The Shanghai Broadcast Film and Television Producers Association and the Hong Kong Writers’ Guild officially signed an agreement to deepen cooperation at Filmart on March 19th.
The memorandum of understanding, which spans content production, talent development and technology exchange, comes at a time when both cities are re-evaluating their roles in the increasingly complex global screen economy. With artificial intelligence, short-form drama, and the decline of traditional production models, even the most established players are grappling with existential questions.
That tension was evident throughout the Shanghai showcase. The program is led by the Shanghai Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau and the Shanghai Municipal Radio and Television Bureau, and hosted by the Shanghai Broadcasting Film and Television Producers Association. — featuring executives and creators who are torn between cautious optimism and industry-wide introspection.
The stage showcased an array of projects, including a 1930s spy drama, a female-led historical blockbuster, and a fantasy series. Companies like Bilibili highlighted their global reach, exporting animation to more than 190 countries.
Hong Kong was once a movie powerhouse, but it is currently in a period of decline. As Ng Si-Yuen of the Hong Kong Film Directors Guild and the Hong Kong Film Workers Federation pointed out frankly, annual film production has declined dramatically, and this reality makes it imperative to form a deeper partnership with the mainland film directors’ union. “It would be great if our two cities could join forces and produce film and television content that has an international character,” he said.
