International Film Camp Nurtures Asian Film Talent for Third Consecutive Year

Advancing Macao as international exchange platform for film talent 
Contributing to Macao's development as "City of Performing Arts" and supporting economic diversification

MACAO, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy and sponsored by Sands China, the International Film Camp (IFC) 2026 held its awards and closing ceremony at The Londoner^® Macao Tuesday. Following five days of intensive training and guidance from professional mentors, a panel of experts selected eight outstanding short film projects from among the submissions of the 16 participants, with each selected producer receiving production funding of HKD 300,000. Sands China has sponsored the programme for three consecutive years, underscoring its commitment to supporting the Macao SAR government's policy of economic diversification. By bringing this exchange platform to Macao, the company aims to strengthen connections between veteran international filmmakers and emerging Asian film talent, advance the professional and international development of the local film industry, enhance Macao's global cultural presence, contribute to the city's development as a "City of Performing Arts," while further supporting its diversified growth.

Since its inception in 2024, the film camp has been held annually in Macao. Backed by its professional line-up of mentors, the initiative has emerged as one of Asia's most influential film training platforms within just three years, drawing nearly 1,400 applications to date. During the film camp, participants receive one-on-one professional mentoring, enabling them to further refine their short film concepts and pitching proposals. A panel of experts will ultimately select eight outstanding short film projects for this programme. Besides the HKD 300,000 in production funding, Shaw Studios, the programme's official post-production partner, will provide professional post-production services for the selected projects, while the Asian Film Awards Academy will oversee the production process of the films and support the submission of some of the more outstanding works to major international film festivals. Over the years, the camp has nurtured numerous talented producers, many of whom have gone on to make their mark on the international film scene.

Now in its third edition, this year's film camp once again drew strong interest from aspiring filmmakers, with over 450 applications received. Following a selection process conducted by a panel of experts, 16 up-and-coming filmmakers from the Chinese mainland, Macao, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, and Kyrgyzstan were chosen to participate in the camp. This year, the film camp once again returned to The Venetian^® Macao, bringing together a strong line-up of international film professionals as mentors and speakers. They include: Roger Garcia, renowned film festival executive and director of the IFC; Fala Chen, actress, writer and director; Gordon Lam, actor, writer, and producer; Sabrina Baracetti, founding member and president of the Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy; and Jukka-Pekka Laakso, director of the Tampere Film Festival in Finland.

Themed on "When Strangers Meet," the camp offered a series of masterclasses and seminars led by distinguished mentors, covering directing, screenwriting, funding, distribution, post-production, pitching and participation in film festivals, equipping emerging filmmakers with knowledge in film production, industry operations, and marketing practices. This year's programme introduced a new panel discussion on artificial intelligence, examining how technology is shaping the future of the film industry.

Grant Chum, chief executive officer and executive director of Sands China Ltd., said: "This year marks the third consecutive year Sands China has supported the International Film Camp. In this year's edition, the camp once again brought together emerging filmmakers from across Asia and film professionals from around the world to Macao to exchange creative insights and deepen collaboration, injecting fresh impetus into the growth of Macao's film industry. By enabling filmmakers to experience Macao from their own creative perspective, we hope to inspire industry practitioners to see the city with fresh eyes and rediscover the depth and diversity of its cultural heritage. Through the lens of cinema, they can showcase Macao's unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures to audiences worldwide, further establishing the city as a fertile ground for creative inspiration, a destination of choice for travellers, and a compelling hub for film production and storytelling.

"We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR government, and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR government for their guidance, to the Asian Film Awards Academy for bringing this programme to life, and to the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency and the Film Development Fund for their support of the programme. Their collective efforts have made this year's film camp a success. Sands China will remain committed to advancing the development of the cultural and creative industries, contributing to Macao's economic diversification, and harnessing the power of visual storytelling to bring the city's stories to the world stage."

Dr. Wilfred Wong, chairman of the Asian Film Awards Academy, said: "Our theme this year is 'When Strangers Meet.' In many ways, this is what filmmaking is about – bringing together people with different backgrounds, experiences and ways of seeing the world. Beyond practical support, we want to give emerging filmmakers the opportunity to develop their ideas, learn from one another, and build connections across Asia. The International Film Camp would not be possible without the support of many organisations and individuals. On behalf of the Asian Film Awards Academy, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR government and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR for their guidance, and to the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency and the Film Development Fund for their continued support. Our sincere thanks also go to Sands China for its generous sponsorship, and to our mentors, judges, speakers and team. The camp may be ending tonight, but the creative journey for these filmmakers is only beginning. I hope they leave Macao not only with stronger projects, but also with new friends and future collaborators."

On Sept. 18, the first day of the film camp, a special screening session of selected short films from previous editions was held at the Adelson Advanced Education Centre at The Venetian Macao. The event brought together this year's participants and mentors, winners from previous camps, and participants from the New Art Studies in Filming – Micro Movie Support Program. During the event, four emerging filmmakers whose projects were selected in previous editions of the camp shared their creative insights with participants, followed by screenings of their works. The screened works included "After Her," by Macao director Jane Zhang; "I Don't Wanna Grow Up," by Hong Kong director Kong Ho Yan; "Ride Your Horse," by Chinese mainland director Song Dongxu; and "One Home To Another," by Chinese mainland director Lan Tian.

During the IFC award ceremony on Sept. 22, actress, writer and director Fala Chen, and actor, writer, and producer Gordon Lam were invited to deliver a closing masterclass for the IFC participants. Moderated by Hong Kong director and writer Sunny Chan, the session drew on the speakers' wealth of experience in acting and film production, as they shared stories from their creative journeys with guests and film camp participants. They also reflected on how these experiences have shaped their perspectives on performance, filmmaking and storytelling, inspiring participants to explore their own creative paths.

Short films funded by the film camp in previous editions have increasingly gained attention in the international film scene, underscoring the camp's role as an important platform for emerging Asian filmmakers to reach the global stage. Among them, "A South Facing Window," by Mongolian director Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir, was selected for the 78th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, earning a Pardo Verde Special Mention and the Junior Jury Award. Following these accolades, the film was also selected for the 50th Toronto International Film Festival. Other notable projects include "Ride Your Horse," by Chinese mainland director Song Dongxu, selected for the International Competition at the 38th Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France and the Competition of the 19th FIRST International Film Festival in Xining; and "Once Upon A Time There Was A Mountain," by Hong Kong filmmaker To Chun Him, selected for the Drama International Short Film Festival in Greece and later for the Asian American International Film Festival in New York. A number of projects developed through the camp also had their world premieres at the Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy, a testament to the strength and potential of young Asian filmmakers.

In addition, over 20 aspiring local filmmakers from the New Art Studies in Filming – Micro Movie Support Program, an initiative sponsored by Sands China, were invited to sit in on this year's film camp. This arrangement provided participants with the opportunity to gain exposure to industry insights and global trends, helping nurture diverse talent for Macao's film industry.

Guests attending Tuesday's awards and closing ceremony included Dr. Wilfred Wong; Gary Mak, assistant commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries and secretary-general of the Hong Kong Film Development Council; Chong Siu Pang, acting head of the Department for Promoting Cultural and Creative Industries of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Dave Sun, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Sands China Ltd. and managing director of Venetian Macau Limited; Roger Garcia, mentor and director of the IFC 2026; Anthony Chen, Chen Daming, and Heiward Mak, IFC mentors; Josie Lin, executive director of the Asian Film Awards Academy; Teng Lee Yein, production mentor of the IFC 2026; Leong Heng Teng, founding president of the Creative Industries Promotion Association of St. Lazarus Church District; a group of directors from Hong Kong and Macao; and over 20 filmmakers from the New Art Studies in Filming – Micro Movie Support Program.

International Film Camp 2026 was organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy with the patronage of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR government and the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR government, sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the Film Development Fund, and Sands China Ltd., with the support of Shaw Studios, Miora Tencent Design, and NetShort.

The eight short film projects selected for production funding under this year's film camp are as follows:

About Sands China Ltd.

Sands China Ltd. (Sands China or the Company) is incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability and is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEx: 1928). Sands China is the largest operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The Company's integrated resorts on the Cotai Strip comprise The Venetian^® Macao, The Plaza^® Macao, The Parisian^® Macao and The Londoner^® Macao. The Company also owns and operates Sands^® Macao on the Macao peninsula. The Company's portfolio features a diversified mix of leisure and business attractions and transportation operations, including large meeting and convention facilities; a wide range of restaurants; shopping malls; world-class entertainment at The Venetian Arena, The Londoner Arena, The Venetian Theatre, The Parisian Theatre, The Londoner Theatre and Sands Theatre; and a high-speed Cotai Water Jet ferry service between Hong Kong and Macao. The Company's Cotai Strip portfolio has the goal of contributing to Macao's transformation into a world centre of tourism and leisure. Sands China is a subsidiary of global resort developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS).

For more information, please visit www.sandschina.com.

Media contacts:

Corporate Communications, Sands China Ltd.
Mabel Wu
Tel: +853 8118 2268
Email: [email protected]

Jesse Chiang
Tel: +853 8118 2054
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Sands China Ltd.