CCIDA leads industry delegation to participate in 51st Toronto International Film Festival
The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau led the industry to participate in the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to promote Hong Kong cinema and explore overseas markets for the city's film industry.
During the festival, CCIDA and the Hong Kong Film Development Council organised a "Hong Kong Night" networking reception on September 13 (Toronto time), which attracted an attendance of nearly 400 industry representatives, filmmakers and cultural sector professionals from around the world. The reception provided a platform for emerging Hong Kong filmmakers to develop industry networks and build global connections.
One of the three Hong Kong films featured at this year's TIFF is "We Are Born Good", which was a winning project in the Higher Education Institution Group of the 8th First Feature Film Initiative (FFFI) under the Film Development Fund. The film was selected for the Discovery programme and held its world premiere on September 13 at TIFF. Director Yeung Leung-chuen and leading actress Chung Suet-ying also attended the premiere and engaged with audience members during a post-screening session, receiving an enthusiastic response. The other two Hong Kong films participating in TIFF were "Intermission" and "The Road Not Taken".
The FFFI has funded more than 30 new directors to complete their debut feature films to date, and the films have collectively garnered over 120 awards at local and international film festivals, exemplifying the FFFI's function as a cradle of emerging Hong Kong filmmakers.
CCIDA also met with various international film institutions, representatives of festival organisers, and filmmakers during the festival, including the Korean Film Council, Telefilm Canada, and the Udine Far East Film Festival, to explore future collaboration and opportunities for the development of the film industry.
CCIDA leads industry delegation to participate in 51st Toronto International Film Festival Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CCIDA leads industry delegation to participate in 51st Toronto International Film Festival Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CCIDA leads industry delegation to participate in 51st Toronto International Film Festival Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Parents reminded to submit application form for admission to Primary One
The Education Bureau (EDB) today (September 14) reminded parents who wish to apply for a Primary One (P1) place for their child in any government or aided school in September 2027 to submit their applications for discretionary places under the Primary One Admission (POA) System via the POA e-platform (ePOA) starting from this Thursday (September 17), or in paper form starting from next Monday (September 21).
The Education Bureau, Photo source: reference image
Submission of applications for discretionary places
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An EDB spokesman said, "Parents intending to apply for a P1 place of a particular government or aided primary school for their child at the Discretionary Places Admission stage under the POA System via the ePOA should first register as ePOA (epoa.edb.gov.hk) users and bind their account to 'iAM Smart+', and submit their applications via the ePOA between September 17 and 25. For details, please refer to the Parent's Guides on the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/poa_eplatform/index.html). If parents choose to submit paper application forms, they should submit the completed application form together with all supporting documents directly to the school during school office hours between September 21 and 25. Parents who are unable to submit the application form in person may authorise in writing a representative to bring along the above-mentioned documents to the primary school on their behalf.
"Irrespective of whether the application is submitted via the ePOA or in paper form, parents should submit only one application for each child. If parents have applied to more than one government or aided primary school, their application for a POA discretionary place will be rendered void. In addition, parents should not submit duplicate applications via the ePOA and in paper form for the same child," the spokesman added.
The spokesman reminded parents that schools will process the applications in accordance with the established procedures and criteria at the Discretionary Places Admission stage. As such, there is no need for parents to prepare portfolios for their child.
In addition, children who have accepted the offer of a P1 place in a school under the Direct Subsidy Scheme will not be allocated a P1 place in a government or aided primary school through the POA System.
Photo source: reference image
Application for Central Allocation only
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If parents only intend to apply for the POA Central Allocation for their child, they should submit the application to the EDB via the ePOA or in paper form on or before January 22, 2027. For submission in paper form, they should return the completed application form and relevant supporting documents to the School Places Allocation Section (Primary One Admission) of the EDB at Podium Floor, West Block, Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre, 19 Suffolk Road, Kowloon Tong.
Residential address
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"When completing the POA Application Form, parents should fill in the actual residential address of their child. If a false address is given by parents to secure a P1 place for their child under the POA System, the application will be rendered void and the P1 place allocated will be withdrawn. If a false instrument has been used or a false statutory declaration has been made in the application, the offender is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 14 years or imprisonment for two years and to a fine respectively under the Crimes Ordinance. Members of the public who suspect that a parent has used a false address for POA applications for his or her child may report it to the School Places Allocation Section by calling its hotline at 2832 7700," the EDB spokesman emphasised.
Photo by Bastille Post
