HONG KONG: The Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (Filmart) has brought together over 760 exhibitors and industry figures from 27 countries and regions to showcase the latest cinematic masterpieces and groundbreaking technologies.
Filmart, dubbed Asia's largest entertainment content marketplace, welcomed more than 7,500 participants at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from March 11 to 14. It was organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).
HKTDC data showed that the 2024 edition saw a significant year-on-year increase in exhibitors and buyers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), rising by 50 percent and 6.0 percent, respectively.
The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) led the country's delegation to Filmart to strengthen collaborations for film distribution and promote the Philippine film industry to international audiences.
The FDCP was joined by eight Filipino film companies, including ABS-CBN, ADCC Film Production, Feast Foundation, Fire & Ice Media and Productions Inc., Go Asia Entertainment, Quantum Films Inc., Regal Entertainment Inc., RR Entertainment Production, and Viva Communications Inc.
In a sit-down interview with The Manila Times, RR Entertainment director and producer Rommel Ricafort emphasized the importance of local filmmakers participating in the four-day event.
"A lot of filmmakers were joining Filmart because it was an opportunity for them to market their films to potential Asean and European buyers. It was a really big help for us," Ricafort said partly in Filipino.
Ricafort, however, stressed that the government should also do its part in boosting the local film industry by "intensifying" its support for filmmakers and providing a platform where they can showcase their projects.
Earlier this year, former FDCP Chairman Tirso Cruz 3rd said the agency's annual budget was reduced by close to 30 percent, prompting them to focus on creating programs centered on educating and developing Filipino talents.
To encourage local viewers, Ricafort suggested that filmmakers should keep putting out "quality" work and get more inventive when presenting their content despite having less funding and access to cutting-edge equipment than their regional counterparts.
Aside from the Philippines, Filmart also welcomed more participants from China, including industry giants and first-time exhibitors Alibaba Culture Entertainment and Bilibili.
Hong Kong film companies, such as Media Asia, Emperor Motion Pictures, Universe Films, Mandarin Motion Picture, One Cool Pictures Ltd., PCCW Media, Edko Films and Golden Scene, also set up booths.
This year, Filmart also teamed up with Hong Kong-based creative technology firm Votion Studios to feature its first-ever virtual production studio, showcasing the latest advances in production techniques and real-time content generation.
On-site participants, meanwhile, joined some 30 sessions of various seminars, press conferences, project showcases and networking events to foster knowledge exchange and facilitate connections.
It also provided an online platform as a hub for displaying and promoting the exhibitors' creative intellectual property, offering professional film recommendations and providing business matching services.
The online platform remains open until April 13, and registered users can rewatch seminars and connect with international buyers and exhibitors to explore more business opportunities. To date, over 1,000 films and entertainment works have been uploaded to the platform.