Local premiere of First Feature Film Initiative-funded project "Gamer Girls"
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Film Development Council:
The local premiere of a winning film project in the Higher Education Institution Group of the 6th First Feature Film Initiative (FFFI) funded by the Government, "Gamer Girls", will be held tomorrow evening (February 25).
The poster of "Gamer Girls",
"Gamer Girls" is produced by Jacqueline Liu and co-directed by Veronica Bassetto and Sophie Yang, with a screenplay written by Bassetto. The film stars Angela Yuen, Alma Kwok, Sabrina Cheung, Ng Wing-sze, Jeannie Ng (Kayan9896) and Chase Chan (CY). It tells the story of five girls fighting passionately together in the gaming world and breaking real-world social stereotypes through winning games as well as overcoming the challenges they face. It will be theatrically released in Hong Kong on March 12.
Veronica Bassetto (Leftmost) at International Film Festival Rotterdam, Photo source: FB of Gamer Girls
The film was selected for the Bright Future session of feature-length debuts (international) at the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam, and the Gala Presentations at the 22nd Hong Kong Asian Film Festival.
The Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, Dr Wilfred Wong, said "'Gamer Girls' is an inspiring story filled with positive energy, reflecting the perseverance and enterprising spirit of Hong Kong people." He added that the eight editions of the FFFI launched so far has funded a total of 30 winning teams to make their films, and has incubated 32 new directors. He said he is pleased to see the continuous efforts of the Government in supporting the FFFI through the Film Development Fund (FDF) with a view to nurturing more film talent with the FFFI as a brand, thereby fostering the vibrant development of the Hong Kong film industry.
The FFFI is one of the Government's initiatives to support the film industry. It takes the form of a competition in two groups, namely the Higher Education Institution Group and the Professional Group. The director of each participating team shall not have previously directed any commercial film of 80 minutes or longer. The winning teams are funded by the FDF to produce their first commercial feature films based on the winning filming proposals. The winning teams are required to complete the entire film production and distribution in order to master the practical knowledge and skills in making a feature film.
DH reminds public to take precautions against heat-related illnesses during very hot weather
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 19) reminded members of the public to take appropriate precautions against heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, during very hot weather.
In a high-temperature environment, excessive sweating and difficulty in heat dissipation can cause stress to the body. Members of the public should take the following precautions:
- Hydrate in a timely manner to prevent dehydration;
- Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting and breathable clothing to minimise heat absorption and facilitate perspiration and heat dissipation;
- Keep indoor areas well ventilated and maintain appropriate temperature and humidity, e.g. by opening windows or using a fan or air-conditioning;
- Avoid strenuous exercise and prolonged activities such as hiking or trekking;
- Arrange outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible, and bring enough water; and
- Avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcoholic beverages, which may speed up water loss through the urinary system.
In addition, infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, overweight people and outdoor/manual workers are more susceptible to heat stroke. These groups should pay special attention to the following:
- Infants and young children: Avoid going outside when the temperature is high. If they must go outside, adults should ensure they stay in places with moderate temperatures and good ventilation or air-conditioning. Infants and young children should never be left unattended in a confined space such as a vehicle;
- The elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses and overweight people: Pay close attention to health conditions and seek help as soon as possible if experiencing any abnormalities in health indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, etc or if there are fluctuations in health conditions. Avoid going out when the temperature is high. Make sure there is good ventilation, or turn on a fan or air-conditioner to keep an appropriate temperature indoors. High temperatures can also worsen the condition of people with chronic illnesses (such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases). Therefore, they should have an ample supply of their usual medication and keep in contact with family members, neighbours and the community. People should seek immediate help if they feel unwell.
- Outdoor/manual workers: Reschedule work to cooler hours as far as feasible. If working in a hot environment is unavoidable, provide shade where practicable and use ventilation and heat dissipation equipment. Once work has begun, gradually adjust the pace of work and take breaks in the shade to regain strength.
The DH reminded the public that heat stroke is one of the most common health risks in hot weather. Over the past five years, there have been over 200 hospital admissions due to heat stroke each year in Hong Kong, with two to five fatal cases occurring mainly during the summer months from May to September. Vulnerable groups are more susceptible to heat stroke. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion. In severe cases, patients may suffer from convulsions or become unconscious, which can be life-threatening if they are not cooled down and resuscitated in a timely manner.
Members of the public are also advised to pay attention to the latest weather, as well as the real-time and forecasted ultraviolet (UV) index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV index is high (6 or above), the public should note the following:
- Avoid direct sunlight exposure to the skin and the eyes;
- Apply broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen liberally, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 or higher, when participating in outdoor activities. Reapply every two hours if staying outdoors for long periods, or after swimming, sweating or towelling off;
- While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen before insect repellent;
- Seek shade;
- Wear UV-blocking sunglasses;
- Wear loose-fitting clothing with long-sleeves; and
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella.
If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.
For more health information, the public may visit theCHP's heat strokepage andUV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200),latestweather report and forecast,UV Indexand weather information forhiking and mountaineering; andpress releasesof the Labour Departmenton precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Heat Stress at Work Warning is in force.
Source: AI-found images
