Hong Kong Film Industry Strengthens International Ties at Busan Event
Hong Kong's successful promotional campaign at the Asian Contents & Film Market in Busan demonstrates the territory's strategic push to position itself as a global film hub through international collaborations and talent development initiatives.
The "Hong Kong Cinema@BUSAN2025" campaign, jointly organized by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC), and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded successfully at the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) in Busan, South Korea. The four-day event from September 20-23 showcased Hong Kong's film production capabilities while strengthening the territory's position as an East-meets-West center for international cultural exchange.
HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Patrick Lau emphasized the campaign's significance in building international exchange platforms for local filmmakers. "We aim to build an international exchange platform so local filmmakers can engage with their overseas peers, helping them understand the latest global market trends and gain crucial industry information in an ever-changing environment," Lau stated. The event's timing coincides with Hong Kong's broader strategy to establish itself as a regional intellectual property trading center.
The campaign commenced with Hong Kong Night at the Paradise Hotel Busan on September 19, attracting over 600 industry professionals from Hong Kong and international markets. The Hong Kong delegation included prominent figures such as Sylvia Chang, producer of "Measure in Love," who received the "Camellia Award" from the Busan International Film Festival for her achievements as a female filmmaker. Other delegation members included director Siu-Ping Kung, actress Angela Yuen, and producers Johnny Wang, Terence Choi, Fanny Chong, and Kinnie Cheung.
A key development during the event was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between CCIDA and the Busan Asian Film School, formalizing collaboration in film talent development activities and exchanges between Hong Kong and South Korea. This partnership represents a strategic move to nurture film talents through cross-border educational initiatives.
The Hong Kong Pavilion, funded by CCIDA and the Film Development Fund, featured participation from major Hong Kong film companies including Cappu Films Limited, Golden Network Asia Limited, Mei Ah Entertainment Group Ltd, One Cool Pictures Limited, and Mandarin Motion Pictures Limited. Additional Hong Kong representatives included 32cc Limited, Edko Films Limited, Emperor Motion Pictures, Entertaining Power Co. Limited, Golden Scene Company Limited, the Asian Film Awards Academy, and the Industry Office of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society.
The pavilion showcased Hong Kong films selected for the 30th Busan International Film Festival, including "The Shadow's Edge" and "Measure in Love" in the Open Cinema section, and "Girlfriends" in the Vision - Asia section. "Measure in Love" received funding through the Directors' Succession Scheme under the Film Development Fund, highlighting the government's support mechanisms for local productions.
HKTDC representatives participated in the Asian Film Market Leaders Summit, where Josephine Lam, Section Head of HKTDC's Entertainment Industry, Service Promotion Department, discussed market trends with representatives from major Asian film markets including Busan's ACFM, the Tokyo International Film Festival Content Market (TIFFCOM), the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF), the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF Market), and the Red Sea Souk in Saudi Arabia. Lam highlighted the role of Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) as one of Asia's primary film markets, accessible through https://www.hktdc.com/aboutus.
Participating companies expressed satisfaction with the campaign's outcomes, noting successful showcasing of Hong Kong's film industry strengths to overseas markets and increased collaboration opportunities. The event's networking activities, including the Producer Hub, luncheons, panel discussions, and networking sessions, facilitated stronger connections between Hong Kong filmmakers and international production companies, creating pathways for future cross-border collaborations.