For Hong Kong filmmakers with global ambitions, the journey from a creative spark to international markets often starts with the right business connection.
This is where the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is making a difference through the Hong Kong Cinema @ BUSAN 2026 campaign, which brought film companies and creative talent to one of Asia’s major film industry gatherings, connecting them with potential partners from across the region and beyond.
Co-organised by the HKTDC, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency and the Hong Kong Film Development Council, the campaign ran from 10 to 13 October at the Asian Contents & Film Market in Busan, South Korea.
Connecting with global partners
At its centre was the Hong Kong Pavilion, where production and distribution companies showcased their latest projects and engaged with international buyers and investors. Projects up for sale included films selected for the concurrent Busan International Film Festival, such as Dead End and Cold War 1994.
The connections extended beyond the exhibition floor. Hong Kong Night, held on 9 October, brought together more than 750 film industry professionals from Hong Kong and around the world for networking and industry exchange.
Members of the Hong Kong delegation also joined the Producer Hub programme, meeting producers and production companies from different markets and exploring cross-border partnerships.
For producer Kelvin Shum, the programme provided both new contacts and first-hand insights into other Asian markets.
“Through the Producer Hub, we have the opportunity to not only present our projects, but also to connect with filmmakers from Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and other markets,” he said. Such in-person conversations, he added, helped participants better understand market demand, industry developments and filmmaking processes in different countries.
Taking Hong Kong creativity to new markets
The opportunities extended beyond finished films. For the first time, four original Hong Kong works in categories outside film, such as animated works and comics, participated in the Busan Story Market, a marketplace connecting IP owners with producers, investors and distributors to explore potential film and television adaptations.
The activities in Busan are part of HKTDC’s ongoing efforts to connect Hong Kong’s creative industries with international markets.
In March, the HKTDC-organised Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART) brought more than 790 exhibitors from 38 countries and regions to Hong Kong and attracted about 8,000 industry practitioners from 53 countries and regions. Participants ranged from producers and distributors to sales representatives, service providers and investors, creating opportunities for cross-border partnerships.
Two months later, the HKTDC helped take Hong Kong companies and projects to the Cannes Film Festival to pursue deals and collaborations. Amidst a busy programme of business matching, pitching sessions, seminars and networking activities, production company Media Asia secured buyers from France, Germany, Singapore and Vietnam for Twilight of the Warriors: The Final Chapter.
From FILMART to promotions in Cannes and Busan, the HKTDC is creating sustained opportunities for Hong Kong’s creative professionals to make the right connections and turn creative ideas into international business opportunities.