After two years in Beijing, exhibition trade show and conference CineAsia willmove to Macau, a Special Administrative Region in South China, in 2007. Robert Sunshine, vice president of VNUFilm Exposition Group, announced the move at the closing ceremony of thisyear's conference on Thursday in Beijing.

Sunshine added that the new venue would be thehotel and casino complex Wynn Macau. "We've talked to the venue and havereceived positive feedback from the industry on the new location," said MitchNeuhauser, CineAsia's co-managing director.

Held in Beijing's China World Hotel and the exhibition hall of the ChinaWorld Trade Centre, the 14th edition of CineAsia comprised three days of tradeshows, seminars, screenings and a film executive summit held in Beijing's Diaoyutai Hotel. Issues discussed at this year'sconvention included the development of digital cinema and how digitaldistribution can help fight piracy in Asia.

To the disappointment ofmany exhibitors, however, the screenings did not include Zhang Yimou's upcomingperiod drama The Curse Of The GoldenFlower.

Beijing's cold weather, film reels being held up at customsand other infrastructure problems have prompted the organisers to move theevent to South China. "It's been a difficult two years and the market isfragmented," said Robert Sunshine.

The late delivery of filmprints was a major frustration for the organisers this year. Some digital film prints were held up atChinese customs and arrived two days later than the scheduled screeningtime.

"We are always delighted tocome to a growing market and there is always faith that one day China's market will change into an open and moreprosperous market with fewer restrictions on market access but the question iswhen," said Neuhauser.

The organisers also see South Korea as a next possible location. "Although it's tooearly to talk about the year after next, South Korea is a market that should never be ignored," Neuhausersaid.