FilMart Organizers See Silver Linings Within the Clouds Surrounding Hong Kong Market

variety.com:

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefOrganizers of Hong Kong FilMart, normally Asia’s biggest film and TV rights market, are putting on a brave face despite their prestige event being forced into an online-only format for the third time in a row.The city’s borders are closed to travelers from several key countries and its onerous quarantine on-arrival conditions show no sign of being lifted during the current fifth wave of COVID-19 infections.But, while many Asian industry executives have been unable to attend an in-person festival or market for some two years now, and are keenly awaiting the first opportunity, these days they are also vastly more experienced at dealing with virtual markets, video conferencing and online screenings.

The number of companies participating as exhibitors at FilMart 2022 is set to reach 750, compared with 680 last year. Based on advanced registrations, organizers say they expect a solid 8,000 participants during the four-day market (March 14-17, 2022).Alongside the market for finished films is the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), which will be held from 14 to 16 March.

It is now well-established as a leading financing platform for film projects in Asia. This year it has shortlisted 28 in-development movie projects and a further 15 works-in-progress projects.Though the virtual FilMart has witnessed a 10% reduction of U.S.

and European exhibitors, that loss is outweighed by increased numbers of mainland Chinese exhibitors using FilMart for the first time.