HK Prize is an independent merit-based award that recognizes scientific research with significant societal impact. It is open to individuals and teams working in fields such as artificial intelligence and robotics, life science research, new materials energy production, and fintech; a winner may receive both monetary awards and access to Hong Kong’s premier facilities.
This year’s finalists have all made extraordinary contributions to the world, from selfless volunteers helping homeless people to scientists who developed liquid biopsy technology for faster cancer diagnosis. The prize’s founder, Lui Che-woo, envisioned the award as a way to honor those who advance world civilisation and inspire others to build a harmonious society.
The Hong Kong Film Critics Association Awards (HKFCA) is one of the most prestigious movie awards in the city. Stars like Sammo Hung have won the award in the past, and many other industry titans have served on its jury. The festival also holds its own awards for short films and documentaries, and has seen a number of its filmmakers win accolades elsewhere.
In a sign of the changing times, the prestigious Hong Kong International Film Festival has begun to give more attention to non-fiction work. Its best actress category has seen a rise in entries from documentary filmmakers, and the film festival is also expanding its reach beyond Asia to include the Middle East and Latin America.
Hong Kong cinema is enjoying a golden age right now. In addition to a burgeoning local film scene, the country has become one of the main hubs for Asian cinema. It has a wealth of talent, from veteran performers to newcomers. Many of these actors and directors have garnered global fame, winning major awards at some of the world’s top festivals.
While Hong Kong hasn’t had much luck in the main Palme d’Or competition, it’s managed to secure some wins in the short film category. For example, the city’s most recent success was in 2021, when Tang Yi won a coveted short film award for All The Crows In The World. Screen icon Maggie Cheung Man-yuk took home the best actress award in 2004 for her English-language performance in addiction drama Clean, and director Yau Nai-hoi won a nomination for his visually ravishing wuxia epic Assassin in 2014.
The history department of a Hong Kong school has been awarded a prize named after its founder, George B. Endacott, a teacher who was responsible for the reestablishment of the subject after the Second World War. The prize was established through a donation matched by the government, and it encourages students to develop an interest in the history of Hong Kong and to strive for academic excellence in their studies. The prize also aims to foster a respect for the importance of preserving and promoting historical documents in our daily lives. It is the first time that a high-school has received the award. The school hopes to continue its efforts in the future. It is also hoping to attract more foreign teachers to its history department, so that it can further promote the teaching and research of the field.
