Hong Kong’s film-making talent and capabilities were on show at this year’s Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).
Leading industry players gathered to support Hong Kong Films @ Busan 2024, a promotional campaign that ran during BIFF at the Asian Contents and Film Market on 5-8 October.
The campaign – which included a Hong Kong Pavilion and a Hong Kong Night networking event – aimed to deepen ties and collaboration between Hong Kong and international players, while promoting the city’s film industry.
It also featured seminars, an exhibition, a master class and other networking opportunities.
The campaign was jointly organised by the Hong Kong Film Development Council, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
Two seminars highlighted the potential to develop more co-productions in Hong Kong, showcasing the city’s cross-cultural experience and film-making resources.
John Chong, a veteran film producer and Co-Founder of Media Asia Group, shared his insights at a seminar focusing on co-production opportunities between Hong Kong and other markets in Asia.
Cindy Chan, Head of Film Production at CCIDA, presented a new funding scheme to encourage more joint projects between Hong Kong, Asia and Europe, while speaking at another seminar on co-production financing and location insights.
The Hong Kong Films @ campaign theme made its debut earlier this year, when a delegation of Hong Kong film talents travelled to the Cannes Film Festival in May.
The Hong Kong Films @ Cannes campaign also comprised a wide variety of events to seek out business opportunities for the city’s film industry, including a panel discussion on how Hong Kong can help international filmmakers tap into Asian markets.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong Films @ Tokyo will feature at the Tokyo International Film Festival later this year.
Some Hong Kong companies who were part of the Hong Kong Pavilion in Busan will also head to Tokyo.
Hong Kong films are also playing a prominent role in the main Busan International Film Festival, which is running on 2-11 October.
New films from Edko, Emperor Motion Pictures, Mei Ah and One Cool Pictures were featured in this year’s festival line-up.
Meanwhile, the latest work from Oliver Chan, named Best New Director at the 2019 Hong Kong Film Awards, has been selected as one of 10 entries for BIFF’s New Currents competition, which focuses on the first or second films from emerging Asian filmmakers.
Ms Chan’s new film, Montages of A Modern Motherhood, made its world premiere in Busan.
