CityU’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) has actively involved its faculty members in developing cross-cultural collaborations to provide students with new opportunities. This year, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong and Macau and Italian Trade Agency, CLASS supported the kick-off event of the Made in Italy 2024 initiatives “Made in Italy, the history of its future”, with two seminars held at CityU.

Italy celebrates the “Made in Italy Day” on 15 April every year. The creation of a national day dedicated to “Made in Italy” is a recent initiative of the Italian Government, aiming to celebrate, promote and protect the excellence and creativity of Italian products, which have made the “Made in Italy” label as a signifier of quality craftsmanship. 

The kick-off events are two seminars hosted by Prof Max GIOVAGNOLI, the coordinator of the School of Visual Arts, Cinema and New Media of the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED Rome, Italy) and Mrs Paola DE LUCA, the Founder and Creative Director of The Futurist LLC. Students, academics, and professionals had the chance to learn more about “Made in Italy” and creativity, but also acquire some knowledge about film production. Prof CHING May-bo, Associate Dean (Undergraduate Education and Quality Assurance) of CLASS and the Head of Department of Chinese and History, welcomed the audience with the Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong, hoping that these events could foster the collaborations between the two creative and cultural regions. 

Contest details were also presented at the seminar to invite all university and institutes students or recent graduates (aged 30 at maximum) based in Hong Kong and Macau to think out of the box and submit their unique “Made in Italy” short videos. Participants will be free of identifying the preferred expression of creativity, including live action filmmaking, animation, art-tech, metaverse and the most modern communication platforms. The goal is to draw attention and give visibility and resonance among institutions, business community, stakeholders, civil society, and local media to the concept of “Made in Italy” and the reasons for its success. 

A single winner who will be offered the opportunity to attend, free of charge, a three-week training course at the European Institute of Design in Rome, which will take place in July 2025. The prize includes the return flight ticket in economy class and the accommodation, upon availability.  Moreover, the winning short film will be screened at the Panel dedicated to Hong Kong cinema to be held during the 71st International Film Festival in Venice.

Click here to learn more about the contest details and upcoming activities.