Hong Kong's FilMart Gets Animated as More Toons Join Project Market Lineup
Asian animation continues to evolve and grow its profile on the global stage in both artistic and commercial terms. That is perhaps most evident at this year's Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum, where a half-dozen promising projects will be pitched to potential buyers, sellers and co-producers. A seventh animated project will also feature in this year's Indonesian spotlight.
Held alongside FilMart, HAF received 60% more animated submissions than last year. This year's animation slate features industry veterans and newcomers alike, including acclaimed director Toe Yuen, who won the 2003 Annecy Cristal for best feature with 'My Life as McDull.' The following is an overview of the animated films at HAF.
More from Variety
Aaron Kwok Drama 'IOU' Unveiled by Distribution Workshop at Hong Kong FilMart
'Game of Thrones' Star Iain Glen Joins TBA Studios' Philippines Historical Biopic 'Quezon' (EXCLUSIVE)
Venice Winner Aditya Vikram Sengupta Produces Hong Kong's HAF-Selected Indian Satirical Comedy-Drama 'Republic of Mahalaxmi Apartment'
Cloud of the Unknown
Director: Gao Yuan (Hong Kong, France)
Based on Yuan's short of the same name and produced by Isabelle Glachant and Camille Li, this 2D feature is a surreal exploration of dreams and reality. Produced by Chinese Shadows and Shasha & Co. Production, the film follows Yun, a girl who vanishes into strange worlds when she falls asleep, and Sha, who dreams of being a paralyzed painter in a dystopian world. As their paths cross, they begin to question the nature of their existence. 'The encounter between Yun and Sha motivates them to explore themselves further,' said Yuan.
Fly!
Directors: Pelixiano Saputranovic, Ellen Xie (Indonesia)
'Fly!' is a tale set against the backdrop of Bali's spiritual landscape. Produced by ArtCodeStory and MOAI Entertainment, the film follows Wayan, a young Balinese boy who embarks on a mystical journey to reunite with his lost father. As he navigates the spirit world, Wayan faces a choice that could alter his destiny forever. 'In a world where so many have experienced loss and longing from separation, 'Fly!' is a reminder that love never truly fades — it simply transforms,' said Saputranovic. The film is currently in development, with an estimated finish date of 2027.
Light Pillar
Director: Xu Zao (China)
Produced by Da Peng and Lu Xiaowei, 'Light Pillar' is a story set in a nearly deserted film studio that mixes live action and animated sequences. Lao Cha, a janitor, finds companionship in a stray cat and befriends a woman named Li in a virtual world, only to discover that Li is actually a 10-year-old boy. Produced by Fengduan Film, the film explores themes of love, happiness and cycles of renewal. 'Love and happiness sometimes need to be pursued, but more often, they need to be discovered,' said Zao, who previously won DOK Leipzig's Golden Dove for a feature with 'No Changes Have Taken in Our Life.'
A Mighty Adventure
Director: Toe Yuen (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia)
Keeping up with a resurgent dialogue-free trend in top animation — think Oscar-winner 'Flow' and nominee 'Robot Dreams' — action-packed comedy 'A Mighty Adventure' follows three insects — a grasshopper, spider and butterfly — as they navigate a vast concrete jungle. Produced by Zero One Film and Flystudio, the film blends live-action footage with CG insects to create a raw yet enchanting visual experience. 'This isn't just a visual experiment — it's a universal, entertaining ride for all ages,' said former Annecy winner Yuen. The film is currently in post-production and should be finished by summer.
MIN
Director: Li Jiajia (China)
'MIN' delves into the silent struggles of its titular character as she navigates the complexities of marriage and motherhood. Produced by the China Academy of Art, School of Animation and Games, the film explores the delicate balance between personal desires and societal expectations. 'The movie uses animation, a medium most distant from 'reality,' to present a story with a strong sense of realism,' said Li Jiajia, who previously served as art director on the Berlin competition player 'Art College 1994.'
Wildheart
Director: Marceau Nakayama (France, Belgium, Japan)
'Wildheart,' co-written by Nakayama and John A. Scott, is a Showa-era family drama set in late 1960s Tokyo. Produced by Keytales Studio in France and Forerunner Films in Belgium, the story revolves around Makoto, an 11-year-old girl who cares for her younger brother Kenta. As they search for their mother, Makoto grapples with the guilt of hiding a crucial piece of information from Kenta. 'Wildheart' employs a unique CineMation approach, blending live-action storytelling with the visual freedom of animation. Nakayama described the film as a fusion of Japanese and international cinema sensibilities, resulting in a distinct and original narrative.
The Tale of the Holy Beast
Director: Triparna Maiti (India)
Produced by Bejon K Vinod, 'The Tale of the Holy Beast' is a heart-wrenching story of a young elephant calf who loses his herd to poachers and is subsequently sold to various owners throughout his life. Produced by FAEM, the film explores the bond between humans and animals through the lens of captivity. 'Using animation, we are exploring the wild emotions and complexities of captivity,' said Maiti. The project is currently in development, with an estimated finish date of October 2028.
Best of Variety
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More
What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
an hour ago
- Buzz Feed
21 Wholesome "Childish" Habits Adults Refuse To Give Up
Recently, Reddit user u/TroubleEarly7249 asked, "What's your 'I don't care how old I am, I'm still doing this' thing?" So, according to adults, here are some of their favorite "childish" things that they'll never stop doing: "Going down the slide when I bring my kids to the playground." "I'll forever drink Capri-Suns and eat popsicles. My Asian immigrant parents say it's childish of me." "Drinking chocolate milk." "Enjoying silly little craft projects. I, for instance, find it relaxing to lie on my stomach on the floor and do Perler bead art in my spare time. Like these owls. I'm 33 years old and have been told I'm too old for this, but it's honestly like meditation to me after work." "Whenever I move out to my own place, I'm gonna get myself a really nice wooden train set; playing with trains has always been so fun and calming to me, and I can't wait." "Neopets! I don't have my account from my childhood, but I made a new one a few years back with the same animal Korbat (the mouse/bat) I had. It really relaxes me on my lunch break; I feed him an omelet while I eat as well. "I'm 50, and I build houses in The Sims. No shame. Also, I'm currently re-reading the Chronicles of Narnia because everything's rubbish and I want to be happy." "I always wear hair clips. I don't care about my age! Hair clips are fun! I will forever keep up with the glitters and the sparkles!" "Dressing up how I want to and having fun with my hair, makeup, clothing, etc. I currently have red highlights in my hair, and I still feel badass at 39 years old." "I will still sometimes get up at six in the morning on Sundays, sit in the living room, and watch TV while eating stuff that's technically not breakfast food." "Having a 'kid's dinner' brings me so much joy. It's easy, it's tasty, and I can upgrade my drink to a white wine now." "Video Games." "I still enjoy stepping on crunchy leaves. There's something so satisfying about the sound and the feel. It brought me so much joy as a kid, and it still does as an adult." "I still watch Arthur reruns! It's literally on PBS kids, but I still think it's hilarious and nostalgic." "Sleep with my stuffed animal." "Coloring. It's relaxing and gets me off my phone." "Building Lego sets." "Ballet. I hope to be en pointe by next year!!!" "EDM shows. I will be the rave grandma one day!" "Riding the shopping cart through the parking lot like it's a scooter." And finally, "Blasting music in the car and singing my heart out. I don't care if I get weird looks." What other "childish" things do you still do that really aren't childish at all? Let us know in the comments!
San Francisco Chronicle
10 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Prada wants to change the conversation away from aggression, toward gentleness
MILAN (AP) — With global tensions escalating, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons want to change the conversation to something gentle, calm and nice with their menswear collection for next summer, previewed during Milan Fashion Week on Sunday. 'We tried to make a change of tone, from powerful to gentle, calm,'' Prada said after the show. 'Basically, the opposite of aggression, power, nastiness.'' 'Sometimes it is good to reflect, and be a bit more calm,'' added Simons, her co-creative director. Innocence reimagined In that vein, the pair's latest menswear collection recalled childish innocence, opening with short shorts that were more precisely elasticized briefs, with pleated pockets, worn with a sturdy, sure-footed shoe and black sock and a crisp white buttoned-down shirt with a naive print of a sun and waves. These panty-shorts were paired also with leather coats, long cotton shirts or fringed knitwear that give men access to the pant-less look already embraced by some female celebrities. Freedom in form and color A more serious double-breasted suit was worn with the sleeves pushed up in a get-to-work gesture layered over track jackets. Track pants with a side stripe or straight, cropped cotton trousers otherwise anchored the looks with leather jackets, car coats or knitwear. Urban looks ensembles paired with backpacks and flip-flops, on the verge of the getaway. Light, summer looks were finished with loafers. Nothing was completely office, and nothing was completely beach. The silhouette was deliberately unstructured, and the color palette broad and undefined. Gray, black, khaki and navy were offset by red, sky blue, lime green and turquoise and purple, monochromes mixing casually, as if to say, any way you want. 'We wanted everything to be human in its dimension, to be light and fresh and colorful,'' Simons said. Playful, with a shadow There was humor, even whimsy, in bright cone-shaped woven raffia hats that recalled a shuttlecock, some with strands of raffia feathering over the eyes as if a shade. In the spirit of change, the showroom was left deliberately raw, with concrete and orange beams exposed and sunlight streaming through the high windows. Childlike daisy-shaped rugs were the only decoration. 'We are always very aware of that,'' Prada said. 'Good luck to everyone.'' Celeb frenzy Outside the Prada Foundation showroom, hundreds of fans screamed for the arrival of Asian pop group TransfOrmProject, South Korean actor Lee Do-hyun and Japanese singer Sana. Also on hand were English-Ghanaian rapper Stormzy, NBA star Anthony Edwards and actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Harris Dickinson.
Hamilton Spectator
11 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Prada wants to change the conversation away from aggression, toward gentleness
MILAN (AP) — With global tensions escalating, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons want to change the conversation to something gentle, calm and nice with their menswear collection for next summer, previewed during Milan Fashion Week on Sunday. 'We tried to make a change of tone, from powerful to gentle, calm,'' Prada said after the show. 'Basically, the opposite of aggression, power, nastiness.'' 'Sometimes it is good to reflect, and be a bit more calm,'' added Simons, her co-creative director. Innocence reimagined In that vein, the pair's latest menswear collection recalled childish innocence, opening with short shorts that were more precisely elasticized briefs, with pleated pockets, worn with a sturdy, sure-footed shoe and black sock and a crisp white buttoned-down shirt with a naive print of a sun and waves. These panty-shorts were paired also with leather coats, long cotton shirts or fringed knitwear that give men access to the pant-less look already embraced by some female celebrities. Freedom in form and color A more serious double-breasted suit was worn with the sleeves pushed up in a get-to-work gesture layered over track jackets. Track pants with a side stripe or straight, cropped cotton trousers otherwise anchored the looks with leather jackets, car coats or knitwear. Urban looks ensembles paired with backpacks and flip-flops, on the verge of the getaway. Light, summer looks were finished with loafers. Nothing was completely office, and nothing was completely beach. The silhouette was deliberately unstructured, and the color palette broad and undefined. Gray, black, khaki and navy were offset by red, sky blue, lime green and turquoise and purple, monochromes mixing casually, as if to say, any way you want. 'We wanted everything to be human in its dimension, to be light and fresh and colorful,'' Simons said. Playful, with a shadow There was humor, even whimsy, in bright cone-shaped woven raffia hats that recalled a shuttlecock, some with strands of raffia feathering over the eyes as if a shade. In the spirit of change, the showroom was left deliberately raw, with concrete and orange beams exposed and sunlight streaming through the high windows. Childlike daisy-shaped rugs were the only decoration. While the colorful headgear and floral accents put a smile on people's faces, news that the U.S. had entered Israel's war with Iran on Sunday cast a somber mood. 'We are always very aware of that,'' Prada said. 'Good luck to everyone.'' Celeb frenzy Outside the Prada Foundation showroom, hundreds of fans screamed for the arrival of Asian pop group TransfOrmProject, South Korean actor Lee Do-hyun and Japanese singer Sana. Also on hand were English-Ghanaian rapper Stormzy, NBA star Anthony Edwards and actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Harris Dickinson. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
