichmakes the work quite special and even theatrical while at the same time clearly conveying
the ideas behind the work. It would be nice if the film was longer, but on the whole, I think
the way the director handles images is one of the most unique aspects of the work.

Tsang:

I quite like this work, and was at first attracted to the way the director handles the topic andthe issues about indigenous people’s housing rights and the presence of a female perspective.
Watching it again some time later, I noticed the work’s weaknesses, such as theunconvincing and contrived plot development. The work was chosen as a finalist due to thedirector’s thoughtful treatment of the subject matter and outstanding filming technique.
Compared with many works that deal with school bullying, the use of female perspective in
Her voice and the lead actresses’ performance made it stand out from the rest, but amongthe 10 finalists, this work is somewhat lacking. For example, compared with the storytellingand plot development in Special, Her voice is too formalistic.

Wong:

I agree, this work pays too much attention to form and tries to look cool and atmospheric.
As a result, the storytelling pales in comparison, including the use of texts and the way they
appear, which is too repetitive. Is the director from Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity?

Lok:

No.
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Lo:

Among the 69 works, there seem to be no works from Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity.

Szeto:

There are, but because of the age requirements, most works from this school are in the Open
Category.

Lo:

I also want to talk about my views on Her voice. I think when the work has problems withthe use of script and editing. The form of the work, including the use of camera angles andcolor, can actually remedy its shortcomings and at the same time make it not confined toconventional filming methods. From the perspective of gender issues, the work is not overly
abrupt, or like children pretending to be adults. The director's own feelings are adequately
represented, which is quite good. The director is also made another finalist work, A candle
lights others and consumes itself. Comparing the two, we can see they have different
filming techniques, which is worth encouraging. The treatment of Her voice is not just for
showing off, and the overall effect is enjoyable.

Fan:

The next work is Special.

Tsang:

I quite like this work. Films about families and the handicapped can easily become too
conventional or else too melodramatic, but the director uses a light touch to create an
appropriate and touching work. Of course, there are problems, such as the fact that thedirector does not delve too deeply into the subject matter and everything appears too wispy,
but the aesthetics allow for an effect that is not too overbearing and tear-jerking, which are
the strengths of this work. It is worth a Special Mention.

Wong:

If you talk about Special Mention, Special is my favorite work and deserves the Gold Awardin my mind. I agree with what you say about the work’s strengths and weaknesses.

Tsang:

Compared with Her voice, which emphasizes visuals, Special is a different kettle of fish.
Jurors need to think about what we want to promote and what are the most importantqualities in a work.

Wong:

I appreciate the naturalness of Special the most. Everything from the interaction between
characters and the movement of the camera is natural. The naturalness of the emotion ishandled very well, and I think this is the most complete work. But in terms of the story line,
the handling of the ending is actually very weak and it does not express any deep struggle.
But at the same time, the director chooses to end the story this way, which shows defthandling of cinematic language and aesthetics, and that she has her own understanding ofwhat she wants to express.

Chui:

I agree that the work is emotive, but the themes could have been explored more fully than it
is now. Too many things are lightly glossed over.

Lee:

I don’t have strong feelings about this work, but in the first round of jury meeting, I thoughtSpecial was not too dramatic, but places more emphasis on recording things as they happen.
The cinematography is not bad; it’s not the kind of style that young filmmakers want to2

emulate these days, but rather a more naturalistic and foreign style. The best part about thework is its depiction of the relations between family members, rather than the textual orsocial issues elements. The director does not delve into the condition, nor does she hope todraw attention to it. Instead, she focuses on recording the relationship between family
members. I appreciate this work, but as for whether it deserves an award, we can discuss it
later.
Lo:

I think the images are restrained in a way, that is to say, the style is very light and the tone
is soft. This image strategy is not bad, but as a work that reflects the creator’s sentiments, it
is a pity that this light touch prevents the audience from entering deeply into the characters’
mindset, and instead hold them at a distance. Of course, the creator has a right to choose
how much she wants to reveal rather than satisfy the audience’s every desire. However, this“lightness” does mean that it is easy for the work to loses some of its emotional impact.

Fan:

The next work is The Toilet Exorcist.

Wong:

I wonder if the director is influenced by Tetsuo?

Fan:Yes, he mentioned it in the information provided.

Wong:

I sense the influence of Tetsuo from the very start, which is a boyish prankster style and acult film with a recurring storyline. It is no holds back and extreme with a constant streamof visual provocations, using heavy metal music as background to provide a strong sense ofenergy. On the whole the work is very agitated and impulsive, without restraint. I personallyappreciate creations that are without baggage, that explore the more extreme possibilities in
one’s favorite genre. However, this work lacks detail, and I don't think that insufficientbudget is an acceptable reason. In the past, some Youth Category works choose to do
impactful visuals that are more meticulous, and does not require a lot of money or wellcrafted props. With this work, I can see that the cinematography is not very precise andeverything is just thrown together, and the black and white is just used to cover up mistakes.
But of course, this urge to be wild and creative is very worthy of encouragement.

Chui:

I also like zombie movies, and I know how difficult it is to shoot them. This work is a bit
rough. But at the same time, I appreciate their ideas and creativity, and their ability topersevere in the face of difficulties as well as their unbridled energy. Being able to do yourown creation with limited resources is precisely the dynamism and power of this work. But
the problem is that despite its energy, the work feels too long to me, and they should put
more thought on how to progress from one plotline to the next.

Lee:

I very much agree. At first, I thought this work really stands out, both in terms of creative
concept and shooting method, from other works set in schools. I feel their carefree spirit andtheir pure youthful energy. However, the plot is a bit repetitive, and there is not muchbreakthrough in the later half, which feels a little lengthy. But the ideas and creative sparksof the work are very commendable.

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Lo:

In recent years, are there fewer works of this nature? It seems that such a feeling of youthfulabandon, enjoyment and creative energy can only be found in this work.

Tsang:

Yes, this is the only work like that in this year’s competition.

Lo:

This type of work is rarely seen in the Youth Category nowadays?

Fan:

I personally agree, perhaps Adam has something more to add?

Wong:

Recent editions, especially the past two years, had been relatively weak and works of thistype are rarely seen. In the past, works like this would appear now and again.

Lo:

Back to this work. The structure takes the form of perpetual recurrence, which adequately
expresses the main theme of the film, which is logical even though it is a bit rough. On thewhole, there is a unique feeling about the work. The director does not aim for realism, andthe audience does not altogether suspend disbelief but at the same time are not overly
sceptical. I am impressed with the montage of Carrie Lam and cells. The film sets up toilets
as the source of evil at the beginning, which reflects current social realities and shows young
people’s view of society in decline. The ending speech is a manifesto on mutual destruction,
which is the most open and honest among all the Youth Category works this year.

Tsang:

This work is very eye-catching, but its execution is not perfect. For example, some actors
laugh during their performances. It is nice to see that they enjoy making the film so much,and it is not a run-of-the-mill campus TV production that aims to teach lessons. Comparedwith the sincere emotions of Special, the filmmakers behind this work should also think
about how to move others.

Fan:

The next work is Bully's Wording.

Chui:

There are three works dealing with bullying this year, and I tend to put them together.

Tsang:

Me too.

Chui:

I think this work works well by presenting the story as a trial, but some things are lacking
in the later half to advance the plot. The ending is a bit weak but the atmosphere is well done.

Tsang:

I should add that among the 60 works in the first round, there was another version of thiswork edited by another group of students. The first-round jurors all agreed that this version
is better. The actor's performance is very good, and not like acting at all. They really bringout what new-comers to Hong Kong are like, which is very nice.

Wong:

The film touches on such issues as bullying and marginal characters in society, and different
parts of the work also exude a marginal feeling, which matches with the theme of bullying
and make the work very special. However, it is difficult to tell whether the director
consciously considered and arranged these elements, or maybe it was just a coincidence?
Some parts seem realistic, but at times I also sense some deliberate arrangement by the4director. For example, mocumentary style, parallel editing of the bullying incident and theconfession, the acting skills of the actor and the method of reading the narration, the allforgiving ending, etc., are all a mixture of deliberate and natural, marginal and life-like. The
overall feeling is somewhat unbalanced.
Tsang:

Perhaps in some student works, there are no designated director, they are just a group of
students working together, so it’s difficult to evaluate whether or not a director had arranged
things or not, like whether the actors’ performances are arranged by the director. Is it
necessary to assess the director's motivations in evaluating this work?

Wong:

In a normal film production process, if the director has chosen these actors and directed theirperformance this way, he has done a very good job.

Tsang:

I suspect this school is located in an area with a relatively large number of new-comer
students.

Wong:

I think so too.

Tsang:

So this kind of marginal and grassroots feeling is natural. Do we have to consider how muchof that is arranged by the director?

Lok:

The entrants are indeed students from new-comer families. The school is located in Tin Shui
Wai, and this version was edited by the entrant.

Tsang:

I want to encourage different ways of production and participating, and jurors should beaware of the background of this work.

Lee:

Since the entrant is the editor, this version is more profound than the other version, using a“Rashomon” type approach. Even though he is not completely in control of all aspects ofthe production, we can see how he arranged the story and visuals in this version.

Lo:

I fully agree. The added information is very important. I don’t know if we should compare
this version with the other one, since the other version is not a finalist work. But it is truethat three jury members have already seen the other version and are more aware of what theoriginal materials look like. In the other version, the bullying is presented wholly, but thisversion is more restrained in its presentation of violence, making the trial the main focus.
All the characters and casting are very strong.

Tsang:

Yes, the students did a good job.

Lo:This work reminds me of Yau Ching's We Are Alive. It is hard to judge whether acting andcharacters are designed, but the work and visuals are powerful. I was pleasantly surprisedthat secondary school students have attempted to make a mocumentary. The editing andarrangement of this version reflect the director’s restraint on the issue of bullying, ad showsthat they had constantly rethought what bullying is and revealing different perspectives onbullies themselves. The introduction of the protagonist's sister in the latter part of the film5takes the work to a different level, bringing in the family background and thus introducing
multi-faceted perspectives on "victimization". Compared with other works dealing withbullying, this one is the most powerful. The zooming in at the end is also effective. Not using
the shot of the teacher shows another kind of restraint.
Wong:

The wide shot of the playground is indeed very powerful. But I am not sure if it came froma single creator or a group? Was it done by happenstance or consciously? Or is this thenature of their lives? I have a lot of doubts. There are some masterful touches, but someparts are primitive at the same time. It is strange that the creativity suddenly decreases as
the film progresses. For example, the character turning good at the end, I wonder if they
were instructed by the school to be more moralistic.

Lee:

Yet the overall treatment is not mainstream.

Wong:

I also don’t understand what they have to stick adhesive tape over the school insignia.

Tsang:

I guess to protect the witness.

Lo:

I think that is deliberate.

Wong:

I wonder whether it is deliberate or has other meanings.

Lo:

In the bullying scene, the school insignia is not taped over, so it must be designed.

Lee:

Perhaps they don’t want to do it in post-production.

Tsang:

I quite like this work. Perhaps we should move on to other works.

Fan:

The next work is Qualified Four.

Tsang:

This work is light and interesting.

Lo:

Looking at the works of secondary school students in recent years, I often feel that there isa "distance" between them and their creative language. In other words, they try to create
certain kinds of "powerful" images. But Qualified Four has no such distance, and theircinematic language is very close to them. Simply put, it is more like a youtuber-style image
that you see on the internet, it uses a youtuber-style image strategy that mixes humor withmelancholy; it is self-deprecating. As they say in the last section, it is their fate that they
have to go to school. It's rare to see this kind of youtuber-style treatment in a short film, but
the content is rich.

Lee:

I agree, this work is very much like an online short film that you see nowadays, but muchbetter, especially with its visual rhythm of the video. When I watched it for the first time, I
thought seriously about the issue of qualifying for exams, but when I looked at the director’s
statement, it says that "In an absurd era, I use absurd methods to complete an absurd goal."This sort of precept is very absurd, and this is a powerfully ironic work.
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Fan:

The next work is The Handmade Buns.

Chui:

I notice that in the end credits that this work was done by primary school students, and I wasquite surprised. The sense of Hong Kong sentiments is very strong.

Lee:

I appreciate that a group of primary school students can complete a work like this/ I learned
something from this film. It is nice that it promotes small shops with local flavor. However,I have reservations about whether it deserves a prize.

Tsang:

Yes, the production is not very outstanding, although the efforts of a group of primary school
students is worthy of encouragement.

Wong:

It should be encouraged. We often encourage works that are out of the box, but this kind of
proper short film that represent the hard work of diligent students is also worthy ofencouragement. All aspects are well executed and not sloppy at all. Although the treatment
is nothing special, everything from audio recording and filming are well done.

Lo:

The first time I watched it, I didn't notice that the work was done by primary school students,
so I didn't have any feelings for it. Having discovered this fact, I understand that they took
this direct approach because they were learning how to do a documentary. The materials
they gather show their curiosity about the subject, and the work reflect their perspectives. If
it was shot by secondary school or university students, the materials they choose to show
would be different. This makes the work distinctive. Many schools nowadays have campus
TV stations. If they can all produce such community-based videos, they will become apowerful force. The Handmade Buns shows how primary school students can achieve this.

Fan:

The next work is Shelter.

Wong:

The lead character is very good and has a sense of youthful gravitas.

Chui:

The overall acting good, but in comparison with Bully's Wording, it is a bit thin.

Tsang:

Shelter is very crisp and clean, complete and accurate. The overall feeling is good, and the
production is mature. However, in terms of how it expresses its subject matter, the work isa bit weak.

Lee:This work makes good use of cinematic language, and the cinematography and mise-enscene are very accurate, but the ending on the theme of bullying is not powerful enough.

Wong:

Many films about bullying are like this. Some are very sentimental or the endings areincomplete without proper resolution. In the end, the two students just get together and makeup, that’s it.

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Lo:

A lot of times a small change can mean a lot. If the ending can bring out a sense ofambivalence, it could address some of the issues. Now the character just says “it’s nothing”
and that’s it. However, I appreciate the actors’ performance and overall production.

Wong:

At the end, they even point out the moral of the story. I wonder if they are influenced by theteacher ...

Lo:This is the limitation of school productions. The Toilet Exorcist manages to get away from
that, while most works are like school assignments.

Fan:

The next work is Zero Sound.

Chui:

Among the three works that deal with bullying, this one is the most emotive. The distinctive
aspect of this work is the character with hearing aids, and all the performances are well done.
The rain scene is very emotional.

Lo:

I appreciate the treatment of objects and images in this scene, like the mise-en-scene in thebathroom scene, which left an impression for me after having watched it a few times. The
red cloth, hearing aids, etc., and the ability to use objects and symbols to bring out meanings
is rare among secondary school students, which makes this film special.

Tsang:The use of the song "Miss Tung" at the end is powerful.

Lo:

Even though the use of mise-en-scene is detailed, the connection between scenes is broken
and the structure is relatively weak.

Fan:

The next film is I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying.

Tsang:

I like this work, a film about the future that is evidently made without a lot of resources. The
script is well-considered and encouraging. I like its theme, which is very relevant to thepresent day.

Chui:

The structure of the story is good, and I feel the director has put in a lot of ideas. However,
the execution is a bit contrived and I expect to see more of the storyline.

Wong:

I appreciate the work’s ambitions and its forward-looking nature. For example, we are notallowed to go out now. I also appreciate the apocalyptic tone of the film. However, theexecution is off-kilter in many places, like the actors’ performances, the realism of the miseen-scene, costume design, etc, are all faulty.

Lo:

I appreciate the design, such as virtual classrooms, etc., which helps realize the story.
However, there are too many flaws which prevented me from enjoying this work. There areproblems with the actors’ performances, and some of the dialogue do not match their age,
all these elements distracted from the apocalyptic mood. If the editing was more concise,such careless mistakes will not be so noticeable.

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Lee:

I understand the idea behind the work, but its problems stem from the handling method; thework is too didactic and fails to make a connection between the characters and their stories.

Fan:

The last work is A candle lights others and consumes itself.

Tsang:The story is simple but the emotions are lively. If there was more story development it’d bebetter.

Wong:

The director pays more attention to technique than plot development, and fails to move me.
The story is about the fine feelings of a female student for her teacher, but the filming
technique does not drive the emotions. However, this young filmmaker displays great skills
in terms of sound effects, camera, lighting and editing, which makes the work attractive,
although the story is not very creative.

Chui:

The story is communicated through technique, and the visuals are not bad. However, thecontent lacks depth and the emotions are not presented adequately.

Lee:

I agree. The director is the same as that of Her voice, and this film showcases his technique.

Lo:This work treads a fine line before it becomes a show-off of filmic technique, but the storyof the girl is well thought-out. The part at Sung Wong Toi is very show-offy, but the film
does talk about the teacher taking students to travel around, so it is appropriate. The scriptand execution are well thought-out. Compared with Her voice, which lacks character andplot development, the script of A candle lights others and consumes itself is better.

Lee:

It’d be better if the teacher character were better designed.

Lo:

That’s right, now the work is too much like a student film.

Fan:

We can now nominate awards. Do you have works that you want to nominate for awards?

Lo:

Is there a usual procedure for doing this?

Fan:

It differs from year to year. It depends on whether jury members have any works that theywant to nominate. For example, last year the Gold Award was omitted.

Wong:

The standard this year is quite average, I don’t think we need to omit Gold this year.

Lee:

I suggest giving Special Mention to The Handmade Buns.

Lo:

I concur.

Tsang:

Should we talk about Gold and Silver awards first before moving on to Special Mention?

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Fan:

I want to add that Special Mention does not mean that the work ranks third or fourth afterGold and Silver, but rather is given to works that jury members want to mention andhighlight.

Tsang:

I want to respond to The Handmade Buns getting Special Mention. To me, being a finalist
is already a form of encouragement. Even though the entrants put in a lot of hard work todeliver a complete work, I don’t feel it needs any additional encouragement. I feel that inrecent years, the quality of works has been in decline. In the past, Special Mention winners
were awarded for their creativity and the artistic potential of entrants. I hope jury members
can consider the difference between giving encouragement in the form of an award andbeing a finalist work.

Fan:

Perhaps you all have works that you think are deserving of awards. Why don’t you nominate
your favorite works and we will discuss them?

Wong:

I have served as a jury member for the Youth Category for many years, and the standard thisyear is unusually high. In past years, some finalists don’t really deserve to be there, while
this year, every work has some qualities worthy of being lauded. I suggest Special as theGold Award winner.

Lo:

I nominate Bully's Wording for Gold Award.

Lee:

I also nominate Bully's Wording for Gold Award.

Tsang:

I nominate the following works: I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying, Bully's Wording,Special and The Toilet Exorcist for awards, but I’m not sure about awards.

Chui:

I nominate Her voice, The Toilet Exorcist, I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying and ZeroSound.

Fan:

So far, works that have received nominations include Her voice, Special, The Toilet
Exorcist, Bully's Wording, Zero Sound and I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying. Is
anyone nominating The Handmade Buns?

Lee:

I nominate Qualified Four.

Fan:

Works that have received no nominations include Shelter, The Handmade Buns and A
candle lights others and consumes itself. Special and Bully's Wording are nominated forGold Award.

Chui:

Should Gold Award be the one that most people nominated?

Fan:

Just because it received the most nominations does not mean it is the best work. We should
first discuss them or put it to a vote.

Tsang:For me, Gold Award is a choice between Special and Bully's Wording.
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Wong:For me, Bully's Wording does not deserve the Gold Award. As I mentioned, every work has
good elements, but for me, Gold Award should not have major flaws. According to thiscriterion, I favour Special getting Gold Award. I think A candle lights others and consumes
itself is perfectly up to standard in terms of its execution and precision technique. Special issincere and flawless, and every scene is motivated while the cinematic language is not overly
contrived.

Tsang:How should we vote now?

Fan:

I hope jury members can nominate Gold Award works, and see if Special and Bully's
Wording are the only contenders.

Tsang:

I like Special, but don’t think it deserves the Gold Award. I pick Bully's Wording as Gold
Award and Special as Silver.

Lee:

I also favour Bully's Wording as Gold and Special as Silver.

Tsang:

I like the sincere emotions that Special displays, while the point of view and overall qualityof Bully's Wording is outstanding. The two works are very different and hard to compare.
Can we give two Gold awards?

Lee:Special is a very personal work, while Bully's Wording uses complex techniques to explore
a general issue. Of course, Bully's Wording has certain flaws in its execution, but making afilm about a social issue is harder and more complicated than making a personal film. For a
Youth Category work, the flaws of Bully's Wording are entirely forgivable.

Chui:

I favour Bully's Wording for Gold Award.

Lo:

I have been thinking about the problem with Special, which is its playing it safe approach.
This work is about the family and involves certain issues, which the director chooses to deal
with in a light-hearted manner. As I said before, this method makes the story stay within apersonal dimension. Perhaps because the filmmaker is middle class, problems can be dealt
with in light-hearted way. Of course, I am not using class to determine its quality and I am
touched by the familial relationships expressed in the film, but the characters and issues are
not too thorny or nuanced. This even-handedness means there are not too many outstanding
elements, and is not deserving of the Gold Award. Bully's Wording, on the other hand,offers more room for interpretation, and not just in terms of emotional expression. I think
about what kind of competition ifva is, and in my mind, ifva has always encouraged works
that are more edgy, which is different from most other short film competitions. Bully's
Wording does not have flawless cinematography or execution, but the way it deals withissues showcases the filmmaker’s point of view and sensibilities.

Fan:

Currently, Bully's Wording has 4 votes while Special has 1 vote. Adam, do you haveanything to add?

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Wong:

I don’t agree that Special plays it safe, it’s jus that the director did not go for flashy cinematic
expressions. If it was playing it safe, the treatment would have been more sit-com like, but
at the beginning of the film, in the shots of the children running, there are some double cutsthat left me pleasantly surprised. In terms of sound, the director uses the sound of the motherchatting to reveal the family background in a light-handed way. A more typical student film
approach wold be to add expository dialogue. The life-like treatment deftly brings out theissues related to the story, and I think the director’s handling of cinematic language is matureand sensitive.

Lo:

I understand, perhaps by even-handed, I don’t mean it is conventional, but reflects the
director’s mature handling of filmic images.

Tsang:

I agree that the main strength of Special is its sincere emotions, which I like very much.

Fan:

Right now, Bully's Wording still has 4 votes while Special has 1 vote. Do you have any
issues regarding the Gold Award?

Wong:

To me, Special deserves the Gold Award.

Tsang:

Do you want to consider giving two Gold awards?

Wong:

Perhaps that would be too troublesome for the organizer.

Fan:It’s not that, you should consider whether both works deserve Gold award.

Tsang:I understand, but considering that Bully's Wording has certain flaws while Special has
unique strengths, can we really rank the two?

Chui:

Can we give two Silver awards? It seems the two films are evenly matched in terms of
quality.

Lee:

Of course, all ten finalists have flaws, and no one work stands out as the shoo-in Gold Awardwinner. Bully's Wording is a well-rounded and thoughtful work, which is not to say thatSpecial is not thoughtful, but it is more like a casual recording of the creator’s ideas. What
does she want to communicate? She wants to record her special family, just as everyone has
particular feelings about their own families, but hers just happen to be a special one. What
does she hope to communicate to the audience about this? I appreciate the complicatedstructure and issues that Bully's Wording brings out. I agree with giving Special the SilverAward.

Lo:

I insist on Bully's Wording getting Gold and Special getting Silver.

Chui:

I agree.

Fan:

According to the votes, the Gold Award goes to Bully's Wording, and Silver Award goes toSpecial. Next, we will discuss Special Mention.
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Tsang:

I nominate The Toilet Exorcist, I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying and A candle lights
others and consumes itself.

Chui:

I nominate The Toilet Exorcist, I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying and Zero Sound.

Wong:

A candle lights others and consumes itself, I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying and The
Handmade Buns.

Lo:

I am torn between Her voice and A candle lights others and consumes itself and want tohear your opinions on the latter.

Tsang:

As per our discussion, A candle lights others and consumes itself has more of the director’s
feelings compared with Her voice, and is not just a showcase for technique. The film’s visualtreatment is also appropriate.

Wong:

I was pleasantly surprised by A candle lights others and consumes itself, for example thepart that praises the teacher, which suits the showy technique. The maturity of the creatorand outstanding technique are worthy of commendation. Her voice is very outstanding
compared with Youth Category works from past years, but in terms of visual treatment andtext, A candle lights others and consumes itself is the better work.

Lo:

I understand and I agree that A candle lights others and consumes itself deserves Special
Mention. As for others, I need to think about it.

Lee:

I also agree that A candle lights others and consumes itself is worthy of Special Mention.

Fan:

A candle lights others and consumes itself has 4 votes.

Lo:

I want to nominate The Handmade Buns.

Lee:

Does that mean there are no votes for Qualified Four?

Lo:

I still have one vote and I am thinking about it. I liked Qualified Four very much and during
the first round, I had strongly recommended that it become a finalist.

Tsang:

I like I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying very much, maybe you can consider it.

Chui:

I would like to know why you had chosen The Handmade Buns.

Wong:

Just as I mentioned, it is a complete work done by good students, and all aspects are welldone. Usually, ifva celebrates works by bad students that express their thoughts and feelings,
so good students are the exception. I appreciate the diligence, hard work and sincerity of
The Handmade Buns.

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Lo:

I appreciate this work because it is a first documentary done by primary school students, but
if it was done by secondary school students it would pale in comparison to others. As a work
shot by young students going out to find suitable materials to film in the community, thiswork is not simply a creative endeavour but also a powerful community project. It is goodfor the Special Mention award to recognize values that go beyond the work itself, and The
Handmade Buns has value for the community.

Chui:

I want to change my vote from The Toilet Exorcist to The Handmade Buns because theformer seems like a casual work done by students. It is dynamic and energetic but the content
can be better.

Fan:

Now The Toilet Exorcist has one vote.

Tsang:

It’d be a pity if The Toilet Exorcist or a “crazy” work like this was not awarded. I understandwhy you like The Handmade Buns, but I am sad that this is like a step backward. More than
10 years ago, when we considered works from the Youth Category, we looked to youth
creators to make films about what it was like to be young, and treasured such works for theirwild sense of vitality. Now we are reduced to rewarding good students for a proper looking
film, which makes me sad. I wonder if there are still young people who go out on their own
to make films? Should we reward primary school students simply for showing up to make a
film?

Lo:

I understand. I still have one vote, and am trying to decide between Qualified Four and The
Toilet Exorcist.

Lee:

I cast my vote for The Toilet Exorcist.

Tsang:We should support films made by crazy young people.

Lo:

I need some time to think about my last vote.

Fan:

Lee, you still have one more vote.

Lee:

I vote for Qualified Four.

Fan:

You voted for The Toilet Exorcist, Qualified Four and A candle lights others andconsumes itself.

Lee:

That’s right.

Fan:

Right now, A candle lights others and consumes itself has 4 votes from Lee Cheuk-pan,
Adam Wong, Lo Chun-yip and Tsang Tsui-shan. The Handmade Buns has 3 votes from Lo
Chun-yip, Tsang Tsui-shan and Adam Wong. I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying has 3
votes from Chui Tien-you, Tsang Tsui-shan and Adam Wong. The Toilet Exorcist has 2
votes from Tsang Tsui-shan and Lee Cheuk-pan. Zero Sound and Qualified Four each has
1 vote.
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Lo:

Then I cast my vote for The Toilet Exorcist.

Fan:

Now The Toilet Exorcist has 3 votes. The four works with the highest number of votes are
A candle lights others and consumes itself, The Handmade Buns, I Was Alone On Nathan
Road Crying and The Toilet Exorcist. We aim to award three Special Mentions.

Chui:

I switch my vote from Zero Sound to The Toilet Exorcist.

Fan:

Now the works with the highest number of votes are A candle lights others and consumes
itself and The Toilet Exorcist, each with 4 votes. The final Special Mention work is a choice
between The Handmade Buns and I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying.

Lo:

Lee Cheuk-pan, what would you like to do with your vote for Qualified Four?

Lee:

I already said I don’t like I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying.

Lo:

Adam Wong and Chui Tien-you both voted for The Handmade Buns and I Was Alone On
Nathan Road Crying. How would you choose between the two?

Chui:

I admit I gave The Handmade Buns extra points because it was made by primary school
students.

Wong:

If I had to choose between the two, I tend towards The Handmade Buns, but I voted for
both.

Chui:

I also voted for both.

Lee:

So if I switched my vote from Qualified Four, that vote becomes the deciding vote? Ialready said I don’t have any feelings for I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying. Why don’t
you discuss among yourselves?

Wong:

Otherwise the five of us can vote between The Handmade Buns and I Was Alone On
Nathan Road Crying and decide which should get the third nomination.

Lo:

The regretful thing about I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying is that it started out very
ambitiously and the theme and ideas are good, but as the film progresses, it becomes morecareless.

Wong:

Some of the cinematography, like the overuse of drone shots and top shots are big flaws. If
I compared the two works by deducting points, I think I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying
has many more faults.

Chui:

I like both films.

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Tsang:

For me, having The Handmade Buns as a finalist is already encouragement enough. I Was
Alone On Nathan Road Crying is more in-tuned with societal sentiments today andresonated with me. I also appreciate its ambition and crazy ideas.

Fan:Let’s vote between The Handmade Buns and I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying.

Tsang:

I vote for I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying.

Wong:

I vote for The Handmade Buns.

Lee:

I vote for The Handmade Buns.

Lo:

I vote for The Handmade Buns.

Chui:

I abstain.

Fan:

According to the vote count, the third Special Mention goes to The Handmade Buns. The
following is the award list for this year’s Youth Category.

25th ifva Awards Youth Category Award Winners
Gold Award
Bully's Wording
Cheung Ching-ho
Silver Award
SpecialEmma To
Special Mention
The Toilet Exorcist
Choi Shing-ho
The Handmade Buns
Lee Pui-wa, Wong Nok-yin, Ho Cheuk-lam, Yeung Ching-tak Douglas, Chan LongA Candle Lights Others and Consumes Itself
Chong Man-chung16

25th ifva Awards Youth Category Juror’s Comment
Her Voice
Tsang Tsui-shan: Telling its story with decent shots and mise-en-scène, it is a rare work that delves onsuch issues as gender inequality. The inner anguish of the female protagonist is subtly portrayed withwell-devised cinematography and editing. The film also features diligent sound design.
However, certain plots develop too abruptly and the acting of the two male leading roles feels awkward
and unconvincing. The film is better in terms of ideas than of plot development.
Lo Chun-yip: Addressing gender issues, labour condition and family conflict, the work refrains frombeing didactic and straightforward by featuring stylistic images. Unfortunately, certain dialogues andacting feel too explicit and do not parallel with the overall tone.
Chui Tien-you: Visually well made.
SpecialTsang Tsui-shan: In a semi-documentary fashion, the director portrays interactions among her Down’s
syndrome brother and the family as well as her school routine. In a refreshing tone, the film is devoidof sentimentality. With the camera, the author articulates the pressure she bears and her loving concern
towards her brother, which displays a great deal of sincerity. Genuine records are what make young
people and their cameras valuable.
Lo Chun-yip: A piece of light-toned work. The struggle and conflict among family members feelslightly superficial. The work would produce deeper emotional impact with a more personal visual styleand retrospective approach.
Chui Tien-you: While the subject matter is fine, the content needs more depth.
The Toilet Exorcist
Tsang Tsui-shan: By using primitive stop motion techniques and simple computer editing skills, thecreator composed a genre film about how teenagers imagine violence. It is a rare chance to experience
the craziness of film-making. The acting and editing could be more tense and vivid.
Lo Chun-yip: Not refined but powerful. Those strong and raw images allow the absurd and unreasonable
plot to unfold its logic. What makes the film more remarkable is the students’ confidence in thoroughhandling of such challenging form of expression, which contributes to a sense of completeness andcheerfulness of the product. The film serves as a personal manifesto, narrating the changes in youth’s
mind in this particular year.
Chui Tien-you: It is well conceived and creative. But the rhythm could be more articulate.

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Bully’s Wording
Tsang Tsui-shan: In video format, the film revolves around school bullying and reveals the inner stateof victimisers and victims through interviews. The imperfect acting brings a touch of reality. Incrediblecast. A decent combination of cinematography, editing and performance.
Lo Chun-yip: It is a rare chance to view a mockumentary produced by secondary school students. With
performers (interviewees) as its core, the film reflects the nature of bullying from the perspective of
victimisers instead of victims, leaving out the actual scene of bullying as much as possible. It therefore
adopts an uncommon approach comparing with other productions addressing the same subject matter.
Leaving blank space and pursuing detachment in filming violence makes the work more powerful.
Chui Tien-you: The story lacks completeness.
Qualified Four
Tsang Tsui-shan: In a light mood, the film managed to bring laughers and tears. Schooling does notguarantee any fun but only ceaseless stress. With a humourous tone, the film is an elegy that ridicules
our education which accentuates standardised tests and reveals the depressing truth that any student
who does not achieve the best grades is constantly being marginalised.
Lo Chun-yip: Employing the visual language of youtubers familiar among contemporary teenagers, thecreators composed this tragicomedy in which they mock themselves with a sense of helplessness. A
film that hits the nail of the head.
Chui Tien-you: The content is not rich enough.
The Handmade Buns
Tsang Tsui-shan: One of the very few documentary entries. Not original but full of human warmth.
Lo Chun-yip: A heartening piece by primary school students which reveals their curiosity, and curiosity
is what generates knowledge. The film draws a living portrait of a well-organised community.
Chui Tien-you: The theme captures the heart of Hong Kong. The film will be better with moreinterviews of customers.
Shelter
Tsang Tsui-shan: A mature production on the whole with good actors as well as precise editing andshots.
Lo Chun-yip: There is a lot of noise throughout the film. But the neat shooting and editing styles makethe whole picture more tranquil.
Chui Tien-you: The camerawork features diverse styles but the content needs more depth.

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Zero Sound
Tsang Tsui-shan: A nice expression of feelings. Shots and editing are fairly well designed. The ending
scene concisely conveys the pain of helplessness of someone being bullied.
Lo Chun-yip: Certain scenes are made with great details. I was impressed by the use of objects – hearing
aids, camera, umbrella and mirrors in the bathroom - as the device of metaphors. Unfortunately, theoverall story structure lacks coherence, leading to incongruity between scenes.
Chui Tien-you: Character settings are well conceived.
I Was Alone On Nathan Road Crying
Tsang Tsui-shan: The feeling of sadness, inspired by pay offs in the story, provokes reflection on the
future life. Despite its immature visual technique, the script perfectly delivers the lament fordisappearing culture and people. While the overall acting performance is awkward, the plots are filledwith surprises. It is a courageous attempt to film a story about future under a tight budget constraint.
Lo Chun-yip: An ambitious Sci-Fi story and great setting. With a dystopian future world foreseen from2019, the narrative can voice the concern about the current times more concisely without being too selfcentred and donnish.
Chui Tien-you: The story structure and atmosphere are fairly good.
A Candle Lights Others and Consumes Itself
Tsang Tsui-shan: Visually powerful and highly imaginative. With an extensive use of sound and image,the film portrays the bonding between a teacher and a student. Lively-paced, neat and touching.
Lo Chun-yip: The work shows profound technique in video making. From the perspective of students,
the story describes the inspiration from teachers and the pressure of schooling. Furthermore, it questions
the dragsaw between examination and learning. The lineage between teacher and student, however,feels inadequate. The sub-story line, on the other hand, feels more potent than the main one.
Chui Tien-you: Decent camerawork and music. The content needs more depth.

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