Hong Kong has always looked overseas and has long been a regional hub in the Asia Pacific area for the film industry, but at this year’s FilMart, it’s clear that the region’s film biz is reaching out to global producers and aiming to connect with filmmakers around the world. A look around the halls at FilMart shows how the biz is trying to internationalize — the exhibition floor sports 750 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions, with 32 group pavilions led by governments of 23 countries and regions. A key element of this global outreach at FilMart 2025 is Producers Connect, organized by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, Cultural and Creative Industry Development Agency, Hong Kong Film Development Council and the HKTDC, and funded by the government’s Film Development Fund.
Producers Connect presents a series of sessions tailored to empower Hong Kong producers in the global industry arena, including but not limited to fireside chats, business matching and workshops. Jacob Wong heads up the Hong Kong International Film Festival Industry Office, the organization that coordinates such initiatives as the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), which runs as a Filmart sidebar. “It’s becoming rather difficult for a city of with a population of seven and a half million people to support and sustain a film industry, so Hong Kong is looking for partners outside of Hong Kong.
There’s been partnership with China and a lot of filmmakers from Hong Kong are working.