Over 7,300 industry talents at HKTDC FILMART and EntertainmentPulse

HONG KONG, Mar 16, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – FILMART and EntertainmentPulse, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), assembled more than 7,300 leading entertainment figures from 41 countries and regions. The four-day content marketplace successfully showcased a great variety of cross-media, cross-genre content and brought numerous business opportunities for participants. The confident global exhibitors and buyers were delighted to network in person. "This is my first time attending FILMART. HKTDC helped line up over 10 business matching meetings which are all helpful in establishing business contacts and develop new opportunities. I'm sure some would come to fruition with follow ups," said Ms Jean Dong, Founder & Chairman of Zespa Media Group, based in London and Beijing.

FILMART and EntertainmentPulse brought together over 7,300 industry talents from 41 countries and regions. Over 700 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions showcased a wide variety of latest film and TV productions.

Industry leaders participated in EntertainmentPulse conference series to talk about the latest entertainment industry trends.

Popular boy band MIRROR visited FILMART to introduce the debut feature film WE 12.

A representative of Hengdian Film & Television Industry Experimental Zone, which has participated in FILMART for five consecutive years, said: "The film industry of Hong Kong is mature and with the advantage of international connections. It is a must for Hengdian to collaborate with Hong Kong in order to go global and co-promote Chinese culture to worldwide audiences."

Over 700 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions gathered at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) over the past four days for Asia's largest cross-media and cross-industry film and TV entertainment trade expo. The Mainland China exhibitor tally at FILMART exceeded 330, a record, including the three major streaming platforms – iQIYI, Tencent and Youku. The revived physical marketplace was as vibrant and active as in the past, successfully reuniting industry players from all around the globe for business partnerships.

Innovation and technology had a strong presence as the Hong Kong Animation & Digital Entertainment Pavilion at FILMART gathered more than 30 local companies offering animation, digital effects and interactive media – the three major digital entertainment areas – to promote innovative technology development. Their innovations included creative content rendered through digital effects and Web 3. EntertainmentPulse, the concurrent conference series of FILMART, featured a dedicated session on Web3 in the entertainment industry. Entertainment industry leaders also discussed the prospects and potential of Asian content, the hype behind dating and romance reality shows, and Chinese donghua (animation) as soft power.

Growing interest in dating and romance reality shows

Dating and romance reality shows are not new to the TV landscape but are finding great success once again. During the Love Story Wanted: Hype behind Dating and Romance Reality Show session, Mr Yosuke Muramoto, Director and Chief Producer of YD Creation, described how to captivate audiences: "The question is 'What is true love?'. But how many people amongst the viewers could answer that? This is truly the topic that everyone wants to know and what keeps the viewers coming back."

Web3 redefines engagement in the entertainment industry

The entertainment industry is fuelled by creativity and technology can accelerate its development. The latest breakthrough innovation is Web3 which makes entertainment more realistic and engaging. In the session Uncovering the Application of Web3 in Entertainment Industry, Ms Jenefer Brown, EVP and Head of Global Products and Experiences of Lionsgate, discussed how brands should engage consumers with Web3: "We should approach it in the way that fans could understand and avoid the technical terminologies. The way we market it and engage with fans should always be very simplified. The key to success is to make it feel trusted, understandable and not complicated. The more steps involved, the more people we lose."

New era for Hong Kong Movies

Several Hong Kong productions have broken Hong Kong box-office records recently. In Dialogue with Hong Kong Directors: The Spring of Hong Kong Movies? renowned Hong Kong film directors including Mr Sunny Chan of Table of Six, Ms Judy Chu of Sunshine of My Life, and Mr Jack Ng of A Guilty Conscience, which became the highest-grossing Hong Kong film, reflected on the city's cinematic success. Mr Ng said: "It is the script that gives confidence to the investors and actors. Without the script, we cannot go anywhere."

Numerous special events announcing exciting titles

This year's FILMART again received strong support from major local film and TV companies, organising press conferences as well as on-site booths. Emperor Motion Pictures invited more than 80 movie stars and industry leaders to announce upcoming productions at a press conference, including Under Current, Customs Frontline and New Police Story 2. In addition, PCCW Media Limited's MakerVille and Viu also held a press conference to announce boy band Mirror's first film WE 12. A large-scale release conference organised by Muse Communications showcased a wide range of Japanese anime, including the big hit Demon Slayer.

FILMART online platforms open until 15 April

The online FILMART portal is accessible until 15 April. Users can revisit all the exciting content from EntertainmentPulse and utilise the direct messaging function offered through the FILMART online platform.

Websites:
FILMART: https://event.hktdc.com/fair/hkfilmart-en/
EntertainmentPulse: https://entertainmentpulse.hktdc.com/en
Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3JjUkwt

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media Enquiries:
For any media enquiries, please contact:
Ogilvy PR: Honman Li, Tel: +852 9638 1208, Email: honman.li@ogilvy.com

HKTDC's Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Katy Wong, Tel: +852 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org
Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

FILMART and EntertainmentPulse open today

HONG KONG, Mar 13, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The HKTDC Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART) and EntertainmentPulse opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). From 13 to 16 March, over 700 exhibitors will showcase films and TV shows to global buyers and build connections.

Hong Kong International Film and TV Market exhibition (FILMART) attracts over 700 companies from 30 countries and regions.

FILMART showcases various events, including summits, seminars, and film conferences, as well as close to 40 screenings, allowing buyers and visitors to enjoy incredible films during the events.

Mr Leon Lai, Hong Kong Entertainment Ambassador, hopes to unite the industry and encourage more young people to join the industry.

Comprising eight exciting events, including FILMART and EntertainmentPulse, the Entertainment Expo launch ceremony was officiated by Mr KK Chan, the Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Raistlin Lau, Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Ms Zhou Jihong, First-Grade Counsel, International Cooperation Department, National Radio and Television Administration, Mr Zhang Guo Yi, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Ms Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Mr John Chong, Chairman of HKTDC Entertainment Industry Advisory Committee, Mr Leon Lai, Hong Kong Entertainment Ambassador, and representatives of event organisers and supporting organisations.

"FILMART is one of the founding events of the Entertainment Expo and has, over the years, become the largest cross-media and cross-industry entertainment content-trading platform in Asia. With the full resumption of international travel, this year's FILMART has attracted 702 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions. In last year's Policy Address, the Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive outlined the Government's commitment to foster the cultural development of Hong Kong and expedite the city's progression into an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange. I believe that with the Government's strong support, the industry can seize more opportunities and grow further," said Ms Fong.

Global exhibitors gather at FILMART again

FILMART receives strong support from filmmakers in Hong Kong, Mainland China and worldwide. Numerous Hong Kong entertainment companies – including Edko Films, Emperor Motion Pictures, Golden Scene, Mandarin Film, Media Asia, One Cool Pictures, PCCW Media and Universal Films – participate in FILMART.

Aside from local exhibitors, a record number of over 330 mainland exhibitors from Beijing, Fujian, Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Shandong and Shanghai are attending. They include renowned content producers and distributors such as Zhejiang Huace Film & TV, Daylight Entertainment, Fantawild, Beijing Yiding Legend Culture Co., Ltd and Linmon Media. Three major mainland streaming platforms – iQIYI, Tencent and Youku – will also showcase their programmes. The venue will host close to 30 overseas pavilions, including those from the mainland, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Italy, the United States and Europe, allowing exhibitors to trade with global buyers.

Apart from the exhibition, the four-day FILMART presents a variety of events, including press conferences, showcases, summits, seminars, meetings and screenings.

EntertainmentPulse brings together industry leaders to share insights

EntertainmentPulse will feature leading industry speakers discussing a variety of topics across a wide spectrum of topics in depth, including the hype behind dating and romance reality shows, application of Web3 in entertainment industry and Chinese donghua animation as soft power.

The forum will begin with Spotlight Conversation: The Asian Wave in 2023 and Beyond, co-hosted by Mr Sebastian Kim, Director of International Content Sales and Acquisition of CJ ENM, Mr Sanmesh Thakur, Executive Vice President & Territory Head – APAC of ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited, and Mr Ziraviss Vindhanapisuth, Vice President of International Business, BEC World Public Company Ltd. "There's no better time to accelerate the global expansion of Thai dramas beyond Southeast Asian markets on all platforms. We are confident the audience will love the chemistry between our talents and culture," said Mr Vindhanapisuth.

Mr Jiang Defu, COO of Bona Film Group – who released the mainland's highest-grossing film The Battle at Lake Changjin in 2021, earning more than Rmb5.7 billion (US$819 million) at the box office – will discuss the development and future of Chinese film. Mr Hou Hong Liang, Chairman and Producer of Daylight Entertainment Co Ltd, who created famous TV series such as Nirvana in Fire and The Story of Ming Lan, will also discuss the making of quality TV content.

Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum provides filmmakers with opportunities

As Asia's most significant financing platform, the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) will run alongside FILMART and EntertainmentPulse, connecting filmmakers, investors, producers and distributors. The 21st HAF has selected 28 in-development projects (IDP) and 15 work-in-progress projects (WIP) from 350 submissions. These come from 38 countries and regions and cover a variety of genres, including comedy, horror, fantasy, romance, suspense, drama and animation. These projects will be highlighted alongside offerings from acclaimed filmmakers and producers such as Arsalan Amiri, Anthony Chen, Fruit Chan, Stanley Kwan, Teddy Robin, Lin Yu Hsien, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Nai An, Jakrawal Nilthamrong, Nader Saeivar as well as venerable festival director Marco Muller as producer. HAF will feature 22 directors making their debut and highlight 10 film projects from Hong Kong.

The 19th Entertainment Expo, Hong Kong, which started on 2 March, will continue until 16 April. It will feature eight spectacular events for film, television, music and digital entertainment, including the three founding events: The Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART), The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) and The Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony (HKFA); and five core events: ifva (Incubator for Film & Visual Media in Asia Festival), Asian Film Awards (AFA), The Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), Entertainment Pulse and Digital Entertainment Summit.

FILMART & EntertainmentPulse
Date: 13 – 16 March 2023
Website:
– FILMART: https://hktdc.com/hkfilmart
– EntertainmentPulse: https://entertainmentpulse.hktdc.com/en
– Programme: https://entertainmentpulse.hktdc.com/en/programme/programme
– Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3lcIk7Z

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries
For enquiries, please contact:
Ogilvy: Hon Man Li, Tel: +852 9638 1208, Email: honman.li@ogilvy.com

HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department
Katy Wong, Tel: +852 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org
Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Feature Film ‘Tell It Like a Woman’ Hosts Red Carpet And Screening at Los Angeles Italia Film Festival Ahead of Academy Award Nomination for Best Original Song

LOS ANGELES, CA, Mar 8, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – International movie star Jacqueline Fernandez arrived at the 18th edition of the Los Angeles Italia Film, Fashion, and Art Festival event accompanied by Hollywood Producer Andrea Iervolino. The event featured a red carpet premiere, screening and Q&A for the film Tell It Like A Woman.

Tell It Like A Woman is a feature film made up of seven short films directed by an international group of women filmmakers from Italy to Japan to the United States. Each segment is a story "about women, by women, for everyone." The cast consists of internationally renowned actresses such as Jennifer Hudson, Marcia Gay Harden, Eva Longoria, Cara Delevingne, Jaqueline Fernandez and more.

The project serves as a collaboration with We Do It Together, a non-profit film production company that advocates for gender equality, founded by producer Chiara Tilesi. The film was produced by ILBE including producers Andrea Iervolino, Chiara Tilesi, Lucas Akoskin and Monika Bacardi. The film is currently nominated for an Academy Award Nomination for Best Original Song for the song "Applause" written by Diane Warren and performed by Sofia Carson.

During the Los Angeles Italia Festival awards ceremony, which was held at the Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, Andrea Iervolino was honored with the Los Angeles Italia Excellence Award and Jacqueline Fernandez was honored with the Los Angeles Italia Humanitarian Award. The event also saw other awards going to recipients including Mike White, Sabrina Impacciatore, Ferzan Ozpetek, Maria Sole Tognazzi and Pippo Mezzapesa.

To learn more about the festival, visit https://www.losangelesitalia.com
To learn more about ILBE Group visit https://ilbegroup.com

PR Contacts:
Luca Matrundola
luca@wwps.tv

Jennifer Buonantony
Jennifer@presspassla.com

Contact Information:
Jennifer Buonantony
Publicist
jennifer@presspassla.com

SOURCE: Andrea Iervolino, Producer

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Entertainment Expo Hong Kong returns

HONG KONG, Mar 7, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The 19th Entertainment Expo Hong Kong is being held from 2 March to 16 April, showcasing the many facets of film, TV, music and digital entertainment. This year's Expo will feature eight exciting industry events during the month-long entertainment extravaganza.

Mr Leon Lai continues to serve as Hong Kong Entertainment Ambassador for the 11th year.

FILMART is Asia's largest cross-media and cross-industry entertainment content trade expo. This year's 27th edition has attracted 700 exhibitors from more than 25 countries and regions.

The ifva includes many exciting programmes, such as an exhibition "CINEMA 2.0: Illuminating Vaccum", VR Cinema, two-day conferenceon VR, and screening of films made by ethnic minority youth.

The Entertainment Expo has been held since 2005 with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council as the overall facilitator and in cooperation with different entertainment bodies. It is fully supported by the Create Hong Kong's Film Development Fund. Mr Leon Lai continues to serve as the Hong Kong Entertainment Ambassador.

The Expo's kick-off ceremony will take place on 13 March, the first day of the HKTDC Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART), at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, gathering Hong Kong and global entertainment industry heavyweights.

HKTDC Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART), 13-16 March

FILMART is Asia's largest cross-media and cross-industry entertainment content trade expo. This year's 27th edition, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), has attracted 700 exhibitors from more than 25 countries and regions. In addition to Hong Kong's major film and television companies, more than 20 pavilions from, Japan, Mainland China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Italy, the United States and more are featured at FILMART.

There will be a record-breaking number of Mainland Chinese exhibitors. Participating mainland provinces include Beijing, Fujian, Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai and more. Additionally, the three major Mainland streaming platforms iQIYI, Tencent and Youku as well as renowned content producers and distributors, such as Zhejiang Huace Film & TV, Daylight Entertainment, Fantawild, Beijing Yiding Legend Culture Co., Ltd, Linmon Media, and more, will showcase their work.

Furthermore, local filmmakers, including Edko Films, Emperor Motion Pictures, Golden Scene, Mandarin, Media Asia, One Cool Pictures, PCCW Media, Universal Films and more, will release and introduce their films.

Aside from the exhibition, FILMART features a series of events, such as press conferences, showcases, summits, seminars, market screenings and more, enabling participants from around the world to exchange ideas and build connections.

EntertainmentPulse, 13-16 March

EntertainmentPulse, the concurrent conference series of FILMART, will feature leading industry speakers who will discuss a variety of topics, including the hype behind dating and romance reality shows, application of Web3 in entertainment industry and Chinese donghua as soft power. Speakers include Jiang De Fu, COO of Bona Film Group, whose 2021 release The Battle at Lake Changjin grossed in excess of RMB 5.7 billion and became the highest grossing film in Mainland China. Other speakers include Hou Hong Liang, President and Producer of Daylight Entertainment, which curated famous drama series, such as Nirvana in Fire and The Story of Ming Lan, and Sebastian Kim, Director of International Content Sales and Acquisition, CJ ENM from Korea, who has successfully promoted tvN's popular Korean dramas, such as 25, 21 in 2022 that became a popular drama globally through online streaming.

Moreover, EntertainmentPulse also welcomes Sanmesh Thakur, Executive Vice President and Territory Head – APAC of ZEE Entertainment and Ziraviss Vindhanapisuth, Vice President of International Business from BEC World, to explore the future of the Asian entertainment market.

Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), 30 March-10 April

Founded in 1976, HKIFF is the oldest film festival in Asia and the largest cultural event in Hong Kong. This year, the festival will be held in both physical and online format, with Golden Horse and Golden Statue winner Aaron Kwok as the festival's ambassador.

To commemorate the passing of the godfather of France's New Wave cinema, Jean-Luc Godard, this year's HKIFF presents a retrospective of eight of his films with his ex-wife and muse Hanne Karin Bayer. The films include The Little Soldier (1963), on which the two collaborated for the first time, A Women Is a Women (1961), for which Hanne received the Silver Bear Award for Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival, and To Live Her Life (1962), for which Jean-Luc won the Venice Film Festival's Grand Jury Prize.

The Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA), 16 April

Entering its 41st year, the HKFA ceremony will be held at the Grand Theatre of Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Gathering the hottest actors, directors and celebrities from around the world, the event will crown winners in 19 categories, including the Professional Achievement Award and Lifetime Achievement Award.

ifva Festival, 2-11 March

Organised by the Hong Kong Arts Centre, ifva has established itself as Asia's leading force in short film, animation and media arts, providing a platform for Hong Kong and Asian creative talents to promote their work. The 28th ifva Festival kicked off on 2 March with the opening of media arts exhibition CINEMA 2.0: Illuminating Vacuum, alongside works of finalists of the ifva Awards Media Art category. Programmes include All About Us student creative film showcase, pop-up VR cinema, conversations on VR and media arts exhibition Wend a Way by Lau Ching-wa Jess. The ifva Awards winners will be announced on 11 March at the awards presentation ceremony.

Asian Film Awards (AFA), 12 March

After being held in Busan, South Korea for the past two editions, AFA returns to Hong Kong for its 16th edition, with support from Create Hong Kong and Film Development Fund at Hong Kong Palace Museum. This year, the Academy has put together a star-studded guest list of nominees and presenters. They include internationally renowned filmmakers Zhang Yimou, Kore-eda Hirokazu, Hamaguchi Ryusuke, Lav Diaz, Darezhan Omirbaev, Peter Chan and Anthony Chen; star actors Sammo Hung, Abe Hiroshi, Carina Lau, Do Do Cheng, Sandra Ng, Nishijima Hidetoshi, Park Hae-il, Suzuki Ryohei, Zhang Yi, Happy Salma, Ji Chang-wook and Chrissie Chau. The best and brightest of the Asian film industry will gather in Hong Kong to witness this grand event.

Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), 13-15 March

A major financing platform in Asia, HAF connects filmmakers, investors, producers and distributors. Many well-known industry talents have previously participated in the forum, including Jia Zhangke, Jiang Wen, Lu Chuan and Ning Hao from Mainland China, Peter Chan Ho Sun, Stanley Kwan Kam Pang, Ann Hui On Wah, Fruit Chan and Pang Ho Cheung from Hong Kong, Tsai Ming Liang, Wei Te Sheng, Chung Mong Hong and Leon Dai from Taiwan, Kore-eda Hirokazu, Kurosawa Kiyoshi, Kawase Naomi and Iwai Shunji from Japan, Park Chan Wook, Kim Jee Woon, Bong Joon Ho and Im Sang Soo from Korea, as well as Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Ekachai Uekrongtham, Nonzee Nimibutr and Pen-ek Ratanaruang from Thailand.

The 21st HAF selected 28 in-development projects (IDP) and 15 work-in-progress projects (WIP) from 350 submissions from 38 countries and regions, covering a variety of genres, including comedy, horror, fantasy, romance, suspense, drama and animation. Alongside projects from acclaimed filmmakers and producers, such as Arsalan Amiri, Anthony Chen, Fruit Chan, Stanley Kwan, Teddy Robin, Lin Yu Hsien, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Nai An, Jakrawal Nilthamrong, Nader Saeivar as well as venerable festival director Marco Muller as producer. 22 directors are making their feature debut and 10 film projects from Hong Kong are among the highlights.

Digital Entertainment Summit, 15 March

Together with the Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association, the HKTDC hosts the 13th Digital Entertainment Summit, with this year's theme being Uncovering the Application of Web3 in Entertainment Industry. Evan Auyang, Group President of Animoca Brands, Jenefer Brown, EVP and Head of Global Products & Experiences of Lionsgate, Lucas Cheung, Managing Partner of Gusto Collective, and Jaeson Ma, Co-Founder & CEO of OP3N, will share how technologies change the future of entertainment industry.

HKTDC Media Room: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en
Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3kSSCKk

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media Enquiries:

The 27th HKTDC Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART), 13 March to 16 March, http://www.hktdc.com/hkfilmart
Ogilvy PR: Hon Man Li, Tel: +852 9638 1208, Email: honman.li@ogilvy.com

HKTDC's Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Katy Wong, Tel: +852 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org
Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

The 2nd EntertainmentPulse, 13 March to 16 March, https://entertainmentpulse.hktdc.com/
Ogilvy PR: Hon Man Li, Tel: +852 9638 1208, Email: honman.li@ogilvy.com

HKTDC's Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Katy Wong, Tel: +852 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org
Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org
Clayton Lau, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

The 47th Hong Kong International Film Festival, 30 March to 10 April, http://www.hkiff.org.hk
Tel: +852 2970 3300, Email: info@hkiff.org.hk

The 41st The Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA), 16 April, https://www.hkfaa.com
Tel: +852 2367 7892, Email: hkfaa@hkfaa.com

The 28th Incubator for Film and Visual Media in Asia (IFVA), 2 March to 11 March, http://www.ifva.com
Tel: +852 2824 5329, Email: ifva@hkac.org.hk

The 16th Asian Film Awards, 12 March, https://www.afa-academy.com/
Tel: +852 3195 0607, Email: info@afa-academy.com

The 21st Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), 13 March to 16 March, https://industry.hkiff.org.hk/
Tel: +852 2970 3300, Email: haf@hkiff.org.hk

The 13th Digital Entertainment Summit, 15 March, https://www.hktdc.com/hkfilmart
Tel: +852 1830 668, Email: filmart@hktdc.org

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Axiata Joins Global Telcos to Deploy GSMA Open Gateway at MWC Barcelona 2023

BARCELONA, Mar 6, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The culmination of MWC Barcelona 2023 on 2 March saw Axiata Group Berhad positioned to take the lead in Asia in deploying GSMA Open Gateway, joining other leading telcos to herald a new wave of digital services and apps at the mobile telecommunications convention.

Representatives from Axiata Group Berhad, Axiata Enterprise and Rakuten Symphony meeting at MWC Barcelona 2023: Thomas Hundt, Group Chief Strategy & Technology Officer, Axiata (3rd-L); Dr Hans Wijayasuriya, Joint Acting Group CEO, Axiata (4th-L); Dr Gopi Kurup, CEO, Axiata Enterprise (4th-R); and Rabih Dabboussi, Chief Business Officer, Rakuten Symphony (Center).

Vikram Rao, Head of Enterprise, ASEAN, AWS; Jayanth Nagarajan, Head, Telecommunications Industry, Asia Pacific & Japan, AWS; Haris Izmee, Managing Director, ASEAN Growth Markets, AWS (Back L-R); Namal Jayathilake, Chief Technology Officer, Axiata Digital Labs; Thushera Kawdawatta, Chief Executive Officer, Axiata Digital Labs (Front L-R)

Dr Hans Wijayasuriya, Joint Acting Group CEO of Axiata (R) inks MOU with Ryu Young-sang, CEO of SKT (L) in partnership for the ifland metaverse platform.

Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, Chairman, Axiata Group Berhad (4th-L) is welcomed by Thushera Kawdawatta, Chief Executive Officer, Axiata Digital Labs (5th-R) at the Axiata Digital Labs showcase during MWC23 in Barcelona.

GSMA's Open Gateway initiative was launched on the opening day of MWC on 27 February 2023. Supported by 21 Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) globally, the framework of universal network Application Programmable Interfaces (APIs) is designed to provide universal access to operator networks for developers. The GSMA-led initiative is a federated approach to harmonise the industry around Open APIs and represents a paradigm shift in the way the telecoms industry designs and delivers services in an API economy.

At the GSMA Pavillion, Axiata showcased the Axiata Digital Concert Platform, featuring MetaStage, the Group's first ever metaverse concert powered by Axiata Digital Labs' (ADL) Axonect, and hosted by Sri Lanka's Dialog Axiata and Indonesia's XL Axiata. The immersive musical fest showcased GSMA's Open Gateway APIs for Number Verification (SMS 2FA), Device Location and Carrier Billing.

Enabling Digital Transformation

ADL, a telco-focused software and solutions provider, delivered MetaStage through its Axonect Enterprise Enabler Product Suite. This proof-of-concept showcased the suite of services available to MNOs to enhance existing services and deploy new ones to its customers. ADL's demonstration of the GSMA Open Gateway-compliant Axonect Product Suite highlighted its potential as a powerful tool for digital innovation and transformation.

This was further underscored by its collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced on 1 March 2023, whereby ADL will begin providing Axonect Product Suite running on AWS. With this collaboration, ADL will be able to provide customers with its suite of systems and tools, such as its Digital Business Support System (BSS), 5G and cloud optimized business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) platforms, and multi-domain orchestrators on AWS. ADL's customers will have access to AWS's global infrastructure and the breadth and depth of cloud capabilities.

Communication Service Providers (CSPs) will also be better supported as they embark on the transformational journey along the Telco to TechCo continuum, moving beyond traditional connectivity to platform-based products and services as part of an ecosystem, thereby reaping benefits such as improved performance, a competitive advantage in big data, and new revenue streams.

Partnership with SK Telecom for 'ifland'

At MWC Barcelona 2023, Axiata also signaled its strong interest in bringing the metaverse platform 'ifland' developed by South Korea's SK Telecom (SKT) to its markets. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two telco giants on 28 February 2023, enabling Axiata's subsidiaries the ability to develop metaverse platform business models and support AI-based opportunities that are market competitive.

The signing, represented by SKT's CEO, Ryu Young-Sang and Axiata's Joint Acting Group CEOs, Dr Hans Wijayasuriya and Vivek Sood, is part of Axiata's digital transformation and inclusivity strategy.

"As part of the Group's vision to be The Next Generation Digital Champion, we are deeply committed to leveraging emerging technologies towards the inclusive advancement of Societies and Economies across Asia," said Dr Hans Wijayasuriya, who is also Axiata's CEO of Telecommunications Business and Group Executive Vice President. "We are proud to partner with SKT and the ifland platform and consider the partnership a significant component of our participation in the metaverse going forward."

All in all, this week at Barcelona was pivotal in Axiata's journey towards becoming The Next Generation Digital Champion, putting in place the building blocks to enable the ecosystem for digital telcos to move into their new future.

About Axiata

In pursuit of its vision to be The Next Generation Digital Champion, Axiata is a diversified telecommunications and digital conglomerate operating Digital Telcos, Digital Businesses and Infrastructure businesses across a footprint spanning ASEAN and South Asia.

The Group has controlling stakes in market-leading mobile and fixed operators in the region including 'XL' and 'Link Net' in Indonesia, 'Dialog' in Sri Lanka, 'Robi' in Bangladesh, 'Smart' in Cambodia and 'Ncell' in Nepal while 'CelcomDigi' in Malaysia is a Key Associate Company. Axiata's regional digital business verticals comprise 'Boost' a fintech company, and 'ADA', a digital analytics and AI company. 'EDOTCO' is among the top 10 independent TowerCos globally, operating in nine countries to deliver telecommunications infrastructure services.

As a committed and long-term investor, the Group actively supports and drives young talent development; community outreach; as well as climate change initiatives. Axiata's broader goal of Advancing Asia aims to piece together the best in the region in terms of innovation, connectivity and talent to drive digital inclusion and sustainable progress across our markets. Find out more at www.axiata.com

Axiata Group Berhad [XKLS: 6888][RIC: AXIA:KL ][BBG: AXIATA:MK][OTC: AXXTF]

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Axiata Digital Labs (ADL) to collaborate with AWS to drive Telco Industry TechCo Evolution

COLOMBO, LK, Mar 2, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Axiata Digital Labs (ADL) has announced a collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide its cutting-edge Digital Telco services to AWS customers. The collaboration will benefit the telco industry by providing a seamless and enhanced experience with ADL's innovative Axonect Product Suite running on AWS.

Back row (L-R): Vikram Rao, Head of Enterprise, ASEAN, AWS; Jayanth Nagarajn, Head, Telecommunications Industry, Asia Pacific & Japan, AWS; Haris Izmee, Managing Director, ASEAN Growth Markets, AWS – Front row (L-R): Namal Jayathilake, Chief Technology Officer, Axiata Digital Labs; Thushera Kawdawatta, Chief Executive Officer, Axiata Digital Labs

ADL will provide customers with its suite of systems and tools, such as its Digital Business Support System (BSS), 5G and cloud optimized business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) platforms, and multi-domain orchestrators on AWS. By collaborating with AWS, ADL's customers will have access to AWS's global infrastructure and breadth and depth of cloud capabilities.

Communication Service Providers (CSPs) will also be better supported as they embark on the transformational journey along the Telco to TechCo continuum, moving beyond traditional connectivity to platform-based products and services as part of an ecosystem, thereby reaping benefits such as improved performance, competitive advantage in big data, and new revenue streams. As a result, telcos can reduce costs and resources, and provide customers with an enhanced digital experience and improved time to market for their end customers.

This collaboration marks an important milestone for ADL as it continues to innovate in the Digital Telco space and pioneer new technologies that will pave the way for telcos to become more agile, innovative, efficient, and profitable. As member of the AWS Partner Network, as well as the AWS Select Tier and AWS Solution Provider programs, ADL will continue to invest in new technologies to help telcos drive their transformation objectives.

As part of this collaboration, ADL's product suite passed the AWS Foundational Technical Review This certification, involving rigorous testing and evaluation, demonstrates that Axiata Digital Labs' innovative middleware platforms and products can seamlessly integrate with and be deployed on AWS, and conforms with AWS's cloud-native best practices and frameworks. Customers can now confidently use Axonect products to build and deploy their applications using AWS services, including Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), which provides secure, resizable compute in the cloud; Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (Amazon EKS), a managed service and certified Kubernetes conformant to run Kubernetes on AWS and on- premises; Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS), a distributed relational database service; and native security services, making them fully optimized for the cloud environment.

"We are thrilled to collaborate with AWS and help our customers bring a digital telco experience like never before to consumers," said Thushera Kawdawatta, CEO of Axiata Digital Labs. "This further solidifies our commitment to providing our customers with the best and most advanced technology solutions available on the market today. Our collaboration with AWS will enable us to leverage their expertise and technology to provide customers with the services they need to meet their changing needs and expectations."

Axiata Digital Labs launched the Axonect Product Suite as a robust, full-stack product suite that supports rapid service delivery, improves agility, accelerates partnerships, and transforms the enterprise landscape. With the added compatibility of AWS, customers will experience improved global reach, performance, scalability, and reliability.

About Axiata Digital Labs
Axiata Digital Labs (ADL) is an innovative software services and solutions provider, helping businesses globally advance in the digital era. Our convergent digital design experiences, innovative platforms and reusable assets connect numerous technologies to deliver tangible business value and experience. The technology hub of Axiata Group Bhd Malaysia, with 1300 professionals across Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, ADL helps customers in telecommunications, digital and financial services. For more information visit https://axiatadigitallabs.com.

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Axonect Enterprise Enabler powers Axiata’s first metaverse concert in Sri Lanka and Indonesia

COLOMBO, LK, Feb 27, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Axiata Digital Labs (ADL), a telco-focused software and solutions provider, is pleased to announce its Axonect Enterprise Enabler delivered Axiata Group's first-ever immersive music concert: MetaStage powered by Dialog Futureverse, designed in association with GSMA Open Gateway APIs. Hosted by Sri Lanka's Dialog Axiata and Indonesia's XL Axiata as a proof-of-concept of GSMA's Open Gateway initiative, the concert showcased the opportunity for mobile operators to enhance existing services and deploy new services to their customers.

"We are delighted to have played a key role in powering Dialog MetaStage, the first metaverse concert in Sri Lanka," said Namal Jayathilake, Chief Technology Officer, Axiata Digital Labs. "Our Axonect Enterprise Enabler platform has once again demonstrated its potential as a powerful tool for digital innovation and transformation. We look forward to working with more mobile operators to bring new and exciting services to their customers."

Axonect Enterprise Enabler is a TM Forum ODA-compliant digital transformation platform that enables mobile operators to transform into Digital Telcos by seamlessly exposing mobile operator capabilities within a consistent federated and commercial framework via universal CAMARA APIs and TM Forum Open APIs.

"We are thrilled to have partnered with Axiata Digital Labs to bring new and exciting opportunities to our customers," said Viranga Seneviratne, Senior General Manager at Ideamart, Dialog Axiata. "The success of Dialog MetaStage is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation, and we look forward to working with Axiata Digital Labs to continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the mobile industry."

"ADL's Axonect Enterprise Enabler platform has provided us with the tools we need to innovate and stay ahead of the curve in the mobile industry," said Yessie D Yosetya, Director & Chief Digital Transformation & Enterprise Business Officer, XL Axiata. "Together with ADL, we have been able to deliver a world-class concert experience to our customers, and we are excited to continue working together to develop new services and experiences that leverage the power of mobile technology."

The concert, held on February 17, featured Sri Lankan and Indonesian artists performing in front of a virtual audience (https://futureverse.dialog.lk). The Axonect Enterprise Enabler acted as the gateway for the concert orchestrating Open Gateway APIs and TM Forum APIs, enabling users from both countries to experience a customized concert.

Axiata Digital Labs will be at MWC Barcelona 2023 showcasing its Axonect Product Suite from 27 Feb to 02 March, Booth 7H17, Barcelona. Book a meeting at https://axonect.com/mobile-word-congress/.

About Axonect
Axonect is a robust, full-stack, product suite that supports rapid service delivery, improves agility, accelerates partnerships and transforms the enterprise landscape, seamlessly connecting northbound and southbound systems, allowing enterprises to be agile, digital service providers. Axonect products are built by the innovative engineering team at Axiata Digital Labs. Visit https://axonect.com.

About Axiata Digital Labs
Axiata Digital Labs (ADL) is an innovative software services and solutions provider, helping businesses globally advance in the digital era. Our convergent digital design experiences, innovative platforms and reusable assets connect numerous technologies to deliver tangible business value and experience. The technology hub of Axiata Group Bhd Malaysia, with 1300 professionals across Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, ADL helps customers in telecom, digital & financial services. Visit https://axiatadigitallabs.com.

Media Contact:
Jamien Boulton
jamien@prwiresl.com

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Web 3 streaming platform myco secures rights for HBL PSL 8 cricket coverage across MENA

DUBAI, UAE, Feb 22, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – myco (formerly known as MContent), a leading entertainment and sports streaming platform will stream the Pakistan Super League (HBL PSL Season 8) through criclife 2 on its Web 3 streaming platform in the MENA region for free, offering viewers the chance to watch the live stream of PSL matches in high quality and participate in the unique "watch and earn" mechanism that rewards them for the time they spend watching the matches.

Key Highlights:
– myco acquires the distribution rights for Pakistan Super League and will show live streams of all matches on www.myco.io
– The platform's unique watch and earn mechanism will allow cricket enthusiasts to earn rewards from watching their favorite sports content.
– The newly formed partnership with the Quetta Gladiators makes myco the first Web3 company to ever sponsor a professional cricket team in PSL

"We are excited to offer the PSL matches on our Web 3 streaming platform in the MENA region," said Umair Masoom, founder and managing partner at myco. "Our viewers will enjoy the high-quality streaming experience and the chance to earn rewards while watching the matches."

Approximately US$50,000 will be distributed amongst the viewers of HBL PSL Season 8 on myco. The matches can be streamed on www.myco.io or the app which can be downloaded from https://bit.ly/3w3BLpX.

Acquiring the streaming rights for cricket competitions like the HBL PSL is only one element of myco's strategic move into sports. The company has also recently announced its partnership with one of the leading teams in the PSL, the Quetta Gladiators which makes it the first Web3 company to ever sponsor a professional cricket team in the PSL. Additionally, myco has an original production in the works which is directed by Emmy award winning film-maker Mo Ali, which will provide viewers with a unique insight into the interesting history and future of the Quetta Gladiators team, featuring the stars of Quetta Gladiators and the founders.

"We are delighted to partner with a visionary company like myco," said Nadeem Omar, Owner of the Quetta Gladiators. "As a leading team in the PSL, we are always looking for ways to innovate and engage with our fans. We look forward to seeing what the future holds with myco as our partner."

myco's focus on user engagement and the use of Web 3 technology has allowed the company to quickly establish itself as a leading platform in the region. In December 2022, the company had a major success with the exclusive rights to stream the India tour of Bangladesh series, distributing rewards worth over US$26,000 to viewers.

The addition of the PSL to myco's Web 3 streaming platform is a significant step forward in the company's efforts to offer innovative and engaging sports content to viewers. myco's "watch and earn" mechanism, which allows viewers to accumulate rewards for the time they spend watching matches, has been a popular feature on the platform.

About myco

MContent (now myco) is a web3 video streaming platform where SVOD and AVOD capabilities have been vertically integrated in a decentralized environment. The myco platform empowers viewers and creators in a fully decentralized video eco-system with live monetization, crowdfunding, gating NFTs and fractional ownership of content.

The myco platform has almost 1.3 million registered users from across the globe with major footprint in MENA and North America, 500 leading content creator channels, and more than 100,000 user generated videos, as well as a collection of 50 myco original productions and 1000 hours of premium exclusive content. The myco platform is run through its native cryptocurrency (MContent), which is available on the BNB Smart Chain (BEP20), and is trading on multiple exchanges since 2021.

Recently myco disrupted the sports streaming space by become the first in MENA region to offer exclusive live sports in a watch&earn model with participation from 9 top UAE brands as advertising partners. myco also pioneers an elevated content experience through the creation of the Cineverse (cinema in the metaverse).

Watch it. Earn it. Own it – with myco
www.myco.io
Download now: https://bit.ly/3w3BLpX

For media enquiries please contact:
Tariq Jaser
Digital Marketing Manager
tariqj@mcontent.net

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Truescope Acquires US Firm Universal Information Services

SYDNEY, AU, Feb 1, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Australian media intelligence company, Truescope, has strengthened its position in North America by acquiring leading agency, Universal Information Services (UIS).

Todd Murphy, Truescope President, North America & John Croll, Truescope Co-founder and CEO

Founded in 2019 and now operating in Singapore, New Zealand, and North America, Truescope is experiencing rapid growth in all markets – a commercial response to the company's advanced SaaS platform, product innovation and experienced people. The acquisition of UIS will immediately welcome many hundreds of clients to the Truescope solution, with the integration of services presently underway.

UIS is led by industry authority, Todd Murphy based in Omaha, Nebraska. The competitive media intelligence agency has a rich heritage and proud reputation for its service-first approach, and as a trusted partner to businesses and communication professionals across the United States.

Truescope co-founder and CEO, John Croll, said the acquisition was a significant move to accelerate growth in the large US media intelligence market, which he believes has been underserved for some time and is ready to evolve through innovation.

"Truescope has been active in the US for almost a year and the response we have had to our platform has been overwhelmingly positive" he said. "Todd's leadership, the Universal team's decades long local expertise and loyal client base, coupled with Truescope's technology, will enable us to deliver a powerful and truly unparalleled service that will help better inform communications," said John.

Following the departure of Meg Crumbine in late 2022, Todd Murphy will take on the role of Truescope President, North America, effective immediately, with his first strategic priority being to oversee the UIS integration.

Todd is enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead for the new alliance saying, "John's vision and ability to build game-changing tech is the perfect alignment for the evolution of not only Universal's clients but the media intelligence industry, broadly. I'm thrilled to be leading the company and delivering a truly superior service never before seen," he said.

Migration of UIS clients to the Truescope platform is currently underway, with the merger of the UIS brand and business to Truescope to take place over the coming months.

For media information or to interview John Croll and/or Todd Murphy, contact:
Shelley Hammond | shelley@oneroofagency.com.au | +61 427 547 898

About Truescope
Truescope was founded in Australia to better inform communications. Our people and technology deliver real-time, actionable media intelligence and information to clients across Asia, New Zealand, and the United States. Visit www.truescope.com for more.

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

The 5th Hong Kong Public Relations Awards 2023 Set to Kick Off Soon

HONG KONG, Jan 4, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals' Association (PRPA) today announces that the 5th Hong Kong Public Relations Awards (HKPRA) will soon kick off and enrolment will open with a briefing session in January 2023.

As a flagship event for the public relations industry since its inception in 2010, HKPRA aims to recognise organisations, teams and individual public relations practitioners who have planned and executed excellent and highly effective public relations campaigns that have contributed to the organisations they serve.

Ms Agnes Hui, President, Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals Association says, "We are excited to announce that HKPRA is back since it was last held in 2018-2019. Special thanks are due to Dr John Chan, Professor Anthony Wu, Mr George Yuen and Dr Linda Tsui who have agreed to continue their leading roles in the Organizing Committee and Panel of Judges spearheading HKPRA, along with a strong line up of judges for different award categories, adding weight to the credibility and authority of HKPRA.".

HKPRA contributes to raising public awareness of the role of public relations in helping organisations achieve their goals through fostering better understanding and improving relations between organisations and their stakeholders. At the same time, HKPRA helps raise professional standards of public relations practitioners in Hong Kong and plays an important part in fostering the development of the business community, government bodies, non-government organisations and the Hong Kong community at large.

Dr John Chan, Chairman, Organising Committee of HKPRA 2022-23, said: "HKPRA has been very well received and strongly supported by the PR industry. The Awards have seen continual enhancement in the content, format and depth of the entries. Among them many demonstrated execution excellence and remarkable achievements that deserve much recognition."

"Hong Kong and its people have gone through some unprecedented challenges recently and the corporate communications function has been playing a significant role especially during the pandemic period. In view of that, we have added a new category to the Awards this time to reflect the diversity," added Dr Chan.

In addition to the "Public Relations Campaign" and "Individual" awards given in previous years to recognize industry peers, "Student" awards are added to the 5th HKPRA with a view to nurturing the next generation of public relations professionals and fostering knowledge transfer within the industry.

Stay tuned for further announcements from PRPA on the "Hong Kong Public Relations Awards".

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com