Hong Kong Cinema @ CANNES 2026, a collaborative effort by the Cultural, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) of the Hong Kong SAR Government, the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC), the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), is taking place at the Cannes Film Festival from 12 to 23 May. The event aims to deepen industry exchange and expand co-production and investment opportunities, highlighting Hong Kong's role as a vital bridge between global and Asian film markets.
A highlight of the event, Hong Kong Night, held on 16 May at Majestic Beach, gathered around 600 international film professionals, including producers, distributors, investors, and film promotion organizations. The evening facilitated connections between global industry players and Hong Kong exhibitors, emerging producers, and actors Carlos Chan and Natalie Hsu, as well as winning teams of the FDC's Content Development Scheme for Streaming Platforms, fostering valuable discussions on collaboration.
The Hong Kong Pavilion, staged at the Marché du Film, features a strong lineup of Hong Kong film production and distribution companies, including Edko Films, Emperor Motion Pictures, Entertaining Power, Media Asia Film, and One Cool Film. Other participants include Fortune Star Media, Golden Network Asia, Mandarin Motion Pictures, and Blast Films. Exhibitors showcase a range of latest and upcoming productions, such as Edko Films' Cold War 1994, Entertaining Power's The Fruitless Tree, Media Asia Film's Twilight of the Warriors: The Final Chapter, and One Cool Film's The Trier of Fact. These projects have attracted producers, investors, and distributors from various countries, facilitating in-depth discussions on Hong Kong cinema's latest creative trends and international co-operation opportunities.
Anna Cheung, Assistant Executive Director of the HKTDC, stated: "By co-organising 'Hong Kong Cinema @ CANNES 2026' once again with the CSTB, FDC and CCIDA during the Cannes Film Festival, the HKTDC helps the Hong Kong industry follow up on projects discussed at the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) held in March, and brings Hong Kong original works to overseas markets. We also support international screen productions in entering the Asian market via Hong Kong, reinforcing the city's role as a vital bridge connecting Asian and the global markets."
Participating companies have reported that the Hong Kong Pavilion provides a highly effective platform for meeting international buyers. Grace Chan, Head of Distribution at Entertaining Power Co. Limited, noted: "I bring the family-drama-themed title The Fruitless Tree. It is very important for me to meet every programmer from different film festivals. This is a really good bridge for us to come here and present a movie to everyone in the market especially film festival programmers." Vanessa Lo, Vice President of Sales and Distribution at Media Asia, said: "Media Asia joined the Hong Kong Pavilion at this year's Cannes market to seek partners for Twilight of the Warriors: The Final Chapter, and successfully established partnerships with buyers from multiple territories including France, Germany, Singapore and Vietnam, many of whom had previously collaborated on Walled In."
The event also organized a series of industry seminars and exchange activities. A seminar titled "Capital Flows & Co-Production Opportunities in Hong Kong, Asia and Beyond" explored funding trends and co-production opportunities. Another seminar, "Hong Kong Power: The ground-breaking AI ecosystem building cinema, technology and research," featured representatives from Mei Ah Entertainment and The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, discussing AI's role in film creation and talent development. The newly introduced "Spotlight on Hong Kong: Pitching Session" featured five emerging Hong Kong producers and their latest film projects, along with award-winning teams from the FDC's Content Development Scheme for Streaming Platforms. Additionally, the event introduced its first-ever business matching meetings, connecting the Hong Kong delegation with overseas producer delegations from organizations such as Cinecittà (Italy), the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), Telefilm Canada, CNC (France), Cinema do Brasil, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH (Germany), and Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Fund. These meetings aim to deepen long-term collaboration and promote co-production opportunities between filmmakers worldwide and Hong Kong.
Photo download: https://bit.ly/3Puddnp
Media enquiries: HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department, Serena Cheung, Tel: (852) 2584 4272, Email: serena.hm.cheung@hktdc.org
