Hong Kong Filmart and HAF to go virtual for August 2020 edition

#HongKong; #Filmart; #HAF; #OnlineEvent, #Covid19Pandemic; #Lockdown

Hong King, Jun 21 (Canadian-Media): It was confirmed that this year's edition of Filmart and the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) would be moved online, media reports said.

FILMART. Image credit: Twitter Handle

Filmart Online will take place August 26-29, and HAF event would run concurrently but one day shorter from August 26-28.

Although Hong Kong is now mostly free of the Covid-19 pandemic, but many cities and countries in the region and outside are still on lockdown or have border restrictions and quarantine measures in place.

Recently Hong Kong’s government had extended the border restrictions for overseas visitors to Hong Kong to September 18.

In addition, Beijing being hit by the emergence of a new cluster of Covid-19 infection cases, all linked to a wholesale food market in the west of the city, has been forced to re-introduce a partial lockdown.

In a statement, Filmart organisers said: “We all recognise the importance of maintaining entertainment market business momentum, amid delayed productions, closed theatres and altered audience behaviour. So, as the largest content trading platform in Asia, Filmart Online will continue helping you to reinvigorate business.”

In the virtual event sellers would be able to showcase their slates on a dedicated company page.

They would also be enabled to stream trailers and videos with DRM encryption, individual watermark and time-limited screener authorisations.

A virtual meeting platform would also be hosted by the event, equipped with “high-quality video conferencing and a built-in messaging centre” enabling buyers and sellers to connect.

A series of seminars, content showcases and other events is also being planned.

Meanwhile, HAF in partnership with Filmart Online would facilitate virtual meetings for filmmakers of its selected projects.

“Travel restrictions and quarantine requirements imposed by many countries have made it impossible for HAF to provide a physical platform for participants to meet and discuss their projects this year,” said HAF director Jacob Wong.

“Under such circumstances, going virtual is an appropriate way forward as the safety and well-being of our guests and filmmakers are of utmost importance.”

32 projects for this year’s edition had previously been shortlisted by HAF, including projects from 11 first-time directors.

HAF will announce an additional 22 work-in-progress projects (WIP) soon.