Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki delivers a speech during the kick-off ceremony of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2024 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai on March 11, 2024. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Filmart, one of Asia’s largest film and entertainment content marketplaces, found international industry heavyweights showcasing their latest cinematic masterpieces and technologies in Hong Kong.

As part of the month-long Entertainment Expo, Filmart, or the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market, attracts some 750 exhibitors from over 25 countries and regions. Held until March 14, it features more than 30 regional pavilions.

Encompassing 10 major events including Filmart, the Entertainment Expo is organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by Create Hong Kong, the Film Development Fund and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Addressing the expo’s opening ceremony on March 11 afternoon, Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki said the current government is all the more determined to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West center for international cultural exchanges

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Addressing the expo’s opening ceremony on March 11 afternoon, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki said the current government is all the more determined to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West center for international cultural exchanges.

“The entertainment industry is surely among our closest partners in achieving this goal,” he said.

The government is restructuring Create Hong Kong as the Cultural and Creative Industries Development agency to enhance support for the industries and everyone involved, Chan noted. A total of $130 million will also be injected into the Film Development Fund.

“Asia has one of the largest and most dynamic entertainment industries in the world and Hong Kong is located in the heart of Asia, making it the ideal location for the expo,” said HKTDC Chairman Peter Lam Kin-ngok in his welcoming remarks.

Noting Hong Kong has captured a fair share of the regional market, Lam said the city is recognized as a leading platform for co-productions and offers many opportunities for the entertainment industries. 

Visitors check out the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2024 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on March 11, 2024. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Also attending the opening ceremony were Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, secretary for culture, sports and tourism of the Hong Kong SAR; Shi Zhi-yan, second-grade counsel of the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Office of China’s National Radio and Television Administration; Hong Kong entertainment ambassador Leon Lai; and representatives from event organizers and supporting institutions.

This year's Filmart sees a significant presence of exhibitors from the Chinese mainland, including industry giants, such as Alibaba Culture Entertainment and Bilibili who are participating for the first time. Other prominent exhibitors include Huace, iQIYI, Shanghai Youhug Media and Tencent, showcasing their latest productions.

The exhibition also welcomes first-time exhibitors from China’s Hubei province, Macao Special Administrative Region and Indonesia.

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Noting this is the first time that the Indonesian government has officially sponsored a booth, Reza Servia, producer of Indonesian film and television production company StarVision Plus, said he hopes to meet more distributors around the world that are interested in Indonesian content at Filmart.

“Not just distributors, but maybe opportunities for co-production, IP exchange…,” said Servia. “Just develop these relationships with people we have been out of touch with from COVID.”

The Thai Ministry of Culture set up a dedicated Thai Pavilion and organized Thai Day on the first day of Filmart. The HKTDC and the Department of International Trade Promotion of the Thai Ministry of Commerce also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen bilateral trade ties.

Filmart also partnered with Votion Studios, a Hong Kong-based creative tech company, to set up a virtual production studio at the event.

Visitors check out the "Discover Indonesia" Pavilion at the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market on March 11, 2024. (JAN YUMUL / CHINA DAILY)

The EntertainmentPlus will also be held concurrently with Filmart to bring together global industry leaders to discuss a wide range of topics, including Hong Kong-Europe-Asia co-productions, development of streaming, globalization of Chinese and Southeast Asian content as well as generative artificial intelligence content.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has grouped a series of events, ranging from arts and culture, pop, to TV and film, under the umbrella of “Art March”.

Contact the writers at kelly@chinadailyapac.com