Review of Hong Kong Entertainment Expo 2011, China

The 7th edition of the expo, takes place from March 21 to April 17 2011, present a multimedia extravaganza of film, television, digital entertainment and music. As Asia’s leading entertainment industry gathering, expanded lineup of 10 international events, including FILMART.

Held by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, The following are part of the Entertainment Expo HK: Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART); Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF); Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Excellence Awards (HKDEEA); Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF); Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA); IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award; Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum (DELF); Hong Kong Independent Short Films and Video Awards (ifva).

Three of Entertainment Expo’s founding events celebrate key anniversaries this year: the Hong Kong International Film and Television Market (FILMART) marks its 15th year, while the Hong Kong International Film Festival turns 35, and the Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony was held for the 30th time.

This year’s Hong Kong Entertainment Expo also include the fifth Asian Film Awards, as well as the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum, the Hong Kong Asian Pop Music Festival, the IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award and the Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards. In addition, the expo feature two affiliated events: the Digital Visual Effects Summit and Pixar: 25 Years of Animation.

Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART)
Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) is Asia’s leading content marketplace for films, television programmes, and digital content for entertainment. Internationally renowned producers, distributors, investors and professionals use FILMART to launch promotions, network with key industry players and negotiate deals. Entertainment Expo features nine multimedia events, Along with film, the expo covers television, digital entertainment and music.

FILMART is Asia’s premier film industry event and one of the world’s top three film markets in terms of exhibitor numbers. The Entertainment Expo umbrella includes events covering film, TV, digital entertainment and music. Multiple Hong Kong film companies join FILMART to promote their latest entertainment productions to global buyers.

FILMART is now recognised as one of the world’s foremost film and TV marketplaces, promoting cross-media and cross-sector collaborations and facilitating film financing, distribution, production and post-production. Many overseas exhibitors have set up pavilions at FILMART to promote their local entertainment productions, taking part in FILMART to tap global opportunities.

FILMART has long been an important platform for the local entertainment industry to release new productions and announce new development strategies. The Chinese mainland’s entertainment industry is developing fast and garnering more international attention. The enormous size and potential of the Chinese mainland’s film market is captured at FILMART, with mainland exhibitors comprising the largest country of origin participation at the fair. A number of mainland provinces and cities have set up regional pavilions.

Promoting digital entertainment is a major feature of FILMART. In addition to the exhibition, other attractions of FILMART include networking activities, seminars, and screenings. Promoting digital entertainment is a major feature of FILMART. Sponsored by CreateHK, the Hong Kong Animation & Digital Entertainment pavilion has gathered more than 30 local digital entertainment companies to showcase their latest services, including 2D/3D animation, digital special effects, mobile apps, smartphone games and multimedia designs.

This year’s FILMART welcome a record 600 exhibitors and more than 5,200 visitors from around the world. The event, for the first time, include a pavilion for exhibitors from the United States. Organised by the Independent Film & TV Alliance (IFTA), the US pavilion feature about 20 American companies. FILMART also welcome a first-time pavilion from Cambodia, as well as a pan-European pavilion.

The Chinese mainland’s presence continues to grow, with more than 130 exhibitors in Hong Kong for the 15th edition of FILMART. FILMART also includes a pan-European pavilion. Chinese Taiwan, France, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam are hosting pavilions as well.

The largest event of its kind in Asia and one of the world’s top three film markets, FILMART has grown alongside Hong Kong’s expanding role in co-productions with the mainland, a trend that also opens doors for overseas players. The event attract such mainland multipliers as the China Film Promotion International (CFPI), the China International TV Corporation (CITVC) and TG Film & TV Program Net.

New this year at FILMART was the “Co-production Lab Hong Kong,” organised by Ateliers du Cinéma Européen (ACE) and Sinapses Asia Ltd, with support from the HKTDC, the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum and other organisations, including the European Union’s Media International. About 20 producers from Asia and Europe take part in the four-day, project-based workshop. The event feature panel discussions, individual pitching, consulting sessions, market presentations and advice from experts.

About 20 producers from Asia and Europe take part in the four-day workshop. The event feature panel discussions, individual pitching, consulting sessions, market presentations and advice from experts. About 300 screenings and more than 60 seminars and networking events also be held.

The 5th edition TV World, with 180 exhibitors from 22 countries and regions here to buy and sell content. That’s up 15 per cent over 2010. The theme of this year’s TV World International Forum, which takes place this afternoon, is “New Media, New Technology – New Prospects for the TV Industry.” Senior industry professionals from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and elsewhere in Asia take part in the Forum.

More than 140 companies from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and beyond are exhibiting at FILMART’s Animation and Digital Entertainment World. Indonesia is a first-time exhibitor. Animation and Digital Entertainment Day, 23 March, features an afternoon conference, “Advances in Digital Production: What’s Next for 3D and Visual Effects,” along with a variety of industry events.

Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF)
The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), which runs from 20 March to 5 April at a variety of Hong Kong locations. HKIFF is considered one of Asia’s prime events for launching, and enjoying, new films. HKIFF audiences this year was treated to screenings of such landmark films as Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita and Dziga Vertov’s 1929 ground-breaking Man with a Movie Camera, as well as The Mummy, a restored 1969 Egyptian classic by Shadi Abdel Salam.

The HKIFF also feature an official mascot, “Puppet Kid,” designed by Raman Hui. The acclaimed Hollywood multimedia designer is known in his native Hong Kong as the “Father of Shrek” for his work on the movie ogre and other memorable animated characters.

Animation also feature in Pixar: 25 Years of Animation, 17 March-27 June, at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. Visitors get a behind-the-scenes look at the artistic development of such blockbusters as Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, WALL-E and more. The exhibition offer more than 400 items, from traditional artwork in various media, to early animated short films and one-of-a-kind media installations created by Pixar.

Hong Kong Film Awards
The Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony takes place 17 April at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Recognises achievement in directing, screenwriting, acting and cinematography in filmmakers from Hong Kong, the mainland and Taiwan. Movies up for the Best Film award include Gallants, Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, Ip Man 2, The Stool Pigeon, and Reign of Assassins, produced by John Woo and Terence Chang.

Hong Kong Asian Film Awards
Filmmakers from across the region was honoured, 21 March, at the Asian Film Awards. Eminent filmmakers and international movie stars will hand out prizes at the gala event.

Hong Kong Independent Short Films and Video Awards (ifva)
Independent film also be in the spotlight, 16-20 March, at the Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards. The event, organised by the Hong Kong Arts Centre, take place at the centre as well as other city venues. Productions by past winners was featured, along with the work of artists from around the world.

Hong Kong Asian Pop Music Festival (HKAMF)
The music industry also be heard from at the expo, with core events including the IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award, 25 March. Organised by IFPI (Hong Kong Group) Ltd, the annual music award was first held in 1977. Based on audited sales of records, the award targets Chinese communities around the world via TV, radio and the Internet.

New this year, the Hong Kong Asian-Pop Music Festival takes place at the HKCEC on 23 March. Organised by the IFPI (Hong Kong Group) Ltd and supported by the HKTDC, the event feature top recording artists from across Asia in a song contest for the Super Nova Awards. The festival is expected to draw an audience of about 5,000 people, as well as Asian television viewers.

Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum (DELF)
The Hong Kong Association of Motion Picture Post-Production Professionals (AMP4) host the fourth Digital Visual Effects Summit during FILMART. Speakers from Hong Kong and throughout Asia focus on such topics as advanced Dolby 7.1 audio, digital intermediate film services, digital cinema series II DCP distribution, 3D stereoscopic vision and the latest achievements in visual effects.

Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF)
The Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), 21-23 March at the HKCEC, is Asia’s most important film-financing event. At HAF, Asian film projects are matched with top producers, financiers and distributors for co-productions. The ninth HAF introduce a new fund to promote Chinese script development.

HKTDC
Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong’s businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room.