Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) Macao and the Macau Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) co-hosted a press conference at Galaxy International Convention Centre in Cotai yesterday to announce that this year’s short-film festival “will get off the ground next month.
“This festival aims to foster exchanges between local and international filmmakers,” IC President Deland Leong Wai Man said in a speech.
The 2nd Galaxy Entertainment Group Macao International Shorts Film Festival will be held from September 14 to 21.
Leong pointed out that the government has rolled out training and funding schemes for audiovisual talent, incentivised international productions to film in Macau, and enhanced the city’s cultural profile, progressively establishing the festival as a worldwide platform for visual storytelling. She revealed that the festival’s budget stands at around 2.1 million patacas, with around 2,000 tickets going on sale on September 5.
GEG Public Relations Corporate Social Responsibility Assistant Vice President Annie Loi Sin Kei noted that GEG, as a co-organiser, would provide the festival with professional screening venues through its “Galaxy Cinemas” arm, while hosting workshops, panel discussions, and masterclasses to foster industry exchange and advance cultural tourism integration.
The festival will focus on five major programmes, comprising “Macao Shorts”, “New Voices from Horizon”, “Director in Focus”, “East Asia Panorama”, and “Special Screenings”.
According to Nicosia Lok Fai, who acted as the master of ceremonies at the press conference, the festival features an opening ceremony and a raft of screenings, industry events and masterclasses, workshops, and a closing and awards ceremony. The masterclasses’ “Director in Focus” invitee is Nobuhiro Yamashita.
Nobuhiro Yamashita*, according to the press conference, is a renowned Japanese independent filmmaker who captures youth and daily life with humour. He debuted with “Hazy Life” (1999) and gained recognition as a leading new-generation director. His works including “Linda! Linda!” (2005) and “A Gentle Breeze in the Village” (2007) earned major accolades. In 2024, his first animated feature was selected for Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight, showcasing his evolving creativity.
According to a statement by the co-organisers, the closing ceremony will be held on September 20, followed by an awards presentation. The awards will be granted in categories representing three major areas, namely “Official Competition”, “Macao Shorts” and “East Asia of Tomorrow”.
* Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1976, Nobuhiro Yamashita is a key figure in the Japanese “Slow Cinema” or “Unexpectedly-Humdrum” movement, known for his minimalist, naturalistic, and often deadpan humorous portrayals of the mundane lives of young people. His work offers a unique and poignant look at modern Japanese life, finding profound beauty, humour, and humanity in its quietest and most ordinary moments. – DeepSeek
Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Deland Leong Wai Man (sixth from right), Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) Macao Public Relations Corporate Social Responsibility Assistant Vice President Annie Loi Sin Kei (sixth from left) and 10 local directors shortlisted for “The 2nd Galaxy Entertainment Group Macao International Shorts Film Festival” pose during yesterday’s press conference at Galaxy International Convention Centre about the upcoming film-fest.
