Filmmakers told to follow the crowd in financing bid

Independent artists and filmmakers in the region will get some new ideas about financing at a forum that opens today - and crowdfunding is in the spotlight.

Roger Garcia, executive director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, said crowdfunding would work well with the growing interest in short films, or "micro movies" as they are known on the mainland.

The society organises the annual Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), which opens today at the Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Garcia said the society had set up a partnership between HAF and Indian crowdfunding site Catapooolt.

"Micro movies are a big trend. HAF should probably look at the market for micro movies around the world," Garcia said.

Short films are gaining more attention as they are suited to portable platforms such as smartphones.