From May 12 to 23, 2026, the Cannes Film Festival plays host to 'Hong Kong Cinema @ CANNES 2026', a major initiative 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 event underscores Hong Kong's role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange and a regional intellectual property (IP) trading hub, aiming to deepen industry exchange and expand co-production and investment opportunities.
A highlight of the programme, 'Hong Kong Night', held on 16 May at Majestic Beach in Cannes, brought together around 600 international film professionals, including producers, distributors, investors and film promotion organisations. The event connected these global 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 collaboration discussions.
The Hong Kong Pavilion 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, One Cool Film, 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 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 ... 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 the importance of meeting film festival programmers for her family-drama 'The Fruitless Tree'. Vanessa Lo, Vice President of Sales and Distribution at Media Asia, said that through the pavilion, Media Asia successfully established partnerships for 'Twilight of the Warriors: The Final Chapter' with buyers from France, Germany, Singapore and Vietnam. Mark Shaw of Shaw Organisation and Hang Trinh of Skyline Media attributed the franchise's success to its strong cast, distinct Hong Kong storytelling, and continued global demand for Hong Kong action cinema.
The event also featured industry seminars exploring funding trends and co-production opportunities in Asian markets, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in film creation. The 'Spotlight on Hong Kong: Pitching Session' introduced five emerging Hong Kong producers and award-winning teams from the FDC's Content Development Scheme for Streaming Platforms, nurturing the next generation of talent. For the first time, business matching meetings connected the Hong Kong delegation with overseas producer delegations from organizations including Cinecittà (Italy), the Film Development Council of the Philippines, ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, the Korean Film Council, Telefilm Canada, CNC (France), Cinema do Brasil, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH (Germany), and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Fund. These meetings aim to deepen long-term collaboration and promote co-production partnerships worldwide.
