Montblanc celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award, the visionary award that has been recognizing the work and contributions of modern day art patrons since 1992.
Johnnie To, recipient of the 2016 Award for Hong Kong was honoured at a ceremony held at Howard’s Gourmet in recognition for his effects in promoting the development of the Hong Kong film industry.
Montblanc President Asia Pacific Julien Renard presented the honouree with a Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim limited edition fountain pen encased in a trophy, and 15,000 euros to be donated to the «Fresh Wave» program which is initiated by To that has been making dreams come true for passionate and aspiring Hong Kong filmmakers for the past nine years.
Over 100 selected guests attended the Dinner including Celebrities Andy Hui, Sammi Cheng, Anthony Wong, Wyman Wong, Jonathan Wong, Directors Ka Fai Wai & John Shum, Socialites Charles & Tiffany Heung, Wilfred & Hayley Wong, Stephen & Nancy Ip, Abraham Shek.
Nurturing New Talent
Johnnie To is best known internationally for directing and producing action and crime movies such as «The Mission» (1999), «Election» (2005) and «Vengeance» (2009) but he has also devoted much effort to promoting the development of the Hong Kong film industry and nurturing new talent.
He initiated the Fresh Wave programme that has been giving passionate and aspiring Hong Kong filmmakers the opportunity to fulfill their potential for the past ten consecutive years. Fresh Wave even evolved in 2010 into an international short film festival, further fostering cultural exchange among international filmmakers.
Inviting a Number of Directors
A few years ago, Johnnie To decided to use his own personal network to further Fresh Wave’s aims, inviting a number of directors to be mentors of Fresh Wave participants every year, giving the participants a glimpse of day-to-day film-making and a provisional apprenticeship.
To has also recruited some Fresh Wave winners to work in his own production company. He conducted a masterclass session in 2012 at Forum des Images in Paris, and received an honorary doctorate from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2014.
The Montblanc Maison
The Hong Kong award ceremony was held on the fifth floor at Howard’s Gourmet. Inside the private lounges of this elegant venue, Montblanc had brought together each of the 25 Patron of Art Edition writing instruments that had been created every year since 1992 to honour historic patrons of art.
Upon arrival, guests were ushered to start their journey at the Montblanc Maison with three exhibition rooms. Each patron of art edition was displayed within their individual glorifier and it was decorated as a miniature theme box with the background of the edition or a mannequin dressed in that person’s attire.
