The Hong Kong film industry is making a concerted push into the mainland Chinese market at the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), with the city's cultural development agency leading a delegation of directors, producers, and emerging filmmakers to the event.
The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) and the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC) organised the participation, which includes a dedicated screening programme titled "Making Waves — Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema." The programme features six films directed by emerging Hong Kong directors, including "Afterpiece," "Dog Day Evening," "Bird of Paradise," "Papa," "The Snowball on a Sunny Day," and "Unidentified Murder."
According to the HKSAR Government, "Afterpiece" — funded under the Directors' Succession Scheme — was selected as the opening film of SIFF. Director Mak Tin-shu was also nominated for the Asian New Talent award at the Golden Goblet Awards with "Dog Day Evening," a production financed under the Film Production Financing Scheme.
The delegation includes Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries Drew Lai, FDC Chairman Wilfred Wong, veteran producer Derek Yee, and a cohort of new-generation directors and actors. The group is showcasing the breadth of Hong Kong's film talent pipeline, from established figures to first-time feature directors.
CCIDA and the FDC also hosted a forum session titled "Hong Kong Cinema: A Legacy in Succession" at SIFFORUM, introducing the various film production financing and funding schemes available under the Film Development Fund. The session featured cross-generational dialogue between veteran and emerging directors on the evolution of the industry.
Beyond the festival programme, Lai, Mak, and Wong met with Mao Yu, Executive Deputy Director-General of the China Film Administration, as well as representatives from international institutions including the Toronto International Film Festival and the British Council, to strengthen ties between Hong Kong and overseas film industries.
The push into Shanghai comes as Hong Kong's film sector seeks to rebuild momentum following years of pandemic-related disruption and shifting audience habits. The city's film development bodies have maintained a range of funding schemes aimed at supporting production and nurturing new talent, with several of the films featured at SIFF drawing directly on those programmes.
Hong Kong has historically served as a bridge between mainland Chinese and international film markets, though its role has evolved as the mainland's own industry has expanded. Participation in events like SIFF remains a key channel for Hong Kong filmmakers to reach mainland audiences and distribution networks.
Sources: HKSAR Government
