NAFF hands It Project award to James Leong "Camera"

James Leong, director of film "Camera", wins the top Puchon Award for the It Project market of the Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) of the ongoing Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) on July 22, 2010. [PiFan]

The third edition of the Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF), the industry program of Asia's largest genre film fest Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan), wrapped up Thursday, presenting the top Puchon Award for the It Project market to "Camera" by Singaporean filmmaker James Leong.

The one million dollar production, about a surveillance expert who undergoes a radical operation to feed his obsession, had competed against 14 other films from eight countries over the world.

Other recipients included Daniel Chan's "Smile for Me" from Hong Kong for the NAFF Award; Kim Guang-tae's "No Excuse" from Korea for the Korea Broadcasting Art School Award; and Shin Terra's "AM 11:00" from Korea and Gareth Huw Evan's "Berandal" from Indonesia for the Post-Production Support Award.

The winners were selected from a jury composed of Mike Macari, well-known for the American remake of Japanese horror film "The Ring", Tim Kwok, a former distribution and finance executive for 20th Century Fox, Shozo Ichiyama, producer of Venice International Film Festival award-winning film "Nowhere Man", and Jonathan Kim, producer of smash hit Korean film "Silmido".

During NAFF's five-day run this year, the It Project provided a 222 meetings for production companies and investors for the 15 official selections and four projects from Taiwan Project Spotlight.

The NAFF also held forums on cinema exchange between Taiwan and Korea as well as the Fantastic Film School which picked a program on Swiss design and art incorporated in Hollywood movies.

The PiFan which kicked off last Thursday, will end its run on July 25.

Jessica Kim jesskim@
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