The 'Hong Kong Cinema @ CANNES 2026' initiative, jointly organized by the Cultural, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) of the Hong Kong SAR Government, the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC), the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), is taking place at the Cannes Film Festival from 12 to 23 May. This event aims to deepen industry exchange and expand co-production and investment opportunities, highlighting Hong Kong's role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange and a regional intellectual property (IP) trading hub.
A key highlight was 'Hong Kong Night' held on 16 May at Majestic Beach, which brought together around 600 international film professionals, including producers, distributors, investors, and film promotion organizations. The event connected global industry players with Hong Kong exhibitors, emerging producers, and actors such as Carlos Chan and Natalie Hsu, as well as winning teams from the FDC's Content Development Scheme for Streaming Platforms, fostering valuable international exchange and collaboration discussions.
At the Hong Kong Pavilion located at the Marché du Film, a strong line-up of Hong Kong film production and distribution companies, including Edko Films, Emperor Motion Pictures, Entertaining Power, Media Asia Film, and One Cool Film, are exhibiting. Other participants include Fortune Star Media, Golden Network Asia, Mandarin Motion Pictures, and Blast Films. Exhibitors are showcasing 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 producers, investors, and distributors from various countries, facilitating in-depth discussions on Hong Kong cinema's creative trends and international co-operation opportunities.
Anna Cheung, Assistant Executive Director of the HKTDC, emphasized that the event 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. It also supports international screen productions in entering the Asian market via Hong Kong, reinforcing the city's role as a vital bridge connecting Asian and global markets.
Participating companies reported that the Hong Kong Pavilion provides an effective platform for meetings with international buyers. Grace Chan, Head of Distribution at Entertaining Power Co. Limited, noted the importance of meeting festival programmers to present films like 'The Fruitless Tree'. Vanessa Lo, Vice President of Sales and Distribution at Media Asia, highlighted successful partnerships for 'Twilight of the Warriors: The Final Chapter' with buyers from France, Germany, Singapore, and Vietnam. Mark Shaw of Shaw Organisation and Hang Trinh of Skyline Media attributed the franchise's success to its strong cast and distinct Hong Kong storytelling.
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 funding trends, AI in film creation, and talent development. The 'Spotlight on Hong Kong: Pitching Session' introduced five emerging Hong Kong producers and award-winning teams from the FDC's Content Development Scheme for Streaming Platforms. Additionally, first-ever business matching meetings connected the Hong Kong delegation with overseas producer delegations from organizations such as Cinecittà, FDCP, ICEX Spain, KOFIC, Telefilm Canada, CNC, Cinema do Brasil, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, and Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Fund, deepening long-term collaboration and promoting co-production opportunities.
