MALAYSIA SEEKS BIGGER ASIAN MARKET SHARE AT HONG KONG FILMART

KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 (Bernama) – Malaysia is looking to expand its footprint in Asia’s film industry, with seven local companies taking part in the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) 2025. 

In its Facebook post, the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) said the country’s presence at the 29th edition of FILMART was led by its chief executive officer Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib.

The agency aims to promote local content and services while positioning Malaysia as a regional production hub through the Film in Malaysia Incentive (FIMI), which offers a 30 per cent cash rebate on eligible Malaysian production spending. 

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On the opening day, FINAS held talks with Hong Kong’s Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) on establishing a Malaysia-Hong Kong co-production fund, the post read.

Discussions were also held with the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) to finalise a memorandum of understanding, expected to be signed in July, it added. 

The agency also met with Cambodia’s Cinema and Cultural Diffusion Development unit, under its Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, to explore opportunities for distributing Malaysian creative content in the country. 

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In a separate post, FINAS said Azmir Saifuddin held bilateral talks with Indonesia’s Minister of Culture Dr Fadli Zon and Lai Sun Group chairman Dr Peter Lam, on the sidelines of the event.

The discussions focused on upcoming collaborations, including the ASEAN Film Summit in Kuala Lumpur later this year, Malaysia-Indonesia joint productions and co-productions with Hong Kong.

The meetings also touched on ways to promote tourism through creative content and emerging trends in micro-dramas, it said. 

FILMART 2025, which runs from March 17 to 20, has drawn over 7,500 participants, including filmmakers, directors, investors and industry representatives from around the world. 

-- BERNAMA