The 30th Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) and EntertainmentPulse, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, concluded with approximately 8,000 industry professionals from 53 countries and regions participating. The four-day events featured over 790 exhibitors from 38 countries and regions, representing both emerging markets like Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, and mature film markets including Canada, France, Italy, Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
FILMART continues to serve as one of the region's most influential film and television trading platforms, facilitating cross-regional collaboration and business cooperation. First-time exhibitor Timothy Oh, General Manager of COL International Group from Singapore, noted that FILMART plays a key role in helping companies expand their international networks, stating he met business partners from Turkey, the UK, the US, and Brazil. Another first-time exhibitor, Sachitha Kalingamudali of Mogo Studios from Sri Lanka, reported meeting distributors from many countries who showed genuine interest, calling it a great kickstart for future partnerships. Myanmar film production company aTwentyThree used FILMART as its first move to explore the international market, with founder Arker Soe Oo connecting with distributors from the US and Europe and planning to bring more productions next year.
Overseas buyers recognized the exhibition's business matching effectiveness and content diversity. UK buyer Bizhan Tong commented that FILMART continues to be one of the most effective platforms globally for driving cross-border collaboration, noting the formation of a new strategic partnership with MOFAC and multiple projects across company slates that translated into tangible co-investment and co-production opportunities.
A highlight of this year's FILMART was the AI Hub, which featured multiple leading AI and technology companies showcasing their latest AI technologies and solutions. Through this platform, many Mainland start-ups and established enterprises accelerated their expansion into overseas markets and built international networks. Zhihan Zhang, Founder and CEO of Daogu Culture Limited, remarked that whether it is AI animation, short dramas, or digital humans, the key to the future lies in global strategy, and FILMART gathers global industry professionals to facilitate connections and exchanges. The newly established "AI Academy," supported by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency and the Film Development Fund, offered 19 thematic workshops that equipped industry professionals with hands-on AI skills and insights into emerging trends.
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 more than 100 producers from Hong Kong and around the world. Through networking sessions, panel discussions and workshops, the initiative provided a cross-regional platform for creative collaboration. Golden Globe-winning producer Janet Yang observed during a panel discussion titled "International Coproductions in an Evolving Film Industry Landscape" that the world is getting flatter, with language mattering less to audiences everywhere. Producer and director Peter Chan mentioned the importance of diversifying investors and partners into different regions.
Forty-eight featured forums and events examined emerging industry trends, with EntertainmentPulse and the Digital Entertainment Summit focusing on the latest developments in global film, television and entertainment technology sectors. EntertainmentPulse addressed popular topics including artificial intelligence, streaming platform strategies, the rising popularity of short dramas, co-production and financing trends. The Financing & Investment panel, themed "Capital in Motion: Private Financing Promotes Development of Asia's Film & TV Industry," explored Asian private investment trends, project financing strategies and planning. Justin Deimen, Managing Partner of Goldfinch International, shared the need to allocate more resources toward creative IP valuation, stating that if you cannot value something, you cannot invest in it.
FILMART Online IP Catalogue featured more than 2,200 creative IP projects, extending the four-day physical fair into a two-month networking platform that helps industry stakeholders continue exploring business opportunities. The catalogue remains open until 27 April, enabling industry participants to transcend geographical boundaries and continue expanding global business opportunities. More information about the events can be found at http://www.hktdc.com/hkfilmart and https://hkfilmart.hktdc.com/conference/hkfilmart/en/programme.
