A new prize that seeks to highlight the work of HK artists and art institutions has been launched. The award aims to reward those with exceptional creativity, entrepreneurship and leadership in the field of contemporary art. It also hopes to promote Hong Kong’s art scene and boost public awareness of contemporary art.
The award ceremony took place Sunday evening. The winner of the main prize was legal drama A Guilty Conscience, which was directed by Edko Films founder Michael Hui. It was a top-grossing film of the year, and won best director and actor for Hui.
Another big winner was crime thriller The Goldfinger, which picked up six awards. It won awards for best cinematography, art direction and costume design among others. The film follows a lawyer who takes on one of Hong Kong’s biggest business families. The Goldfinger and A Guilty Conscience were two of the 13 films funded by HKFFI in its first 10 years, and have helped launch the careers of some renowned directors.
US scientists Thein Swee Lay and Stuart Orkin were awarded the Shaw Prize for Life Sciences and Medicine for their work on blood disorders. Their research showed that by altering the BCL11A gene using gene editing, they can reactivate fetal haemoglobin production and provide an alternative treatment to blood transfusion for patients with sickle cell disease or beta-thalassaemia.
Founded in 1913, the Hong Kong Academy of Arts and Industry (HKAI) was the first university-based art institute to be set up in the region. It was a key driving force in the development of the art scene in the 1950s, and paved the way for the establishment of other professional art education and training institutions. Today, the HKAI continues to nurture the next generation of artists and to play a leading role in promoting artistic talent.
The hk prize was created to recognise the contribution of people in different fields and to encourage the public to support them. It is the only Hong Kong-based award programme which offers cash prizes. The amount of the prize varies according to the category. Each award judging panel sets its own criteria and selects its winners. The judging process is carried out by professional academics, practitioners and experts from the public sector.
The hk prize’s logo, which is also featured on the trophy that is given to the winner, juxtaposes precious elements, with a pearl and pierced jade amulet forming an image of luck. This design reflects the spirit of the award. The HKAI is supported by the Hong Kong government and is one of the most prestigious award programmes in Asia. The HKAI Secretariat is responsible for implementing the decisions of the Board and the Review Committee, as well as the charter. It also shoulder the duty of liaison and coordination between the Board, the Review Committee and the Compliance Oversight Team. In addition, it organises a variety of evaluation activities and science popularisation activities. It is a non-profit organisation.