Hong Kong Filmart Organizer On New AI Hub & Three Regional Targets For The Market’s Future

deadline.com:

Off of the back of a film financing program revamp from theHong Kong Film Development Council (HKFDC) in January earlier this year, Hong Kong’s upcoming Filmart will look to build on that momentum to revitalize the Hong Kong film industry.

Running from March 17 to 20 and organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), this year’s Filmart will feature new overseas pavilions from Australia (New South Wales), Cambodia, India, and Saudi Arabia, as well as first-time exhibitors Kazakhstan, with returning pavilions from France, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Organizers said that this year’s edition will welcome 750 exhibitors from more than 30 countries and regions — matching last year’s 750 exhibitors and 7,500 visitors, and more than the 2023 edition’s 700 exhibitors and 7,300 visitors.

However, this is still a dip compared to Filmart’s last pre-pandemic edition in 2019, which featured 880 exhibitors. Candas Yeung, Associate Director of Service Promotion Department at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and head of Filmart, tells Deadline that two current trends guided Filmart’s programming thrusts this year. “First, co-production has become increasingly prominent, with production companies seeking international partnerships to combine creative resources and access multiple markets,” says Yeung. “This approach facilitates cultural exchange and creates content with broader global appeal. “Additionally, AI technology is transforming filmmaking processes across pre-production, filming, and post-production stages.