The Hong Kong Commerce Growth Council mentioned Thursday that 7,300 executives from 41 nations had attended its FilMart and Leisure Pulse occasions this week (March 13-16). “The revived bodily market was as vibrant and energetic as previously,” organizers claimed.
In 2019, the final 12 months that FilMart was held as an in-person occasion, the TDC reported “near 9,000 guests from 52 nations and areas.”
For 2023, it reported “over 700 exhibitors from 30 nations and areas,” together with a document Mainland China exhibitor tally exceeding 330. These numbers in contrast with 888 exhibitors from 35 nations and areas in 2019, together with 264 exhibitors from China.
Whereas the exhibitor and participant numbers are each decrease than in 2019, many guests mentioned that they have been happy to be again on the market and happy with the degrees of exercise.
“It’s nice to really feel Hong Kong is attractive once more,” mentioned Anne Chan, founder and CEO of AR Asia Productions.
“The power of the bodily presence was sturdy. Asian and European enterprise companion are re-connecting and, on the similar time catching up with their enterprise. As there have been some workers adjustments inside the corporations at each side, to have the chance to satisfy in particular person is of giant worth. These bodily interactions are a lot wanted presently,” Jo Mühlberger of European Movie Promotion group instructed Selection. “Generally, it seems like a bee-hive the place consumers transfer from desk to desk re-connecting and testing new line-ups.”
Though Hong Kong’s main free-to-air broadcaster TVB was a notable absentee this 12 months, different native companies used the market as a venue for vital product launches. Emperor Movement Photos invited greater than 80 film stars and trade leaders to announce upcoming productions at a press convention, together with “Underneath Present,” “Customs Frontline” and “New Police Story 2.” PCCW Media Restricted’s MakerVille and Viu additionally held a press convention to announce boy band Mirror’s first movie “We 12,” with all of the band members in attendance.
Japan’s Muse Communications showcased a variety of Japanese anime, together with the hit “Demon Slayer.”
The twenty first version of the Hong Kong – Asia Movie Financing Discussion board (HAF21), the undertaking market’s first bodily, in-person occasion since 2019 after three consecutive on-line editions, was additionally busy.
“We had back-to-back conferences,” mentioned Indian producer Praveen Morchhale.
“The occasion attracted 30% extra accredited individuals than the final version. It facilitated over thousand non-public conferences between the undertaking groups and collaborating trade professionals [..] representing a rise of 9% from final 12 months,” HAF organizers mentioned. HAF ran 13-15 March and handed out some $170,000 of prizes on Wednesday.
