Asia's film hub shines with talent (hktdc.com)


	Hong Kong movie star Tony Leung is excited by his home city's emerging creative talent

Celebrated Hong Kong actor Tony Leung set the scene for the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's (HKTDC) Entertainment Expo (EE) in March.

Flushed with pride after watching the Oscars success of The Departed – a remake of Hong Kong's Infernal Affairs, a film in which he starred – the actor declared before the EE began that the local film industry was entering a vibrant new age.

Mr Leung then met with local and international journalists in town to cover the expo. He was quick to point out that, with a rash of Hollywood remakes now on the cards, the world's focus had returned to Hong Kong as a regional hub of creative talent.

"We are entering an exciting time," Mr Leung said. "We are all proud of Infernal Affairs and that it was picked up by Hollywood. People are looking to Hong Kong for inspiration once again."

Movies in the making

Mr Leung's words ring true when you consider negotiations are currently underway between Hong Kong studios and their Hollywood counterparts for the remake rights to Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's Confessions of Pain and Johnnie To's Exile. Oxide and Danny Pang's The Eye is currently being reworked by an American studio into a blockbuster starring Jessica Alba.

The fact that Hong Kong has in recent years strengthened its position as the leading force in the Asia entertainment world was reflected through a survey conducted at both the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) and the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).

Both events came under the umbrella of HKTDC's Entertainment Expo and attracted thousands of entertainment industry representatives from all over the world.

A total of 332 industry reps were interviewed during the course of the two events and were asked questions relating to industry and market trends. The survey was carried out by an independent research company commissioned by the HKTDC.

Rich source of content

Overall, over half of the respondents said they had acquired entertainment content from Hong Kong during 2006. Trailing behind Hong Kong were the Chinese mainland, Japan, Korea and Thailand.

A walk through the fairground at FILMART showed vendors were firm in the belief that Hong Kong was the place to do business.

"This is the third year we have attended FILMART. This year, we had 10 sales companies on the stand, some of whom have attended in previous years," said Lisa Tremble, Head of Communications for the UK Film Council.

"FILMART provides an ideal platform to meet new buyers and cement existing relationships, and this year was no exception. All of the companies feel they have made worthwhile contacts which will hopefully develop into long standing business relationships over the coming months."

Partners found

The survey also showed Hong Kong was known as the best place from which companies could explore co-productions with the mainland and other regions of Asia, and it was also the best place to meet buyers.

For exhibitors, FILMART in particular gives overseas production houses a chance to share their products – and introduce their upcoming productions – with the Asia region.

"We'll be back next year. FILMART offers a wonderful opportunity to show all aspects of French films," said Christine Pernin, Unifrance's representative for the greater China region, who brought acclaimed French director Luc Besson to Hong Kong this year.

Her thoughts were echoed by Kim Behrendt of the German Film Service. "This is my second time at FILMART," she said. "It's a good opportunity to display German films and to build contacts with Asian film-makers."

Overall, the FILMART survey reflected the growth of the burgeoning digital entertainment sector with around 90 per cent of respondents saying digital entertainment had the greatest growth potential, followed by television (78 per cent) and film (68 per cent).

Lloyd Chao, Director of Business Development and Marketing for Hong Kong's Shaw Studios, said that overall the Entertainment Expo reflected the reputation the city had both throughout Asia and all over the world.

"Hong Kong has long been an industry leader," he said. "And you can see that industry leaders are acknowledging the city as a centre for development in the region and as a way they can break in and become part of the Asian entertainment industry as a whole."