HONG KONG: The future is now. If there was one overriding theme at this year's Entertainment Expo that was creating the maximum buzz it is without doubt multi-media convergence.

Not only was it extensively on display at Filmart but there was also a musical display and two events that were focused on the digital entertainment industry.

Filmart had a separate platform devoted exclusively to digital entertainment companies from across the region that are developing content across a range of platforms including film, TV, Internet, mobile and of course gaming. The Digital Entertainment Pavilion had 30 exhibitors from Hong Kong alone showcasing cutting edge technology from 2D to 3D that boggled the mind. Exhibitors included special effects houses, games developers and animation producers.

The Philippines, whose animation industry has been doing outsourcing work for major Western productions for over 20 years, made their presence felt for the first time this year through the Animation Council of the Philippines.

For India though, it was a virtual no-show. A pity considering the kind of interest India is generating from across the region for the work that has been coming out of Indian animation boutiques over the last couple of years. Conversations Indiantelevision.com had with a number of exhibitors highlighted two main areas of interest as far as India is concerned - project work outsourcing to India and because of the high levels of technical expertise at competitive rates that Indian animators bring to the table.

The final day of Filmart was almost entirely devoted to digital entertainment. There was the 'Symposium on Cross-Media and Cross-Business Development.' It was also a day when the Hong Kong Digital Excellence Awards were announced.

Thursday's action was a follow-up to the 'Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum' held Wednesday. The focus of the forum was 'Creative Collaboration in the Digital Entertainment Values Chain.' Speakers included Jun Tang, president of the Shenzhen, China-based Shanda Interactive, and Michael Hedges, Oscar winning recording mixer for the last of the Lord of the Rings trilogy The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.