International
Filmmart in Hong Kong to have strong French presence
MUMBAI: Asian international film and television market Filmmart takes place in Hong Kong from 22-24 March 2005. It is organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and takes place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Taking Filmmart’s platform by storm are 37 French film companies and film commissions, occupying more than 200sqm of exhibition space. French companies taking part include Unifrance, Film France, the French Association of Producers of Films and Audiovisual Programmes, Ile De France Film Commission, Invest in France Agency and TV France International. France will have a celebration French Dayon 23 March 2005.
French participation in this year’s Filmmart doesn’t stop there. Ecran Total editor Franck Priot will be chairing one of Filmart’s key seminars entitled Franco-Chinese Cinema Partnerships, complementing the current cultural celebrations linking France and China. One panel will discuss the subject Making films together : what do we have in common?. The second panel discussion will look at how the two countries can partner as far as locations, infrastructures, and know-how tools are concerned.
HKTDC director of service promotion Raymond Yip, enthused, “This is a very good sign for Hong Kong and Asia that the French film and television business community is looking east again. This is by far the largest delegation of film and television professionals that have descended upon Asia from France. I am certain that 2005 will be a turning point in the growing interest of Hong Kong as a film and entertainment capital.”
Running alongside Filmmart is the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF). Here exhibitors with production-ready film projects vie for financing. This year, 28 projects have been selected for presentation from more than 200 submissions by filmmakers and producers across Asia. This specialised industry event is co-organised by HKTDC and the Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories Motion Picture Industry Association.
Both Filmmart and Haf are anchor events within the inaugural Entertainment Expo Hong Kong. Entertainment Expo, from 22 March – 6 April 2005. This mega entertainment event will bring together film and television programming, film financing, a film festival, film awards, music and digital entertainment..
International
Moskino and Bollywood: Moscow Film Cluster and Film City Mumbai signed a cooperation agreement
Moscow Film Cluster has signed a cooperation agreement with Film City Mumbai. The parties agreed to cooperate in developing the film industry, promoting shooting locations and supporting filmmakers.
The memorandum was signed on the sidelines of the India International Film Tourism (IIFTC) Conclave in Mumbai. At this forum, the Moscow Film Cluster presented Moscow’s opportunities for film shooting, including infrastructure projects such as Film City Moskino and Film Factory. Special attention was paid to the Moscow rebate system – up to 45% – and the co-production development.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Film City and Moscow Film Cluster provides for the establishment and development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the film industry development, including joint promotion of shooting locations, support for filmmakers, implementation of marketing and industry events, development of incentive support measures and strengthening of economic and cultural interaction between India and Moscow.
The parties also intend to promote the development of the audiovisual sector through the exchange of experience, joint initiatives and the search for opportunities to create new industry partnerships and clusters.
Moscow Film Cluster is a major city initiative led by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin to develop the capital into a global cinema hub. It brings together key production infrastructure – such as the Moskino Film Сity, Film Factory and Gorky Film Studio – along with the Film Commission, digital platform and cinema chain to streamline shooting, support productions and attract international filmmaking to Moscow.
Also, Moscow offers a rebate of up to 45%: 30% as direct production cost compensation, up to 15% for visa and accommodation support. The Moscow Image Grant provides up to $255,000 for films showcasing iconic city views.
The Moscow Film Cluster booth attracted considerable attention from Indian producers and studios. Over 80 business meetings were held, including those with major Indian companies.
One of the booth guests was the famous Indian actress Khushboo Sundar, known to Soviet and Russian audiences for her role in My Soul and considered the leading star of Tamil cinema, in whose honor one of the local temples was even built. Prithul Kumar, representative of the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and one of the officials responsible for regulating the film industry in the country, also expressed interest in the development of the Moscow Film Cluster.
One of the highlights of the India International Film Tourism Conclave was the awarding of The Greatest of All Time in the For Cinematic Excellence category. The movie was shot in Moscow. The jury members noted the project’s contribution to the development of tourism.
The shooting of The Greatest of All Time AGS by Entertainment was organized with the assistance of the Moscow Film Cluster and the Moscow Film Commission and took place in April 2024 on the streets of Moscow. The scenes were shot in such famous locations as Patriarch Bridge, Teatralnaya Square, Manezhnaya Square, Kazarmenny Lane, Podsosensky Lane, Nikolskaya Street and one of the festival venues of Moscow Seasons.
The Greatest of All Time became a landmark event in Indian box office history. It ranked fourth in box office earnings among all movies released in India in 2024 and is one of the most successful Tamil-language movies in history.
At the same time, the shooting of another joint Russian-Indian movie started at the Moskino Film City in Moscow. A film project dedicated to badminton became one of the first participants in the Moscow rebate program.
A project by Smena & WISH Media (Russia) and Kartina Entertainment And Sports Private Limited (India) will tell the story of a badminton player who travels to India with the Russian national team to compete in a tournament. Russian viewers will see for the first time the scale of sporting competitions in Asia, where badminton is a cult sport and draws packed stands of fans.
The agreement on the joint production of the Smash movie was signed st the Moscow International Film Week in August 2025. And as Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said, a rebate application was also submitted at that time to reimburse part of the costs incurred during the shooting process in the Russian capital.
