From 12 to 23 May 2026, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, through 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), is jointly organizing 'Hong Kong Cinema @ CANNES 2026' at the Cannes Film Festival. The initiative aims to deepen industry exchange and expand co-production and investment opportunities, reinforcing Hong Kong's role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange and a regional intellectual property (IP) trading hub.
A highlight of the event, 'Hong Kong Night' held on 16 May at Majestic Beach, 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 Carlos Chan and Natalie Hsu, as well as winning teams of the FDC's Content Development Scheme for Streaming Platforms, creating valuable opportunities for international exchange and discussions on collaboration.
The Hong Kong Pavilion, staged at the Marché du Film, features 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. Other participating companies include Fortune Star Media, Golden Network Asia, Mandarin Motion Pictures, and Blast Films. 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 producers, investors, and distributors from different countries and regions, facilitating in-depth discussions on Hong Kong cinema's latest creative trends, production strengths, and international co-operation opportunities.
Anna Cheung, Assistant Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: 'By co-organising “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. We also support international screen productions in entering the Asian market via Hong Kong, reinforcing the city’s role as a vital bridge connecting Asian and the global markets.'
Participating companies reported that the Hong Kong Pavilion provides a highly effective platform for meetings with international buyers. Grace Chan, Head of Distribution at Entertaining Power Co. Limited, noted, 'I bring the family-drama-themed title ‘The Fruitless Tree’. It is very important for me to meet every programmer from different film festivals. This is a really good bridge for us to come here and present a movie to everyone in the market especially film festival programmers.' Vanessa Lo, Vice President of Sales and Distribution at Media Asia, added that the company successfully established partnerships with buyers from multiple territories including France, Germany, Singapore, and Vietnam for 'Twilight of the Warriors: The Final Chapter'. Mark Shaw, Director of Shaw Organisation, and Hang Trinh, Chief Executive Officer of Skyline Media, attributed the success of the 'Twilight of the Warriors' franchise to its strong cast, distinctly Hong Kong storytelling, and continued global demand for Hong Kong action cinema.
A series of industry seminars and exchange activities were also organized, including a seminar titled 'Capital Flows & Co-Production Opportunities in Hong Kong, Asia and Beyond', where speakers shared insight into funding trends and co-production opportunities. Another seminar, 'Hong Kong Power: The ground-breaking AI ecosystem building cinema, technology and research', featured representatives from Mei Ah Entertainment and The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, discussing the development of artificial intelligence in film creation, production workflows, and talent development. The newly introduced 'Spotlight on Hong Kong: Pitching Session' featured five emerging Hong Kong producers and their latest film projects, with award-winning teams of the FDC's Content Development Scheme for Streaming Platforms also participating. These sessions facilitated in-depth exchanges between the Hong Kong delegation and producers from different countries and regions.
The event also introduced its first-ever business matching meetings, connecting the Hong Kong delegation with overseas producer delegations led by international organizations, including returning partners from Producers Connect @ FILMART 2026 such as Cinecittà from Italy, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, and the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), as well as new partners including Telefilm Canada, CNC (France), Cinema do Brasil, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH from Germany, and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Fund. These meetings have deepened long-term collaboration between Hong Kong and international institutions while promoting co-production and partnership opportunities.
