Hong Kong Filmart has cemented its position as the gateway to Asia for its 2026 edition, taking place March 17-20.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Hong Kong Filmart is set to return even stronger as an essential event for the global entertainment industry. Leaders and innovators from sectors spanning film, TV, streaming, animation and technology will come together to explore business opportunities and cross-border collaboration.
Hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the landmark edition of Filmart will once again be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, running from March 17-20.
Last year, more than 760 exhibitors from 34 countries and regions showcased a wide variety of content at the four-day marketplace, which attracted more than 7,600 industry participants including producers, distributors, sales agents, OTT platforms, service providers and investors from 42 countries and regions.
Having built a strong foundation over the past three decades, Filmart has evolved strategically into a premier hub for the global entertainment industry, transforming from a transactional marketplace into a large-scale comprehensive platform designed to accelerate the growth of the entire industry chain.
Industry-wide representation sees content creation, financing, production, distribution and talent converge in one space, creating a one-stop shop to discover market opportunities, deepen relationships and secure international deals. Many exhibitors also act as buyers for streaming platforms and TV networks, while industry professionals can connect with potential partners across diverse regions and sectors, facilitating cross-culture collaboration and streamlining the dealmaking process.
In an increasingly interconnected and globalised industry, Filmart is reaffirming itself as a direct gateway to international markets and
partnerships, acting as a vital bridge for market access, cultural exchange and business alliances. Filmart also provides access to fast-growing dynamic regions, such as the rapidly expanding ASEAN region and its emerging markets, enabling industry players to reach new audiences and seek co-production opportunities.
“It was a great start from the first day of last year’s Filmart,” says Azmir Saifuddin Bin Mutalib, CEO of National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS). “Among the discussions that concluded successfully were co-production funding opportunities with Hong Kong’s Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), an MoU with the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) and market access with Cambodia.”
Championing Malaysia
A regular attendee at Filmart, FINAS will again head to Hong Kong, presenting a Malaysia Pavilion to promote the latest products, services and filming incentives from participating Malaysian production and distribution firms.
Further joint exhibition space set up by Asian government agencies to facilitate their worldwide business expansion through soft power include the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), KOFIC and Thailand’s Ministry of Culture, as well as several pavilions organised by mainland Chinese provinces and cities such as Beijing, Guangdong, Shanghai and Sichuan.
Further afield, Europe will have a strong presence on the trade floor through pavilions staged by Unifrance, European Film Promotion (EFP), the Italian Trade Commission and more.
“The Asian market is very diverse for French films,” says Gilles Renouard, director of cinema at Unifrance. “Many countries are attracted by animated films, but also by films for families. The diversity of French production allows each distributor to find films for all audiences.
“Filmart is the place where French sellers meet the maximum number of Asian distributors, and we know this will again be the case.”
Overseas visitors looking for local content and collaboration can interact with key Hong Kong players in person. Local producers and sales agents who will have a market booth to showcase their latest offerings include Edko Films, Golden Scene, MakerVille, Media Asia Film Distribution, Mei Ah Entertainment Group, Muse Communication, Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) and Sil-Metropole Organisation.
Two successful initiatives inaugurated last year will be back. Following an overwhelming response, Producers Connect returns as a producer-focused programme to connect producers and financiers worldwide and forge cross-border collaboration. Jointly organised by the Film Development Council (FDC) and HKTDC, this programme is supported by major international film institutions from across the globe.
China Film Co-production Corporation, Italy’s Cinecitta, KOFIC, FINAS, Film Development Council of the Philippines, Vietnam Film Development Association and the UK’s British Film Institute (BFI) will each bring a delegation of rising producers. Through tailored business matchmaking sessions, the initiative aims to develop valuable global networks that promote connectivity, credibility and cultural exchange among the participating producers and other international industry professionals at Filmart.
Producers Connect will also welcome a group of Hong Kong producers. A series of targeted workshops, fireside chats and a panel discussion with industry experts will be delivered. These will provide the next generation of emerging talent with the skills, network and global perspectives as they navigate international markets and strengthen Hong Kong’s status as a regional hub for IP trading.
Last year also saw the successful launch of the AI Hub, which returns in a dedicated exhibition zone to spotlight the development and application of artificial intelligence, unleashing creativity and streamlining the filmmaking processes.
Solution demonstrations and interactive forums will be among the highlights, along with an expert panel designed to engage industry professionals, academia and research stakeholders. Alibaba, Vidu (ShengShu), Kling AI, MiniMax, TapNow and Stardust are among the outstanding AI companies that will present the latest technologies and innovative solutions to transform the future of film production.
Expert tips
AI Training programmes will also be in place to introduce industry-specific application scenarios and provide hands-on practice with AI implementations. Specialised workshops and a panel discussion will connect creative professionals with technological innovators, fostering collaborations between content creators and AI technology professionals. Discussion topics include video generation from text and images, audio generation, digital humans, AI for virtual productions, AI animations, AI short films and intellectual properties.
EntertainmentPulse, a conference running alongside Filmart in its fifth edition, continues to serve as a market intelligence platform where leading industry executives deliver insights and forward-looking strategies. The panel discussions will provide in-depth analysis of the key topics shaping entertainment markets across Asia and internationally, including co-production and investment, animation, video streaming, AI in filmmaking, short drama and filmmakers’ sharing sessions.
Beyond exhibition and conferencing, Filmart is also a space for events and activities. Press launches, project presentations and networking events hosted by exhibitors create multiple touchpoints for participants to forge meaningful business connections and discover emerging opportunities.
Filmart and EntertainmentPulse are two of the eight industry events under the banner of the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong that celebrates Hong Kong’s vibrancy and creativity in the entertainment business. Others include the Asian Film Awards, Hong Kong Film Awards, Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) and HKIFF Industry Project Market.
Contact: filmart@hktdc.org
Find out more: hkfilmart.hktdc.com/conference/hkfilmart/en
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