FILMART and EntertainmentPulse Attract 8,000 Global Participants, Reinforcing Hong Kong's Role as International Film Hub

The 30th Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) and EntertainmentPulse, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded with about 8,000 industry professionals from 53 countries and regions participating. The events featured over 790 exhibitors from 38 countries and regions, including emerging markets like Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, and mature markets such as Canada, France, Italy, Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This record participation underscores Hong Kong's position as a center for cultural and artistic exchange and demonstrates the collaborative potential of the global film and television industry.

FILMART continues to serve as one of the region's most influential film and television trading platforms, facilitating cross-regional collaboration and business cooperation. Timothy Oh, General Manager of COL International Group from Singapore, participating for the first time, noted that FILMART plays a key role in helping companies expand their international networks. He stated, "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 for those looking at innovation and what's next." First-time exhibitor Sachitha Kalingamudali, General Manager of Mogo Studios from Sri Lanka, said FILMART exceeded expectations, 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. 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 across both our and other companies' slates, and saw a highly concentrated run of meetings with partners across Asia translating into tangible co-investment and co-production opportunities." This affirms FILMART's role as an efficient platform for advancing collaboration across the global film and television value chain and strengthening market connectivity.

A highlight of this year's FILMART was the AI Hub, which featured leading AI and technology companies showcasing their latest technologies and solutions. This platform helped Mainland start-ups and established enterprises accelerate their expansion into overseas markets and build international networks. 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, facilities connections and exchanges, and enables us to understand the various client needs of 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 to equip professionals with 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, it provided a cross-regional platform for creative collaboration. Janet Yang, a Golden Globe-winning producer, observed during a panel discussion, "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." This initiative strengthens connections between Hong Kong and the international film and television community, creating more possibilities for jointly expanding into the global market.

Two major forums, EntertainmentPulse and the Digital Entertainment Summit, focused on the latest developments in global film, television, and entertainment technology. EntertainmentPulse addressed topics including artificial intelligence, streaming platform strategies, short dramas, co-production, and financing trends. 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." Meanwhile, the FILMART Online IP Catalogue featured more than 2,200 creative IP projects, extending the physical fair into a two-month networking platform. This catalogue, open until 27 April, enables industry participants to transcend geographical boundaries and continue expanding global business opportunities, further consolidating Hong Kong's position as Asia's film and entertainment trading hub. For more information, visit FILMART and EntertainmentPulse.