Hong Kong’s film industry is making a strong statement at the Cannes Film Festival, showcasing its ambition to cement the city as Asia’s leading film hub and intellectual property trading center.
The initiative, “Hong Kong Cinema @ Cannes 2025,” which ran from May 13 to May 24, brought a large delegation of Hong Kong film companies to the Croisette, coordinated by multiple government agencies including the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the Hong Kong Film Development Council, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).
The campaign’s centerpiece, Hong Kong Night, held at Majestic Beach on May 17, attracted more than 800 industry professionals, including international producers, distributors, and film commission representatives. The event celebrated the world premiere of “Sons of the Neon Night”, directed by Juno Mak and starring Louis Koo and Gao Yuanyuan, which secured a Midnight Screenings slot at Cannes.
“Building on the success of HKTDC’s annual FilMart in Hong Kong, we are thrilled to present ‘Hong Kong Cinema @ Cannes 2025,’” said Dr. Patrick Lau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director. “This year’s program underscores our confidence in Hong Kong’s vibrant film and creative industries.”
A Hub for Asian Cinema Business
The Hong Kong Pavilion at Riviera Cannes became a bustling marketplace for Asian cinema, featuring industry heavyweights such as Celestial Pictures, Edko Films, Emperor Motion Pictures, Media Asia Film Distribution, One Cool Pictures, and Universe Films Distribution. Additional participants included All Rights Entertainment, Entertaining Power, Fortune Star Media, Golden Network Asia, Just Distribution, and Mandarin Motion Pictures.
High-profile projects presented at the market included two prequels in Edko Films’ “Cold War” franchise — Cold War 1994 and Cold War 1995 — as well as an extended version of Emperor Motion Pictures’ top-grossing 2024 release, The Last Dance. Media Asia Film promoted two installments of its Twilight of the Warriors trilogy, One Cool Pictures highlighted the action feature The Trier of Fact, and Universe Films Distribution showcased the comedy Dog Day Evening.
Industry Panels Highlight Collaboration and Global Reach
The program featured forward-looking discussions on Hong Kong and Asian cinema. The panel “A Better Tomorrow: The Success of Hong Kong & Asian Cinema to the World” brought together industry leaders including Eric Lin, General Manager of the International Content Development Centre at Alibaba Pictures; Judy Ahn, Head of International Business at Showbox; Juno Mak; and Todd Brown, Head of International Acquisitions at XYZ Films.
A second forum, “Asian Film Collaboration: Navigating Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges in a Global Landscape,” explored cross-cultural partnerships, international distribution strategies, and innovative storytelling approaches designed to engage global audiences.
With this campaign, Hong Kong demonstrates its strategic vision for international growth, leveraging creativity, technology, and collaboration to position its cinema industry as a global powerhouse and Asia’s key hub for film business and IP trading.
