The 30th Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) and EntertainmentPulse, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded successfully, attracting about 8,000 industry professionals from 53 countries and regions. The events, held over four days, featured over 790 exhibitors from a record high of 38 countries and regions, including emerging markets such as Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as mature markets like Canada, France, Italy, Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This strong participation underscores Hong Kong’s position as a center for cultural and artistic exchange and a key hub for the global film and television industry.
FILMART advanced international collaboration by serving as a trading platform for cross-regional business. First-time exhibitors reported significant networking opportunities. Timothy Oh, General Manager of COL International Group from Singapore, noted that FILMART helps companies expand international networks: "I am meeting friends and new business partners from Turkey, the UK, the US, and even Brazil. Hong Kong’s role as an international hub helps create a bustling market with many business opportunities." Similarly, Sachitha Kalingamudali of Mogo Studios from Sri Lanka said FILMART exceeded expectations, leading to genuine interest from distributors. Myanmar’s aTwentyThree chose FILMART as its first international market exploration, with founder Arker Soe Oo connecting with US and European distributors and planning to return next year.
Overseas buyers also recognized FILMART’s effectiveness. Bizhan Tong, a buyer from the UK, commented: "FILMART continues to be one of the most effective platforms globally for driving cross-border collaboration. This year we formed a new strategic partnership with MOFAC, advanced multiple projects, and saw a highly concentrated run of meetings translating into tangible co-investment and co-production opportunities."
A highlight was the AI Hub, which showcased leading AI technologies and solutions, attracting global buyers and potential partners. Many Mainland startups and enterprises used this platform to accelerate overseas expansion. Zhihan Zhang, Founder and CEO of Daogu Culture Limited, remarked: "Whether it is AI animation, short dramas, or digital humans, the key to the future lies in global strategy. FILMART gathers global industry professionals, facilitates connections, and enables us to understand client needs." The newly established AI Academy, supported by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency and the Film Development Fund, offered 19 thematic workshops equipping professionals with AI skills.
Producers Connect, jointly organized by the HKSAR’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the Hong Kong Film Development Council, and the HKTDC, united over 100 producers from Hong Kong and worldwide. Through networking sessions, panel discussions, and workshops, it provided a cross-regional platform for creative collaboration. At the panel "International Coproductions in an Evolving Film Industry Landscape," Golden Globe-winning producer Janet Yang observed: "The world is getting flatter, language is mattering less and less to audiences everywhere." Producer and director Peter Chan added: "It’s always difficult to convince the studio, the investor, or now the platform, of a vision you want to make. What you try to do is diversify your investors and partners into different regions."
EntertainmentPulse and the Digital Entertainment Summit focused on AI, streaming platforms, short dramas, co-production, and financing trends. The Financing & Investment panel explored Asian private investment trends. Justin Deimen, Managing Partner of Goldfinch International, shared: "We need to allocate more resources and capability towards creative IP valuation. If you cannot value something, you cannot invest in it." The FILMART Online IP Catalogue, featuring over 2,200 creative IP projects, extends the fair into a two-month networking platform, open until 27 April. For more information, visit FILMART and EntertainmentPulse.
