FEATUREFOCUS n FILMARTAND THE ASIANINDUSTRY n 35TH HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILMFESTIVAL


Hong Kong’s Filmart has become a gateway into China and other territories in Asia


Beauty in the East “W


e believe anyone who wants to sell to Asia has to come to Asia,” says Raymond Yip, assistant executive director


of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the organiser of the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (Filmart) which runs from March 21-24. It is not easy to sell into Asia. Its largest box-


office territory, Japan, has scaled back on acqui- sitions and China, the world’s fifth biggest market, is restricted by import quotas. But the region is emerging as a source of capital and, for some sellers, the challenging sales environ- ment only increases the need to travel to Hong Kong. They have to work hard to sell Western titles into the region. “Everyone used to go to the West but [Asia is] becoming a buyers’ market [for Western product],” says Yip. “The emer- gence of China is another factor that attracts visitors [to Filmart].”


The market, which is celebrating its 15th edi-


tion this year, has grown steadily since 2005 when it switched to a pre-Cannes slot and became an anchor event within Entertainment Expo Hong Kong. It has also taken full advan- tage of growth in the mainland China market, as well as providing a platform for executives from Japan, Korea and South-East Asia to do business. It remains a predominantly Asian event —


around 50% of the visitors are from Hong Kong, 34% from the rest of Asia and 16% from outside the region. But US and European par- ticipation is starting to increase now the global sales business is showing signs of recovery. One element which should boost Western


participation this year is a US pavilion organ- ised by the Independent Film & Television Alli- ance (IFTA), which was recently granted $248,000 from the US Department of Com- merce to boost exports of US films. More than


n 16 Screen International at Filmart/HAF/HKIFF March 21, 2011


EXPO EVENTS HONG KONG 2011


nHong Kong Filmart (March 21-24)


nHong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (March 21-23)


Hong Kong Filmart (March 21-24) is growing in importance as more international buyers and producers attend to conduct face-to-face business with the Asian film industry. On the eve of the 15th annual event, Screen’s Asia editor Liz Shackleton reports


20 US sales companies will attend under the IFTA umbrella including Lionsgate, Lakeshore, Myriad Pictures and Cinema Management Group (CMG). Also new is a pan-European pavilion which


is being organised by European Film Promo- tion (EFP). By late February, more than a dozen sales companies had signed up for the EFP umbrella, including Germany’s Beta Film and The Match Factory, Spain’s Latido Films, and Italy’s Intramovies, Rai Trade and Fandango. Unifrance will have a separate presence at the market as usual and the UK will be represented by UK Film Export International. On the Asian front, Yip says the Korean


pavilion will be 50% bigger this year, as digital contents body KOCCA is joining forces with the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), while the Japan pavilion will be 20% bigger. The market will also feature a country pavilion from Cambodia for the first time.


nHong Kong International Film Festival (March 20-April 5)


nAsian Film Awards (March 21)


nHong Kong Film Awards (April 17)


nHong Kong Independent Short Film & Video Awards (March 16-20)


nHong Kong Asian Pop Music Festival (March 23)


nIFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award (March 25)


nDigital Visual Effects Summit (March 21-24)


nPixar: 25 Years of Animation (March 28-July 11)


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