Hong Kong Cinema Makes Splash at Cannes With Industry Push

by

At the Cannes Film Festival, Hong Kong’s movie industry is showcasing its strength, aiming to solidify its status as Asia’s leading film production center and intellectual property marketplace.

The ‘Hong Kong Cinema‘ event at Cannes 2025, taking place from May 13 to May 24, has seen a notable presence of Hong Kong film companies on the Croisette. This is due to a collaborative initiative supported by various government bodies such as the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the Hong Kong Film Development Council, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

The main highlight of our campaign, an event called Hong Kong Night, attracted over 800 industry experts to Majestic Beach on May 17th. Among them were the creative minds behind the movie “Sons of the Neon Night,” which secured a spot in this year’s festival’s Midnight Screenings. The director, Juno Mak, as well as stars Louis Koo and Gao Yuanyuan, attended to celebrate the global debut of their film. They were joined by international producers, distributors, and representatives from film commissions.

Dr. Patrick Lau, Deputy Executive Director at the HKTDC, expressed excitement about ‘Hong Kong Cinema @ Cannes 2025,’ an event inspired by the success of the annual FilMart event held in Hong Kong every March. He emphasized that this year’s program is a testament to their firm belief in the dynamism and creativity of Hong Kong’s film industry.

The Hong Kong Pavilion at Riviera Cannes is now a thriving center for Asian cinema trade, hosting significant players such as Celestial Pictures, Edko Films, Emperor Motion Pictures, Media Asia Film Distribution, One Cool Pictures, and Universe Films Distribution. Moreover, numerous other companies like All Rights Entertainment, Entertaining Power, Fortune Star Media, Golden Network Asia, Just Distribution, and Mandarin Motion Pictures are actively participating in this market.

Up for sale at the market are several notable films: Two prequels in the “Cold War” series by Edko Films – “Cold War 1994” and “Cold War 1995” – as well as an extended version of Emperor Motion Pictures’ top-grossing film of 2024, “The Last Dance.” Media Asia Film is offering two parts of their “Twilight of the Warriors” trilogy, while One Cool Pictures is advertising action film “The Trier of Fact” and Universe Films is marketing comedy “Dog Day Evening.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I had the privilege of attending an exceptional event showcasing not just films but insightful panel discussions about the future of cinema, particularly in Asia. One such discussion that intrigued me was titled “A Better Tomorrow: The Global Success of Hong Kong & Asian Cinema.” This enlightening conversation brought together some of the industry’s brightest minds from Alibaba Pictures, Showbox, and independent film companies like XYZ Films. Luminaries like Eric Lin, Judy Ahn, Juno Mak, and Todd Brown shared their thoughts on how Asian cinema is making its mark globally. It was an enriching experience to be part of this dialogue that offers a glimpse into the promising future of Asian cinema.

Another discussion platform, titled “Asian Film Collaboration: Guiding Opportunities and Conquering Obstacles in the International Cinematic Sphere,” gathered film creators for a talk on intercultural alliances and creative narrative approaches designed to captivate worldwide viewers.

Read More

2025-05-19 18:48