Three questions about…FILMART 2015

The European Pavilion was organised and run by EFP at the 19th FILMART in Hong Kong from 23 to 26 March. 19 sales agents and two EFP member organisations registered with EFP, an overall high. The Market has significantly developed over the past years, it has steadily grown with more buyers attending from a range of Asian countries.

FIRST QUESTION
Kevin Tam, Project Manager, FILMART, Hong Kong How is FILMART developing and what are your aims for the future?

"With 784 exhibitors from 34 countries, we have record-breaking participation for this year’s FILMART. Launched as a film event, the market has meanwhile developed into a transmedia platform. TV and digital entertainment are the growth engines of the market.

More and more exhibitors from Chinese mainland attend the FILMART. We also provide business matching services to exhibitors and buyers who want to sell their content and services worldwide. Buyers from various countries, for example, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, Chinese mainland and many other countries come to FILMART to purchase content.

Our goal is to keep a perfect mix of various elements of the fair, balancing Film, TV and Digital Entertainment sectors. We strive to enhance the number and quality of buyers for the benefit of the market, for example, introducing more OTT buyers to FILMART."

SECOND QUESTION:
Sophie Kim, Distributor at Sejong Communications, South KoreaHow are European films perceived in Asia and which markets are important for you?

"For me, Busan and Hong Kong are equally important markets to go to, next to the AFM, Berlin and Cannes. Usually I buy all rights. In Korea, theatrical releases are important because of the marketing. I distribute films from various European countries, currently from France, Germany, Spain and Belgium. However, in the end, it doesn´t depend on the country or whether the titles are commercial or arthouse, rather that the film is well-made. In a way, in Asia all European films are niche products, the young Korean audience mainly watches national blockbusters."

THIRD QUESTION:
Marco Valerio Fusco, International Sales Manager, Intramovies, ItalyHow was business at FILMART this year and what makes it worth coming?

"For me, this year’s FILMART has been better than the previous years – also due to the fact that the relationship to the distributors are established as we are present here every year. Although I didn´t close a deal, I am in negotiations with several distributors, and I’m very positive that deals will be signed soon.

Compared to the Asian Film Market, you have more buyers from China interested in commercial titles for TV, VOD and pay TV platforms in Hong Kong. With regard to the censorship, it can sometime take very long before a deal is closed. Next to buyers from China, I meet distributors from various Asian countries such as Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan at the FILMART. I sell to Japan very well and the conditions are good. I see many new buyers coming up in Korea, but not all of them are reliable.

The FILMART is a good event to follow up on meetings from Cannes and Berlin on one hand and to catch up with distributors who don´t travel to the big European markets on the other hand. In Berlin and Cannes I´m focused on the festival selection, here other titles are on the agenda.

For us, the Asian Film Market and the FILMART are both “must” markets to attend. Buyers at the Asian Film Market are more interested in arthouse titles, buyers at the FILMART are mainly looking for commercial films. Busan has a good mixture of art and industry, festival and market, business and social events. In comparison, FILMART is a clear business event."