Hong Kong Market Expands With Animation, Indonesian Showcases
The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society has rounded out its 2025 HKIFF Industry Project Market with eight new titles, bringing the total to 48 projects, the highest in recent years. The expansion includes six animation features and two Indonesian projects, bolstering the market's presence in Asian film development.
Set to run March 17-19 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre alongside FilMart, the market has seen a 60% jump in animation submissions compared to last year. The animation slate features both industry veterans and emerging talents, including Hong Kong director Toe Yuen ('My Life as McDull,' 2003 Annecy best film winner) whose 'A Mighty Adventure' (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia) was shot live in Taiwan with 90% of computer animation completed in Malaysia.
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Among the other works-in-progress are China's 'Min' by Li Jiajia, a professor at the School of Animation and Games of the China Academy of Art, with Liu Jian producing (whose 'Have a Nice Day' and 'Art College 1994' both competed at Berlin), and 'Wildheart' (France, Belgium, Japan) from Tokyo-born Marceau Nakayama, produced by Justin Ambrosino.
The development slate includes Kunming-born artist Gao Yuan's 'Cloud of the Unknown' (Hong Kong, France), backed by producer Isabelle Glachant. Gao's previous short of the same name premiered at Locarno 2020, winning the Arte Laguna prize. Mumbai-based Triparna Maiti brings 'The Tale of the Holy Beast' (India), which previously pitched at Annecy's Mifa market, the Busan Asian Project Market and Seattle's Tasveer Film Market. Her 2022 diploma film 'Water' screened at Anifilm and Monstra. Rounding out the animation slate is Xu Zao's 'Light Pillar' (China), produced by actor-director Da Peng. Xu's 43-minute animation 'No Changes Have Taken in Our Life' previously nabbed the Golden Dove at DOK Leipzig.
'Outstanding animated projects from previous HAF editions, such as Liu Jian's second Berlinale entry, 'Art College 1994,' and Yee Chih-yen's Golden Horse Award winner, 'City of Lost Things,' have instilled in us the conviction to showcase and promote promising talents and projects through this new animation initiative,' said Jacob Wong, director of HKIFF Industry.
The market is also launching Jakarta Film Week Projects, showcasing two Indonesian filmmakers. JFW Festival Director Rina Damayanti sees this collaboration as crucial for increasing Indonesian cinema's global visibility. Jakarta-born Chinese Indonesian filmmaker Jason Iskandar, whose debut 'Akhirat: A Love Story' ranked 15th at Indonesia's 2021 box office, brings 'First Breath After Coma,' produced by Florence Giovani Chandra and Shanty Harmayn. Game development veteran Pelixiano, with 18 years of industry experience, presents the animated 'Fly!' with producer Ellen Xie.
The event runs concurrent with FilMart, the Asian film market that draws over 8,000 industry professionals annually.
The region is currently buzzing with the success of Chinese animated sequel 'Ne Zha 2,' which released over the Lunar New Year holidays and has crossed $1.6 billion at the box office.
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