Company News: Page (1) of 1 - 03/19/12

Eighth Edition of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong Opens

(March 19, 2012)

16th FILMART Among Nine Multimedia Events at Entertainment Expo

Hong Kong, Mar 19, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - Entertainment Expo Hong Kong, Asia's leading entertainment industry gathering, opened today and continues through 15 April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and other venues throughout the city.

Entertainment Expo featuresnine multimedia events, including the 16th edition of the Hong Kong International Film and Television Market (FILMART). Along with film, the expo covers television, digital entertainment and music.

Kick-off Ceremony

Hong Kong SAR Government Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Gregory So was guest of honour at this afternoon's Entertainment Expo Hong Kong kick-off and press conference. Also taking part were: PRC State Administration of Radio, Film and Television Director-General, International Cooperation Department, Ma Li; Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Executive Director Fred Lam; and HKTDC Entertainment Industry Advisory Committee Chairman Peter Lam.

Alongside FILMART, Entertainment Expo presents: the Hong Kong International Film Festival, 21 March to 5 April; the Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony, 15 April; the sixth Asian Film Awards, 19 March; the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum, 19-21 March; the Hong Kong Asian Pop Music Festival, 23 March; the IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award, held 16 February; ifva (Incubator for Film & Visual Media in Asia), 13-28 March; and the Digital Visual Effects Summit, 20 March.

Exhibitor Record

FILMART 2012 welcomes over 640 exhibitors frommore than 30 countries and regions, up 10 per cent over last year's exhibitor count. About 5,200 buyers from all over the world are expected to take in the four-day event. Asia's major entertainment industry market, and one of the top three events of its kind in the world, FILMART continues through 22 March at the HKCEC.

For the first time, FILMART features exhibitor pavilions from Hungary, Mexico and Turkey. Other major pavilions include: UNIFRANCE and IIe de France, Film Export UK, KOFIC and KOCCA from Korea, and UNIJAPAN, Okinawa Film Office, Hokkaido Contents Distribution and JETRO from Japan.

United States and Taiwan

For the second year in a row, FILMART includes a pavilion from the United States. It counts more than 40 US exhibitors and takes up 25 per cent more space than last year. Taiwan also features an exhibitor pavilion. Its 110 FILMART exhibitors and buyers represent the largest Taiwanese delegation ever to attend the fair. Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are also presenting pavilions.

Hong Kong Animation

This year's Animation and Digital Entertainment World boasts more than 200 exhibitors, up nearly 40 per cent over 2011, and features "Sixty Yearsof Hong Kong Animation," an exhibition showcasing nearly 100 pieces of original artwork over the decades.

New Media, Screenwriting and More

This morning, "New Media New Prospects for Online Distribution of Entertainment Content," the first ina series of FILMART thematic conferences, took place. The series continues tomorrow morning with a focus on screenwriting and the growth of Asian themes. The screenwriters behind such major movies as Kung Fu Panda, Mulan and Toy Story II will take part. It will be followed, in the afternoon, by TV World's International Conference, "Asian TV Programming: Trends and Opportunities." The last in the conference series, a digital entertainment summit featuring mobile and social gaming, is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry and UNIJAPAN is also presenting film seminars.

More than 330 screenings will take place at FILMART, up 10 per cent over last year's event. They include more than 150 premiere screenings and a number of Japanese movies.

Co-production Lab

The ACE Co-production Lab Hong Kong is back for the second time. Organised by ACE-European Producer Network (Ateliers du Cinema Europeen), with support from Media International (European Union), the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum and the HKTDC, it features some 20 Asian and European producers participating in a four-day, project-based workshop.

Other highlights include a Business of IP Zone. A first for FILMART, it offers IP trading and management services from lawyers and intellectual property consultants.

Websites
Entertainment Expo Hong Kong: www.eexpohk.com
FILMART: www.hktdc.com/hkfilmart

Entertainment Expo Videos
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40F61E3DF7D73E70
Live videos (select FILMART seminars): http://www.livestream.com/hkfilmart

About HKTDC

A statutory body established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and service providers. With more than 40 global offices, including 11 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises trade fairs and business missions to connect companies with opportunities in Hong Kong and on the mainland, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and online. For more information, please visit www.hktdc.com .

Follow FILMART on Twitter: www.twitter.com/HKFilmart

Source: HKTDC

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