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| High-level FILMART ready to roll ( 01/06/2004 ) | |||||||||
Hong Kong FILMART 2004 and a conference on television and digital convergence kicks off this month (June 23 - 25) to high praise with world-renowned filmmaker Quentin Tarantino ranking Hong Kong’s film industry among the best in the world. Mr Tarantino told the Cannes Film Festival in May that Hong Kong, along with the US and India, were the only three countries with sustainable film industries, the South China Morning Post reported. Hong Kong has inspired much of Tarantino’s movies, including his latest, Kill Bill, Volume 2. FILMART 2004, Hong Kong’s International Film and TV Market, will this year focus on Hong Kong’s rising development as an innovative production centre for television, digital media and mobile content applications. It will include for the first time a high-level conference featuring top industry speakers. (FILMART) According to Campbell McLean, executive producer of Asia Pacific Vision and conference consultant, the event will position Hong Kong as the premier platform for international companies seeking opportunities in the Chinese mainland. Multimedia launchpad to China “Hong Kong is the first and foremost point of contact for international companies wishing to establish a foothold in the television and multimedia industries in the mainland,” Mr McLean said. “This event also assists mainland Chinese companies to establish contacts with international companies with whom they can do business.” The sheer enormity of the China market, combined with greater liberalisation, paves the way for Chinese broadcasters to either purchase foreign content, or look at co-production opportunities with international investment partners, Mr McLean added. “Hong Kong remains in a key position as the window on China. International companies can base themselves here – as Star Group and Turner Broadcasting have already done – to embrace the opportunities China has to offer. Hong Kong is their best platform because of its communications infrastructure, the pool of talented, tri-lingual staff, and the general ease of doing business. These are all attractive incentives for multinationals, who by coming to Hong Kong have easy access to all the major regions of China.” International speakers Speakers at the conference include Ann Julienne, head of international co-production at France 5, and Dominic Burns, sponsorship director of FreemantleMedia (UK), along with industry leaders from the Chinese mainland. Mr McLean said Hong Kong is in the best position to generate content for the China market. “Today, Hong Kong has more than 150 channels providing close to 1.3 million hours of programmes each year. Neighbouring China has an average of only 23 channels per household, so the growth potential is enormous. Hong Kong is in the unique position that it can produce content in English, Cantonese and Putonghua, and can package it for broadband and multimedia applications. Hong Kong is at the forefront of these new delivery platforms, and can embrace international trends as well as understanding the needs and interests of the China market.” Wealth of opportunities Jasper Donat, co-founder of Branded Limited, a Hong Kong-based company providing sales and marketing solutions to the media and entertainment industry in Asia, agrees. He said the wealth of advertising opportunities presented now cannot be replicated anywhere. “For example, I could do a deal with Celestial Pictures today that would give an advertiser product placement in the movie, sponsorship and promotions on air, on-ground presence in-theatre, and television commercials on the DVD release. We can integrate the brand throughout the whole life of the film, and this is very exciting. “Hong Kong really is Asia’s television media hub, and certainly the hub for the Pay TV industry. There are over 100 satellite feeds coming out of Hong Kong. No other city can boast such an infrastructure.” Related links
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