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 38 countries and regions, including emerging markets like Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as mature film markets such as Canada, France, Italy, Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This diverse 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 served as a vital platform for advancing international collaboration. First-time exhibitors highlighted the event's role in expanding networks. Timothy Oh, General Manager of COL International Group from Singapore, noted, "FILMART plays a key role in helping companies expand their 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, connecting them with distributors from many countries. Myanmar's aTwentyThree film production company used FILMART as its first step into the international market, with founder Arker Soe Oo connecting with distributors from the US and Europe.
Overseas buyers also affirmed the event's business matching 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 tangible co-investment and co-production opportunities."
A highlight was the AI Hub, which showcased the latest AI technologies and solutions from leading companies, attracting global buyers and partners. Many Mainland startups and enterprises accelerated their overseas expansion through this platform. Zhihan Zhang, Founder and CEO of Daogu Culture Limited, stated, "Whether it is AI animation, short dramas, or digital humans, the key to the future lies in global strategy. FILMART gathers global industry professionals and enables us to understand client needs in different overseas markets." 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 hands-on 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 fostered cross-regional creative collaboration. At a panel discussion, 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. What you try to do is diversify your investors and partners into different regions."
EntertainmentPulse and the Digital Entertainment Summit addressed emerging industry trends, including artificial intelligence, streaming platform strategies, short dramas, and co-production financing. The Financing & Investment panel explored Asian private investment trends and project financing strategies. 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 physical fair into a two-month networking platform until 27 April, further consolidating Hong Kong's position as Asia’s film and entertainment trading hub. For more information, visit FILMART and EntertainmentPulse.
