Event Preview: FILMART

This year’s event will take place from March 14 to 17 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Now in its 20th year, Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART) is positioned as a one-stop deal-making and networking platform. The 2016 edition is expected to welcome about 800 companies from more than 30 territories.

The event is ready to host major film companies from Hong Kong, as well as many exhibitors from the U.S., France, Germany, the U.K., Canada, Korea, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, India, Vietnam and other regions that will have dedicated pavilions at FILMART. There will be regional pavilions for the Middle East, Cambodia and Macau at FILMART for the first time. This 20th edition of the event is expecting the largest participation from Mainland Chinese exhibitors from different provinces and cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shandong, Sichuan, Guangdong and Hangzhou. Chongqing is also setting up its regional pavilion for the first time.

***Image***This edition of FILMART will shine a spotlight on digital entertainment. The Hong Kong Animation & Digital Entertainment pavilion, sponsored by CreateHK, will bring together more than 30 local digital entertainment companies to showcase the latest services such as 2D/3D animation, digital special effects, mobile apps, smartphone games, multimedia designs and marketing promotions. More than 200 digital entertainment exhibitors are expected to take part in the Animation & Digital Entertainment World pavilion, including companies from countries such as France, Italy, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand.

FILMART will also include a wealth of screenings, press conferences, seminars, business matchmaking meetings and networking activities for attendees. The event organizers are arranging a variety of industry forums in collaboration with different organizations, during which industry leaders from film, TV, digital entertainment, post-production, animation and music will share their insights. Guest speakers include representatives from the filmmakers of TakenThe Bullet Vanishes and Mad Max: Fury Road and of the animated projects Monster HuntOne PieceMcDull and Attack on Titan. 

On March 14, the conference will host the session From the Local to the Global: In Conversation with Producers from Around the World, during which top Asian and Western producers will share their experiences in forging local productions that work in the international market as well as exploring the current challenges and opportunities for global film production. The following day, the focus shifts to “Belt & Road” Business Opportunities for the Global TV Industry, looking at the initiative that aims to boost the economic prosperity of the countries along the Belt and Road covering various parts of Asia, the Middle East and Africa as well as Central and Eastern Europe.

March 16 will feature a number of events, including Expert Dialogues: How to Present Ideas in the Digital Era and the session How Can a Small/Medium Size Animation Studio Be Successful in the Global Market? Day three will also shine a light on the integration and innovation of Asia’s film industry.

FILMART is part of the 12th edition of the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong, which kicks off March 14 and continues through April 4. Ten events take place under the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong banner, including the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) and the Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony (HKFA).

In addition to the three founding events—FILMART, HKIFF and HKFA—the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong will include the Hong Kong–Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), the Hong Kong Asian-Pop Music Festival (HKAMF), the IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award, ifva (Incubator for Film & Visual Media in Asia Festival), the Asian VFX and Digital Cinema Summit, the Digital Entertainment Summit and TV World International Forum.