23/03/2009

The UK Film Council (UKFC) along with UK Trade & Investment is aiding British film companies in building relationships for the fifth consecutive year at the Hong Kong FILMART (March 23-26), the Asia Film Financing Forum (March 23-25) and the Hong Kong International Film Festival (March 22-April 13).

UK companies have around 200 films for sale at this year’s Hong Kong FILMART. The eleven British sales companies going to Hong Kong with the UKFC are: AV Pictures, Celsius Entertainment, Ealing Studios International, Exclusive Film Distribution, Fiction Sales, Goldcrest Films International, HandMade Films International, HanWay Films, Jinga Films, K5 International and WestEnd.

This year, six British films will screen at the festival: Michael Winterbottom’s Genova [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], Steve McQueen’s award-winning Hunger [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Laura Hastings-Smith Rob…
interview: Steve McQueen
film profile], Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy’s Helen [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joe Lawlor and Christine M…
film profile], Terence Davies’ Of Time and the City [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Kim Longinotto’s Rough Aunties and Alexis Dos Santos’ Unmade Beds [+see also:
trailer
film profile].

Sarah McKenzie, Senior Executive for Export Development at the UKFC, said, “We are pleased to support the British companies in Hong Kong again this year to participate in such a worthwhile range of activities, including the film festival, FILMART and the Asia Film Financing Forum. Each of these events present an excellent chance for companies to tap into the huge Asian market by building international relationships and exploring potential for future business opportunities.”

UK film exports to Asia grew from 2.5% in 2005 to 6.9% in 2006 (worth £63 million).