The International Film Festival & Award – Macau held a press conference on Friday announcing the first details of its second edition (Dec 8-14).

Mike Goodridge, CEO of London-based Protagonist Pictures and the former editor of Screen International, will be leaving the company to join the festival as its Artistic Director. Goodridge will remain on Protagonist’s board of directors.

“Our plan is to cook up a feast of world cinema in this unique destination. We want to shine a bright spotlight on young first and second time film-makers and really work hard to establish Macao as a meeting point for the industry from east and west,” Goodridge said in the festival’s press release.

Last year, the first edition’s Artistic Director Marco Mueller abruptly announced his departure from the festival a day before its lineup was announced.

The festival will also change its competition section’s focus to exclusively films by first- or second-time directors. The top prize will also come with a US$60,000 cash prize.

Goodridge will be picking films based on recommendations from his team of international consultants: Giovanna Fulvi for the Greater China region, Aseem Chhabara for India, Violeta Bava for Latin America, Fionnuala Halligan for the UK and Europe, and Hiromi Aihara for Japan.

In addition, the festival will add a new section of films for family audiences and “a large gastronomic presence both on and off the screen.” Hong Kong pop star Miriam Yeung has signed on as the festival’s Talent Ambassador.

The IFFAM will once again host a co-production market with 14 projects that bring together elements from east and west.