Mainland offers Hong Kong’s film industry a chance for a brighter future
The golden age of the city’s movie-making is now a distant memory. But the strength of the industry on the mainland offers Hong Kong opportunities it must grasp if there is any chance of a resurgence
The Hong Kong International Film Festival begins this week, featuring more than 230 films from 60 countries, a draw for the city’s movie buffs. But it comes when Hong Kong’s own film industry, known in its heyday as the Hollywood of the Far East, faces challenging times.
A prolonged decline from the early 1990s has made the golden age of Hong Kong cinema a distant memory. It has gone from producing 400 films a year to about 60 in more recent times.
The glory days when Hong Kong films and their local stars featured prominently at the world’s top festivals are no more. Meanwhile, the mainland movie industry is booming.
Various factors have contributed to the decline. There are fewer cinemas in Hong Kong than in the early 1990s. The tastes of cinema-goers have changed, with home-grown movies being overshadowed by more popular Hollywood blockbusters. The widespread availability of pirated versions of films has also had an impact.
The rapid rise of the mainland’s film industry, with spectacular growth in box office receipts, has seen Hong Kong talent head across the border. The strength of the industry on the mainland, however, offers the city’s film industry opportunities it must grasp.
These will be discussed next week at the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market, organised by the Trade Development Council.