The "Hong Kong Cinema @ CANNES 2026" event, running from May 12 to 23 at the Cannes Film Festival, underscores Hong Kong's role as a vital bridge connecting Asian and global film markets. Jointly organized by the Cultural, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB), the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC), the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the initiative aims to deepen industry exchange and expand co-production and investment opportunities.
A highlight of the event was "Hong Kong Night" on May 16, which brought together around 600 international film professionals, including producers, distributors, investors, and film promotion organizations. The gathering connected global industry players with Hong Kong exhibitors, emerging producers, and actors like Carlos Chan and Natalie Hsu, as well as winning teams of the FDC's Content Development Scheme for Streaming Platforms. This created valuable opportunities for international exchange and discussions on collaboration.
The Hong Kong Pavilion at the Marché du Film features a strong line-up of production and distribution companies, including Edko Films, Emperor Motion Pictures, Entertaining Power, Media Asia Film, and One Cool Film, among others. Exhibitors showcase a range of latest and upcoming productions, such as Edko Films' Cold War 1994, Entertaining Power's The Fruitless Tree, Media Asia Film's Twilight of the Warriors: The Final Chapter, and One Cool Film's The Trier of Fact. These projects have attracted interest from producers, investors, and distributors worldwide, facilitating in-depth discussions on Hong Kong cinema's creative trends and international cooperation.
Anna Cheung, Assistant Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: "By co-organizing 'Hong Kong Cinema @ CANNES 2026' once again with the CSTB, FDC and CCIDA during the Cannes Film Festival, the HKTDC helps the Hong Kong industry follow up on projects discussed at the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) held in March, and brings Hong Kong original works to overseas markets." She emphasized the city's role as a vital bridge connecting Asian and global markets.
Participating companies reported that the Hong Kong Pavilion provided an effective platform for meetings with international buyers, with many receiving enquiries and collaboration invitations. Grace Chan, Head of Distribution at Entertaining Power Co. Limited, noted the importance of meeting festival programmers for her film The Fruitless Tree. Vanessa Lo, Vice President of Sales and Distribution at Media Asia, said her company successfully established partnerships with buyers from France, Germany, Singapore, and Vietnam for Twilight of the Warriors: The Final Chapter.
The event also featured industry seminars, including "Capital Flows & Co-Production Opportunities in Hong Kong, Asia and Beyond" and "Hong Kong Power: The ground-breaking AI ecosystem building cinema, technology and research," which explored AI in film creation and talent development. The newly introduced "Spotlight on Hong Kong: Pitching Session" showcased five emerging Hong Kong producers and their projects, along with award-winning teams from the FDC's Content Development Scheme for Streaming Platforms.
For the first time, "Hong Kong Cinema @ CANNES 2026" organized business matching meetings connecting the Hong Kong delegation with overseas producer delegations from international organizations such as Cinecittà (Italy), the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), Telefilm Canada, CNC (France), Cinema do Brasil, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH (Germany), and Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Fund. These meetings aim to deepen long-term collaboration and promote co-production opportunities between filmmakers worldwide and Hong Kong.
