TheHong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) has unveiled 25 Asian filmprojects for its 2006 edition. The selection consists of 10 projects from Hong Kong, 3 each from China and Taiwan, two each from Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand, and one from Iran.

'These25 projects are representative of the many outstanding filmmaking talents inAsia at the moment, featuring quite a number of big names such as Hur Jin-ho,Stanley Kwan, Miike Takashi, Nonzee Nimibutr and Gordon Chan as well as otherup-and-coming talents such as Yu Lik Wai, Liu Fengdou, Frank Lin and Kit Hui,'says HAF honorary advisor Albert Lee.

'This year's selection is by far one of thebroadest spectrums I've seen in terms of genre, budget and creative talent. The 2006 projects illustrate theexcitement of Asia's finestcommercial and artistic filmmaking' adds honorary advisor Wouter Barendrecht.

HAF is a co-production market organizedby the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the territory's MotionPicture Industry Association (MPIA). Around 500 film financiers, producers,buyers and distributors are expected to attend the event (March 20-22), which coincides with Hong Kong Filmart (March20-23), at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Both HAF and Filmart are two ofthe eight events set to take place during the mega Entertainment Expo (March 20- April 14).

Lastyear, HAF selected 28 projects, four of which have since been completed andthree are in production. Completed (or near completion) projects include Thaidirector Jira Maligool's The Tin Mine,Hong Kong director Samson Chiu's McDull,The Alumni, Hong Kong director WilsonYip's Dragon Tiger Gate, Indonesiandirector Nia DiNata's Love For Shareand Thai director Pen-ek Ratanaruang's InvisibleWaves - the last of which has been selected in competition at the 2006Berlin Film Festival.

HAF2006 selection:

1.LOST IN BEIJING (Chinese mainland)

Dir:Li Yu

ProductionCompany: Laurel Films

2.PART OCEAN, PART FLAME (Chinese mainland)

Dir:Liu Fengou

ProductionCompany: Zhengtian Culture and Media Center

3.AIR (Chinese mainland)

Dir:Zhang Yang

ProductionCompany: Ming Productions

4.The GOD IS IN THE SIDE OFTHE WOMEN(Iran)

Dir:Kamal Tabrizi

ProductionCompany: Behnegar

5.FREESIA-ICY TEARS (Japan)

Dir:Kazuyoshi Kumakiri

ProductionCompany: Office Shirous

6.51 WAYS TO PROTECT THEGIRL (Japan)

Dir:Takashi Miike

ProductionCompany: Excellent Film Co

7.132 (Singapore)

Dir:Royston Tan

ProductionCompany: Zhao Wei Films PteLtd

8.THE MAID - THE NEWBEGINNING(Singapore)

Dir:Kelvin Tong

ProductionCompany: MediaCorp RaintreePictures

9.ALRIGHT IT'S STILL ALRIGHT (South Korea)

Dir:Cho Chang Ho

ProductionCompany: LJ Film

10. HWA JANG (South Korea)

Dir:Hur Jinho

ProductionCompany: Ho Film Co Ltd

11. HELP ME (Taiwan)

Dir:Lee Kang Sheng

ProductionCompany: Homegreen Films Co

12. LEAVING AMERICA (Taiwan)

Dir:Frank Lin

ProductionCompany: The Goatsingers

13. THE UNSPEAKABLE CURSE OF OX FAMILY (Taiwan)

Dir:Su Chao Pin

ProductionCompany: Unit 9 Pictures

14. TOYOL (Thailand)

Dir:Nonzee Nimibutr

ProductionCompany: Zhao Wei Films PteLtd

15. UTOPIA (Thailand)

Dir:Apichatpong Weerasethhakul

ProductionCompany: Kick the Machine

16. TYPHOON 101 (Hong Kong)

Dir:Fruit Chan

ProductionCompany: Pandasia Entertainment Corp

17. JULIUS CAESAR (Hong Kong)

Dir:Gordon Chan

ProductionCompany: Lotus Entertainment Ltd

18. FAT ENGLISHMEN (Hong Kong)

Dir:Lawrence Gray

ProductionCompany: Idol Films

19. A BREATH AWAY (Hong Kong)

Dir:Kit Hui

ProductionCompany: Factory 630

20. GREEN MANSION (Hong Kong)

Dir:Stanley Kwan

ProductionCompany: Kwan's Creative Workshop Ltd

21. APEIRON (Hong Kong)

Dir:Clare Law

ProductionCompany: Lunar Films P/L

22. PAPA IS A ROLLING STONE (Hong Kong)

Dir:Julian Lee

ProductionCompany: China International Entertainment Ltd

23. THE WEEPING SEA (Hong Kong)

Dir:Terence Tong

ProductionCompany: Beijing Dadi Century Ltd

24. MYSTERY OF THE NUN'S DEATH (Hong Kong)

Dir:Herman Yau

ProductionCompany: The Plan Co Ltd

25. PLASTIC CITY (Hong Kong)

Dir:Yu Lik Wai

ProductionCompany: Xstream Pictures