China hasn’t lifted its Korean content ban

[FWN Adm]

Article by: Danny Lee (Mar 2023)

Taiwan, another territory with cause to be sensitive over politics, is nevertheless making the most of the rising Asian interest in its content and the relatively short flight time of two hours to Hong Kong. The Taiwan pavilion is hosting 56 firms, 33 of which are TV companies. Flash Forward Entertainment, Mandarin Vision and Swallow Wings Films are among the film outfits.

Notably, the pandemic has not proved the only cause for concern for those looking to travel to Hong Kong in recent years. Before the near global lockdown in early 2020, there was violence as the govern- ment cracked down on protesters. Although the streets have quietened, concerns about democracy and the impression that Hong Kong is no longer a safe zone remain.

"It looks like a lot of people are ditching Filmart in favour of Busan," says one European buyer, who wished to remain anonymous. "Hong Kong has had a lot of negative press — first because of China and the handling of the protests and then the Covid response. A lot of people are worried they don't [see] the 'one country, two systems' in effect."