gusffest@hkbu.edu.hk
About GUFA
“Global University Film Awards (GUFA) is to recognize globally the excellence of film productions by university students from across the world through connecting the global film community and its audiences with outstanding works and groundbreaking ideas.”
Our Journey Leaflet
GUFA builds on the success of the Global Chinese Universities Student Film and Television Festival (GCU), which was initiated by the Academy of Film, School of Communication of Hong Kong Baptist University in 2002. GCU is well recognized as an iconic university film event that fosters a collaborative relationship among film professionals, scholars and students in Hong Kong and those in the Greater China region.
Since 2002, GCU has steadily gained recognition from tertiary institutions from home and abroad;
In 2016, GCU introduced the Foreign Category to its short film competition in view of the Festival’s growing popularity among the non-Chinese overseas film schools, and foreign entries were invited to compete for three Foreign Awards;
Over the years, the Festival’s star-studded award ceremonies have been broadcast by major Hong Kong television networks, including TVB, ATV, RTHK and ViuTV, and online platforms.
Extending the award coverage to the whole world, this year, GCU is reborn and rebrand to become the Global University Film Awards amidst a growing international recognition of the wealth of creative talents of university students from around the world in movie production. GUFA is our collective global response to the call of the world’s talented young.
Mission
GUFA strives to encourage and recognize emerging filmmakers among university students, foster creative exchange among film students around the world, and build synergy between regional young talents and international creative industry. To achieve the mission, GUFA offers a global platform, for showcasing talent, exchanging ideas and fostering network.
Advisory Board Members
| Name | Title/Awards | Country and Region | |
| 1. | Chris BERRY | Professor of Film Studies, King’s College London |
U.K. |
| 2. | Sopawan BOONNIMITRA |
Filmmaker and photographer | Thailand |
| 3. | Roger CHRISTIANSEN |
Television Director | U.S. |
| 4. | Elizabeth DALEY | Dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) |
U.S. |
| 5. | Max HOWARD | Animation Producer | U.S. |
| 6. | Yizhong LI | Head of The Department of Film and Television, Shanghai Jiao Tong University |
China |
| 7. | Piyush ROY | Critic, Curator, Novelist and Scholar | India |
| 8. | Nansun SHI | Film Producer | H.K. |
| 9. | Johnnie TO | Film Director | H.K. |
| 10. | Tim YIP | Film Art Director and Designer | H.K. |
* By alphabetical order
Juries Detailed Introduction
| Name | Title/Awards/Achievements | Country and Region | |
| Marco MULLER (Chair) | Film Producer, Director of Pingyao International Film Festival | Italy | |
| 1. | HANS PETER AMMANN |
Artist & Filmmaker | Switzerland |
| 2. | Chris BERRY | Professor of Film Studies, King’s College London |
U.K. |
| 3. | Geoffrey CAMPBELL |
Digital Modeling Supervisor | Canada |
| 4. | Mark CHAIT | Film Score Composer | U.S. |
| 5. | Angie CHEN | Documentary Filmmaker | H.K. |
| 6. | Roger CHRISTIANSEN |
Television Director | U.S. |
| 7. | Samuel CHOY | Executive Producer | H.K. |
| 8. | Stephanie Hemelryk DONALD FASSA FRSA |
University of Lincoln (Research Director, Culture and Creativity) | Australia |
| 9. | Patrick FERLA | Journalist, Writer | Switzerland |
| 10. | Paul John GRIFFIN |
Animation Supervisor and Oscar-winning Visual Effect Artist |
Canada |
| 11. | Max HOWARD | Animation Producer | U.S. |
| 12. | Daw Ming LEE | Film Scholar and Producer | Taiwan |
| 13. | Prapatsorn LERTANANTA | Chairman of Design Program, Faculty of Architecture of KMITL | Thailand |
| 14. | Larry LEVENE | Documentary Director, Producer | Spain |
| 15. | Claude MOURIÉRAS | Film Director and Screenwriter | France |
| 16. | Jean PERRET | Dean of the Cinema Dept, Geneva School of Art and Design | Switzerland |
| 17. | Tony RAYNS | Filmmaker, Critic, Festival Programmer | U.K. |
| 18. | Nan Sun SHI | Film producer | H.K. |
| 19. | Shaoyi SUN | Professor of Film and Media Studies at Shanghai Theater Academy (STA) | China |
| 20. | Patrick TAM | Film Director | H.K. |
| 21. | Johnnie TO | Film Director | H.K. |
| 22. | Chihyen YEE | Film Director | Taiwan |
| 23. | Li Fen ZHANG | Professor and Senior Producer | U.K. |
| 24. | Dasheng ZHENG | Film Director | China |
* By alphabetical order
About the Organizer
HKBU School of Communication
The School of Communication at Hong Kong Baptist University was founded in 1968. It provides a comprehensive range of programmes in communication studies at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level. The School maintains close connections with Hong Kong's media and creative industries. With a long history plus a strong alumni and industry network, many of the most senior positions in communication-related industries are occupied by its alumni with outstanding accomplishments.
HKBU Academy of Film
The Academy of Film is dedicated to the provision of cinematic-arts and creative media education to nurture young talents into professionals who can contribute to the local and global arts and cultural industries. For the last four decades, it has been the chief provider of cinema, television and media education in Hong Kong. It is currently Hong Kong’s flagship film school in terms of its size, breadth of programmes, distinguished alumni and strong industry connections.Winners
- AwardsTitleWinners/Name of College/University
- Best ScriptTravelerYara MAGDY
Helwan University [Egypt] - Best DocumentaryGlow Worm in a JungleRamana DUMPALA
Film and Television Institute of India [India] - Best Animated Short FilmHim&HerNathalie LAMB
Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
(Film Academy Baden-Württemberg) [Germany] - Best Experimental Short Film¡Ve!Zubaidah K. WAAJID
Loyola Marymount University [United States] - Jury’s Choice
(Experimental)WormSamugjanov ABROR
Uzbekistan State Institute of Arts and Culture [Uzbekistan] - Most Promising ActorThe Victory of CharityRafael HAIDER
University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna [Austria] - Most Promising ActressMy Little Brother, Seung-hyukKIM Yeongseon
Korea National University of Arts [South Korea] - Best DirectorThe Victory of CharityAlbert MEISL
University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna [Austria] - Best Chinese-language FilmWe OutlawsWANG Kaixuan
Zhejiang University of Media and Communications [China] - Best NarrativeMy Little Brother, Seung-hyukKIM Deokgeun
Korea National University of Arts [South Korea] - HKBU Academy of Film's ChoiceAdultingWONG Ping Hei
Hong Kong Baptist University [Hong Kong] - Gold AwardThe Victory of CharityAlbert MEISL
University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna [Austria]
Video
Video
The 1st Global University Film Awards comes to a fruitful conclusion with the Award Presentation Ceremony held on November 9. If you are interested in watching some of the outstanding works from the award-winners and semi-finalists, please click here.
The 1st Global University Film Awards (GUFA) Winners
The 1st GUFA Narrative Catergory
The 1st GUFA Experimental Catergory
[GUFA] JA:PA by Jiří KARMASÍN
[GUFA] Leak by Gabriel INGHILTERRA
[GUFA] Anpadh by Ayush TANDON
[GUFA] Déjà Vu by Jamie BAKER
The 1st GUFA Documentary Catergory
[GUFA] Hope Spots by Joseph Dominic CRUZ
[GUFA] I came in at the end, the best was over by Edoardo SPALLAZZI
The 1st GUFA Chinese Narrative Catergory
The 1st GUFA Animation Catergory
Programme
- 1.
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Short Film Competition and
Award Presentation Ceremony Programme Book
Award Presentation Ceremony Programme Book
GUFA will showcase student films from around the globe to display a panoramic view of the inner world of the young filmmakers. It gives the aspiring filmmakers an international stage for them to be heard and seen, thus motivating them to further explore their potential. This year, the Short Film Competition attracted a multitude of over 1800 submissions from film schools in 100 countries and regions.
The short film competition is open to international university students, and invites submissions of five categories: Narrative, Narrative (Chinese), Documentary, Animation and Experimental. All entries will be subjected to a competitive selection process. The jury comprises world-class industry practitioners at home and abroad, including Oscar and Emmy award-winning masters.
An Award Presentation Ceremony will take place on 9 November 2018 in Hong Kong to celebrate the outstanding productions. Chief award-winning entries will receive cash prize for each entry plus trophy.
- 2.
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Master Class Rundown
Renowned filmmakers and artists as well as distinguished scholars and professionals in the creative media sector will be invited to hold master classes and exchange sessions.
- 3.
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Screenings
To connect the filmmakers with the audience, student film screenings will be organized for open discussions and exchange of ideas. The films selected for the screenings will include shortlisted entries and outstanding student productions of the year.
- 4.
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Pitching
Participants are welcome, as individual or a group, to submit story ideas that have yet been put into production. Those who are selected will be given a chance to present their ideas. The adjudicators will comment on each pitch and the most outstanding presentations will be awarded.
Be part of the WOW event!
The 1st Global University Film Award (GUFA) celebrates young film talents from around the globe and recognizes their outstanding productions in its Short Film Competition. The organizing committee gratefully invites over 20 world-class film professionals and scholars to be the members of Judging Panel and more than 500 honorable guests coming from over 50 countries to attend the ceremony.
Submission
Submission
Over 1,800 submissions from nearly 100 countries and regions were received, including the United States, Europe, Iceland, Belarus, Cuba, Tanzania, and Morocco.
Over a hundred shortlisted submissions from around the globe were screened at the HKBU campus from 7 to 9 November. The Judging Panel has selected the finalists and the winners were announced at the Award Presentation Ceremony on 9 November.
