IFFAM PADDINGTON PLEASES CROWD

The Opening Ceremony of the 2nd International Film Festival & Awards Macao (IFFAM) kicked off on Friday at the Macao Cultural Centre, with a number of industry figures from around the globe attending, including Hollywood star ‘Hawkeye’ Jeremy Renner, Asian film actress Miriam Yeung and Korean star D.O., on the red carpet.

Under the artistic direction of Mike Goodridge, the opening ceremony on Friday unveiled the program of films and activities that will take place until December 13 under the theme “A New Avenue to the World of Films.”

The opening featured a strong lineup of prominent guests including stars from the city’s neighboring regions, Hong Kong and mainland China.

Renowned filmmakers, producers and directors from across the globe also graced the star studded event.

Featuring an extravaganza of cinematic experiences, the screening of the opening film of the 2ND IFFAM, “Paddington 2,” was seen by a full house, taking the audience into an adventure.

According to the organizers, some 165 journalists and photographers captured the red carpet and opening ceremony, which attracted roughly 800 people, including the city’s high-ranking officials.

Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam and executive vice president of the IFFAM Organizing Committee, Alvin Chau presented the “Macao East West Actor of the Year” award to Talent Ambassador Jeremy Renner; while IFFAM Ambassadors Choi Dong-Hoon and Shekhar Kapur, Talent Ambassadors Miriam Yeung and D.O. were presented souvenirs.

Director and president of the IFFAM Organizing Committee, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes remarked, “from around the world, we have selected a range of remarkable films highly worthy of the audiences’ appreciation, with our dedication to offering a springboard for young filmmakers to forge their career in the industry.”

Paddington the bear, who ‘attended’ Friday’s opening ceremony, went on stage with special guests and organizers, including Mike Goodridge.

“For me, it’s always great to open a festival with a crowd-pleasing film and a film that appeals to everyone – as many people as possible, and I think Paddington 2 is that film,” said the artistic director. “It’s a delightful film that adults will enjoy as much as kids and that’s the idea. Apart from the fact it’s a brilliant, brilliant family film. I don’t think a film festival needs to be exclusively the reserve of a certain [elitist] kind of film.”

In Conversation with Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh has a long and colorful career as an actress in both Asia and in the West. Having acted in iconic films such as Tomorrow Never Dies, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Lady and recently, in Star Trek the series. This will be an in-depth discussion into the pathway she has chosen, what inspires her as a filmmaker and what her plans are for the future, in conversation with the London Festival Director, Clare Stewart.

MODERATOR: Clare Stewart, London Film Festival Director

Clare Stewart has been Head of Festivals at the BFI (British Film Institute) since 2011 where she is Festival Director of the BFI London Film Festival (October) and oversees BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival (March). Her 22 year programming career has encompassed leadership roles as Festival Director, Sydney Film Festival (2006-2011) and the inaugural Head of Film Programs at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne (2002-2006) as well as various roles at the Australian Film Institute (1996-2001), including Exhibition Manager, and programmer and Committee Member of the Melbourne Cinematheque (1995-2002). She has served on the World Economic Forum’s Global Advisory Council for the Creative Economies (2014-2016) and on juries at Sundance, Mumbai, Rio, Dubai and Hong Kong film festivals as well as on the BAFTA Outstanding British Debut jury. She is a previous recipient of the Queen’s Trust Award for Young Australians.

Dec 14 (Thu)   |     2:00pm   |    The Macao Museum of Art (MAM)

THIS SUPPLEMENT IS SPONSORED BY MGTO