Every year in September, the Macao International Fireworks Display Contest, organized by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), lights up the night skies with world-class pyrotechnic displays by some of the best companies in the business.
This year marks the 28th year of the contest, and welcomes ten teams from around the world to show off their very best skills in front of Macao Tower on September 3, 10, 15, and 24, and October 1.
The visiting teams at this year’s contest hail from (in order of appearance in the contest): Thailand, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Japan, Korea, Italy, Canada, Romania and China.
This is the first time a team from Romania has ever participated in the contest and the Canadian team, Feu d’artifice Orion is also making their debut. Since 1999, Feu d’artifice Orion has presented over 80 fireworks shows over the province of Québec and the world annually, including various displays in celebration of Québec’s National Holiday and Canada Day. In 2015, the company won the first prize in the World Championship Blackpool England.
As for Romanian team, Pyro-Technic Transilvania Ltd., they have organized over 250 fireworks shows for major festivities and prestigious sports events in Romania every year, and in 2006 were champions in the Romanian National Fireworks Contest.
The other eight teams have all competed in Macau previously, with many achieving top results.
Macedos Pirotecnia, Lda of Portugal have joined the contest four times in the past and won the first prize in the 12th edition of the festival in 2000. With over 80 years pyrotechnic experience, Macedos once presented the then biggest fireworks display in the world for New Year’s Eve on Madeira Island in 2006, an achievement recognized by the Guinness World Records, and held until 2012.
Coming in second place behind Macedos in 2000, was British company Pyro 2000 Ltd. They are also returning the year to see if they can make it one better this time.
“The industry has really changed since then,” notes Graham Wilkinson, co-founder of the company. “Back then we used a hardwire firing system, but today it is all computerised which allows us to do so much more”.
Pyro 2000 stages fireworks displays in the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland each year, and for this year in Macau Mr. Wilkinson shares that his company is planning to present a James Bond themed show.
“Our show, ‘Tribute to Bond’ will feature the opening soundtrack to the 007 movies and a number of other famous songs including Diamonds are Forever, For Yours Eyes Only, Goldfinger, Live and Let Die and Skyfall”.
“Winning in these competitions is very good for a company’s reputation, especially with very active social media, your shows get posted on Facebook and Youtube, and then you get invited to even more festivals,” adds Graham.
The show on September 15 will be particularly popular as it falls on the night of Mid-Autumn Festival, and the teams from Japan and South Korea are sure to put on some great crowd-pleasing moments. Japanese team, Marutamaya Ogatsu Fireworks Co., Ltd. won the first and third prizes in the 5th and 19th editions of the contest in Macao. Taking pride in its over 150 years’ experience in pyrotechnics, the Japanese company is set to enthrall audiences with unforgettable fireworks displays in “Edo-Tokyo style”, which combines modern innovation of Tokyo and traditional techniques of pyrotechnic craft dating from the Edo period in Japanese history.
The grand finale of the competition is always timed to coincide with China’s National Day on October 1, so it is fitting that the winning team from 2014, Hunan Jingtai Fireworks Co., Inc will present on this night, together with Pyro-Technic Transilvania Ltd. from Romania. Hunan province is famed as the “Hometown of firecrackers” in China, and the company has been manufacturing fireworks for over three decades and exporting its products to Asia, Europe, North America and other parts of the world.
Jim Shih is the Director of Sunny Fireworks, the parent company of Hunan Jingtai. He says it is an honour to again participate in the Macao International Fireworks Display Contest, and is expecting a good result.
The Director reveals that judges will look at the colours, shapes and creativity of the fireworks, as well as their coherence with the music. He thinks that all the participants this year are outstanding, so the competition is going to be fierce.
As well as spectacular pyrotechnic shows, this year, MGTO has again requested the teams to choreograph their fireworks displays to both music and laser light projections, to present a fully immersive light and sound spectacular. Spectators can enjoy the fireworks shows live broadcast on TDM – Macao TV Channel with their background music streaming from TDM – Radio Macao's Chinese Channel (FM 100.7) as well every scheduled evening.
As with previous years, the sidelines of the contest there will also be a variety of vibrant events and activities in partnership with various public departments, entities and non-governmental organizations to encourage participation among residents. MGTO will cooperate with the General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau again this year to present the Fireworks Carnival, filling the event with fun and colorful dimensions. Last year, the five-day carnival welcomed in excess of 77,000 participants.
There will also be a Trophy Design Contest, Photo Contest and Student Drawing Contest, and this year, residents and visitors can choose to enjoy the fireworks at new “Anim’Arte Nam Van” area next to Nam Van lake, while enjoying some gourmet delights served at the cafe.
