The Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART) attracted more than 500 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions, showcasing the latest film and TV productions, digital entertainment technology, film locations and post-production services to buyers and visitors from all over the world.
Asia’s major market for the global entertainment industry was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 23-26 March 2009.
“FILMART is the most important trade platform for Asia’s entertainment industry, attracting local and overseas producers, distributors, investors and other industry representatives,” said Rita Lau, Secretary For Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR. “FILMART helps professionals expand their markets and encourages cross-media and cross-industry cooperation,” she added.
This year’s FILMART featured a variety of themes and pavilions, including TV World, Animation & Digital Entertainment World, Locations World and the Equipment & Post-production Services Pavilion. International forums and seminars, daily screenings and a variety of networking events were also arranged to help buyers source content and discuss co-production possibilities and other industry opportunities.
Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), FILMART is one of the founding events of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong. This year marked the fifth year of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong and the third Asian Film Awards,
Officiating guests included John Tsang, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Jack So, Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Tony Leung, Hong Kong Entertainment Ambassador.
“Covering nine multimedia events in four critical sectors - film, television, digital entertainment and music - Entertainment Expo has firmly cast Hong Kong as the entertainment capital of Asia,” said Jack So, Chairman of the HKTDC.
“The China market has given a major boost to the Hong Kong entertainment industry, especially its films,” he added. “Since CEPA [the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland] has removed the quota for Hong Kong films and co-production, our films have done very well in the mainland market, which is growing by leaps and bounds.”
“Last year, the number of cinema screens grew by 1.5 screens a day on the mainland. Hong Kong-produced films and co-productions enjoy tremendous popularity. For the past three years, eight or nine of the 10 top box-office films in the mainland have been from Hong Kong.”
The third Asian Film Awards (AFA) presentation followed Entertainment Expo’s opening ceremony. An international panel of judges, chaired by celebrated actress and producer Michelle Yeoh, made the AFA selections.
Entertainment Expo’s three founding events include the Hong Kong International Film and Television Market, or FILMART, the Hong Kong International Film Festival and the Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony. The Expo also features six core events: the Asian Film Awards; the Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum; the Hong Kong Music Fair; the IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award 2008; the Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum 2009; and the Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards. Tokyo Sonata, the intimate Japanese family drama by acclaimed director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, took home the Best Film prize at the 3rd Asian Film Awards (AFA), held on 23 March 2009, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
A total of 13 prizes were given out at the 3rd AFA in a star-studded ceremony presided over by masters of ceremony Terence Yin, Lisa S and Derek Li, and featuring guests like Joan Chen, Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia, Academy Award-winner Oliver Stone and AFA Jury President Michelle Yeoh.
The winners of the 3rd Asian Film Awards are:
Best Film Tokyo Sonata (Japan/The Netherlands/Hong Kong)
Best Director KORE-EDA Hirokazu / Still Walking (Japan)
Best Actor MOTOKI Masahiro / Departures (Japan)
Best Actress ZHOU Xun / The Equation of Love and Death (The Chinese Mainland)
Best Newcomer YU Shaoqun / Forever Enthralled (The Chinese Mainland)
Best Supporting Actor JUNG Woo-sung / The Good, the Bad, the Weird (South Korea)
Best Supporting Actress Gina Pareño / Service (The Philippines)
Best Screenwriter KUROSAWA Kiyoshi/ Max MANNIX/ TANAKA Sachiko / Tokyo Sonata (Japan / The Netherlands / Hong Kong)
Best Cinematographer Jola DYLEWSKA / Tulpan (Germany / Kazakhstan / Poland / Russia / Switzerland)
Best Production Designer Daniel Yan-kong LEE / Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon (Hong Kong / South Korea / The Chinese Mainland)
Best Composer HISAISHI Joe / Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (Japan)
Best Editor KIM Sun-min / The Chaser (South Korea)
Best Visual Effects Craig HAYES / Red Cliff (The Chinese Mainland)
Special Award For Outstanding Contribution To Asian Cinema Film Workshop
The Edward Yang New Talent Award WEI Te-sheng, Director of Cape No.7
The Nielsen Box Office Award Presented By The Hollywood Reporter Priyanka CHOPRA
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