Hong Kong is making a major push at the Cannes Film Festival this year, with a series of events and exhibitions designed to deepen international industry exchange and expand co-production and investment opportunities. The initiative, dubbed "Hong Kong Cinema @ CANNES 2026," runs from May 12 to 23 and is jointly organized by the Cultural, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) of the Hong Kong SAR Government, the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC), the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).
The program includes exhibitions, industry seminars, business matching meetings, project pitching sessions, and networking activities. Its goal is to promote cross-regional co-production opportunities while underscoring Hong Kong’s role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange and a regional intellectual property (IP) trading hub. The event also showcases the strength and creative diversity of Hong Kong’s film industry to the global screen community.
A highlight of the activities was "Hong Kong Night," held on May 16 at Majestic Beach in Cannes, which brought together around 600 international film professionals, including producers, distributors, investors, and film promotion organizations. The event connected these 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.
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 are showcasing 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 crime action film "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 and international co-operation opportunities.
Anna Cheung, Assistant Executive Director of the HKTDC, emphasized the significance of the event: "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 positive outcomes. Grace Chan, Head of Distribution at Entertaining Power Co. Limited, said of her 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, noted 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 of Shaw Organisation and Hang Trinh 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. One seminar, titled "Capital Flows & Co-Production Opportunities in Hong Kong, Asia and Beyond," shared insights into funding trends and co-production opportunities. Another, "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 AI in film creation and talent development. The newly introduced "Spotlight on Hong Kong: Pitching Session" featured five emerging Hong Kong producers and their latest film projects, alongside award-winning teams of the FDC’s Content Development Scheme for Streaming Platforms. The event also introduced its first-ever business matching meetings, connecting the Hong Kong delegation with overseas producer delegations from organizations including Cinecittà (Italy), the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Telefilm Canada, CNC (France), and the Red Sea Fund (Saudi Arabia).
The HKTDC, a statutory body established in 1966, promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. With over 50 offices globally, it organizes international exhibitions, conferences, and business missions to create opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
