FILMART and EntertainmentPulse Open with Record International Participation, Driving Global Film Industry Exchange

The 30th Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART) and EntertainmentPulse, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), commenced on March 17, 2026, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This four-day event, part of the broader Entertainment Expo Hong Kong, gathers global industry leaders to showcase productions, discuss market trends, and foster international collaboration. The opening ceremony celebrated both the 30th edition of FILMART and the 50th anniversary of the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), underscoring their enduring role in the city's entertainment sector growth.

This year's FILMART has achieved a record level of internationalization, with participation from 38 countries and regions, connecting over 790 exhibitors with approximately 7,700 business visitors from around 50 countries and regions. New exhibitors from emerging markets such as Belgium, Myanmar, Poland, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan are joining for the first time, while established participants include the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. The Mainland contingent has expanded significantly, with new regions like Chongqing, Fujian, Guizhou, Shandong, and Sichuan participating. Major mainland companies such as Tencent Video, Bilibili, iQIYI, and Youku are leveraging the platform to enhance their overseas market presence. Hong Kong companies like Sil-Metropole Organisation and Mei Ah Entertainment are showcasing productions utilizing virtual reality and AI, highlighting local cultural appeal.

A total of 40 events are scheduled during FILMART, including forums like the "Forum on International Communication Cooperation and Innovation for a New Vision" organized by the International Cooperation Department of National Radio and Television Administration of China and the "International Short Drama Association 2026 Asian Forum." Business activities include multiple cooperation agreement signings, such as a project signing ceremony at the Sichuan Pavilion covering copyright trading and strategic collaboration. International engagements feature presentations by Thailand's Ministry of Culture and activities by ICEX Spain Trade & Investment exploring Asian-European creative collaboration. More information on FILMART events can be found at http://www.hktdc.com/hkfilmart.

The Producers Connect programme, 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, returns with partnerships from 10 international film institutions. It brings together over 100 producers for business matching sessions to foster cross-cultural exchange. A dedicated forum, "International Coproductions in an Evolving Film Industry Landscape," will feature speakers like Hong Kong director Peter Chan, Golden Globe-winning producer Janet Yang, and Singaporean Cannes-winning director Anthony Chen, discussing co-production trends and global development horizons for Asian film industries.

The AI Hub, reintroduced with an expanded scale, showcases leading mainland AI and technology companies such as Alibaba Cloud, Kling AI, MiniMax, Vidu, Nanjing Xuanjia Network Technology Co., Ltd., and Daogu Culture Limited. These exhibitors present applications in AI-generated content (AIGC), AI-generated short dramas, and AI animation, focusing on commercial collaboration and supporting mainland enterprises in global expansion. Academic institutions like The University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and Lingnan University are also participating. The newly established AI Academy, supported by the CCIDA and the Film Development Fund, offers 18 thematic workshops on AI applications in filmmaking. A panel session, "Human-in-the-Loop: Balancing Cinematic Craft and Generative AI," will feature industry experts discussing the integration of AI in content creation.

EntertainmentPulse, running concurrently with FILMART, addresses key market issues such as the global expansion of short dramas, international co-production opportunities, AI-film collaboration models, and global animation IP creation. A session on film financing features insights from industry leaders like Justin Deimen of Goldfinch International, Bennett Pozil of East West Bank, and Catherine Ying of CMC Pictures and Pearl Studio, examining financing trends and strategies in the Asian film industry. A seminar on micro-short dramas includes speakers from DataEye and Mansen (Shenzhen) Culture Media Co., Ltd., exploring international expansion trends. Another panel discussion features production teams from Hong Kong films, moderated by critic Thomas Shin, on preserving local culture while adapting to market dynamics. Details on EntertainmentPulse programming are available at https://hkfilmart.hktdc.com/conference/hkfilmart/en/programme.

The 24th Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), part of the HKIFF Industry Project Market, runs from March 17 to 19, 2026, within FILMART, featuring 42 film projects from 22 countries and regions. These projects, including 13 animation or genre works, represent diverse themes and development stages, providing a platform for industry exchange and collaboration across Asia and internationally. This event underscores FILMART's role as a vital nexus for global film industry networking, innovation, and market growth, reinforcing Hong Kong's position as a leading entertainment content marketplace in Asia.