By Ciara Mina
Over 760 exhibitors from over 34 countries and regions have joined the 29th Hong Kong International cinema and Television Market (FILMART) this year. This includes Vietnam, which is expanding its film pavilion, placing itself on the global cinema map.
Three separate Vietnamese exhibitors and Vietnamese films are taking part at the event, sponsored by the Vietnam Film Development Association.
Welcoming the Vietnamese film pavilion
The 29th edition of FILMART continues to expand its cultural diversity with new pavilions from Australia, Cambodia, France, India, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam, as well as first-time exhibitors from Armenia, Czechia, and Kazakhstan.
“We very much welcome the Vietnamese participation and for the first time, the Vietnam pavilion,” Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) deputy executive director Patrick Lau stated.
“Vietnam has a wonderful production facility and an up-and-coming strong film industry with huge potential to develop in culture and arts.”
Lau further recommended for Vietnam to work with Hong Kong and use the Hong Kong platform to work with many more nations worldwide.
“We are very confident of the Vietnam film industry going forward,” Lau added.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Video game ‘Scarred’ turns Singapore into nightmare hellscape
Vietnamese films screened
Vietnam is expected to make a big impression at FILMART 2025 with a strong selection of films, led by the box office hit “The Ancestral Home.”
“The Ancestral Home” – directed by Huynh Lap – has swiftly risen to the top of the Vietnamese box office for spiritual films.
In the family drama comedy, a Gen Z content creator goes to her ancestral home to produce viral content, only to be confronted by relatives and the spirit of her deceased brother.
“The Real Sister”, one of the most anticipated family dramas in Vietnam in 2024, is among the other noteworthy titles in the schedule.
The film was produced by Pham Tran Bao Quyen and directed by Khuong Ngoc.
Its all-star female ensemble is drawn from some of Vietnam’s most popular films.
Additionally, Vietnam is showing “Hoang Thuy Linh: Vietnamese Concert Film,” which chronicles the pop sensation’s career-defining performance of her viral smash song “See Tinh.”
Other events
At the opening day of FILMART 2025, a ceremony to formally launch the 2025 Hong Kong Entertainment Expo, which includes both FILMART and EntertainmentPulse, was held.
The 29th edition of FILMART also includes the Producers Connect programme, which hosts a number of events to promote global co-operation and assist emerging Hong Kong producers.
Additionally, the market saw the launch of the Inaugural artificial intelligence (AI) Hub pilot project, which highlights cutting-edge AI applications throughout the film-making process.
Leaders in the global entertainment sector also got together at the EntertainmentPulse event to discuss hot-button issues like streaming content trends, Association of Southeast Asian Nations entertainment markets, Asian animation and cross-border co-production.
The event also held Digital Entertainment Summit, Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum, Hong Kong International Film Festival, Hong Kong Film Awards, Asian Film Awards, Microfilm Production Support Scheme (Music), and Hong Kong Film Music Fest.
READ NEXT: Philippines’ TBA Studios taps ‘Ser Jorah’ of ‘Game of Thrones’ to join ‘Quezon’
Ren Azrack Escosio 
Jheruleene Anne Ramos