The 30th Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART) and EntertainmentPulse opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, running from March 17 to 20. Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the event marks both the 30th edition of FILMART and the 50th anniversary of the Hong Kong International Film Festival, positioning it as a critical platform for global entertainment industry exchange.
This year's FILMART has achieved unprecedented international reach, with participation from a record 38 countries and regions. New exhibitors from emerging markets including Belgium, Myanmar, Poland, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan are joining for the first time, alongside established participants from the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. The expanded Mainland contingent features new participation from provinces such as Chongqing, Fujian, Guizhou, Shandong, and Sichuan, with major companies like Tencent Video, Bilibili, iQIYI, and Youku using the platform to expand their overseas market presence.
Hong Kong companies are showcasing innovative productions using virtual reality and AI, with participants including Sil-Metropole Organisation, Mei Ah Entertainment, Media Asia, Edko Films, and Television Broadcasts Limited. A total of 40 events are scheduled during FILMART, including the "Forum on International Communication Cooperation and Innovation for a New Vision" organized by China's National Radio and Television Administration and the "International Short Drama Association 2026 Asian Forum." Business activities include multiple cooperation agreement signings, with the Sichuan Pavilion hosting a project signing ceremony covering copyright trading and strategic collaboration.
The Producers Connect program, organized in partnership with 10 international film institutions from regions including the Chinese Mainland, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, and the United Kingdom, brings together over 100 producers for business matching sessions. A dedicated forum titled "International Coproductions in an Evolving Film Industry Landscape" will feature industry leaders including Hong Kong director Peter Chan, Golden Globe-winning producer Janet Yang, and Singaporean Cannes-winning director Anthony Chen, discussing how Hong Kong and Asia's film industries can broaden their global development horizons.
The AI Hub returns with expanded scale, featuring leading mainland AI and technology companies such as Alibaba Cloud, Kling AI, MiniMax, and Vidu. These exhibitors will present applications in AI-generated content (AIGC), AI-generated short dramas, and AI animation. The newly established AI Academy, supported by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency and the Film Development Fund, will offer 18 thematic workshops on practical AI applications across the filmmaking process. A panel session titled "Human-in-the-Loop: Balancing Cinematic Craft and Generative AI" will feature industry experts including Yuhang Cheng of Midjourney China Club, Yunan Zhang of MiniMax, and Fu Binxing of China Huace Film & TV Co., Ltd., exploring how filmmakers can effectively harness AI while retaining creative leadership.
EntertainmentPulse, running alongside FILMART, addresses pressing industry issues including the global expansion of short dramas, international co-production opportunities, AI and film production collaboration, and global animation IP creation. A dedicated session on film financing will feature insights from industry leaders including Justin Deimen of Goldfinch International, Bennett Pozil of East West Bank, and Catherine Ying of CMC Pictures and Pearl Studio. Another seminar will examine the international expansion of Chinese mainland short dramas, featuring Wang Xiangbin of DataEye and Xiaoqian Chen of Mansen (Shenzhen) Culture Media Co., Ltd.
The 24th Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), running from March 17-19 within FILMART, features 42 film projects from 22 countries and regions, including 13 animation or genre projects spanning themes from family narratives to science fiction. This provides opportunities for project teams to exchange ideas with industry professionals and foster collaboration across Asia and internationally. More information about the events is available at http://www.hktdc.com/hkfilmart and https://hkfilmart.hktdc.com/conference/hkfilmart/en/programme.
