In a significant boost to the audiovisual sector, Chinese industry leaders have praised the flourishing partnership between Hong Kong and mainland enterprises in television and film production. At a recent forum titled "Cooperation and Innovation for a New Vision," held amidst the bustling Hong Kong International Film and TV Market, experts described Hong Kong as the "optimal gateway" for Chinese film and television content aimed at international audiences.

The forum, organized by the International Cooperation Department of the National Radio and Television Administration of China, attracted nearly 300 attendees, including drama directors, producers, and executives from leading companies. Deliberations focused on key industry themes such as content innovation, the rising trend of short-form video dramas, and the transformative role of artificial intelligence in production.

Yan Ni, deputy director-general of the International Cooperation Department, underscored the strengthening collaboration between Hong Kong and mainland industry stakeholders. Recent amendments to the Agreement on Trade in Services, part of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, further facilitate co-production efforts and enhance accessibility for Hong Kong television channels into the mainland market.

Yan highlighted Hong Kong's status as a cultural hub with robust global connectivity, positioning it as a crucial platform for expanding China's reach on the international stage. An emblematic achievement of this collaboration is the television drama "Best Choice Ever," based on a novel by Hong Kong author Nee Yeh-su. The show has garnered positive acclaim, serving as a benchmark for successful cross-regional intellectual property transformation.

In discussions about emerging trends, Luo Yi, deputy director-general of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Radio and Television, referenced the global upsurge in the popularity of short-form dramas, which can span mere seconds or minutes. You Xiao from the National Radio and Television Administration remarked on how Chinese short dramas are becoming a significant cultural export, much like well-known American films, South Korean reality shows, and Japanese anime.

Last year alone, short-form dramas produced on the mainland witnessed around 100 million downloads, generating over $100 million in revenue within the global market. Authorities committed to providing support across all sectors to leverage this emerging trend.

A notable point of discussion was the role of artificial intelligence in broadening the global reach of Chinese cultural outputs. Fu Binxing, CEO of Zhejiang Huace Film & TV, introduced her company’s innovative large language model, "Flourished Peony," designed to generate subtitles and dubbing in multiple languages. This technological advancement significantly expedites the distribution process for Chinese films and dramas in overseas markets.

Fu stressed the importance of AI as a tool to assist creativity rather than replace it, urging producers to capitalize on AI-driven opportunities for producing high-quality content. With such strides being made, the future of Hong Kong's audiovisual industry looks poised for remarkable growth and innovation on the global stage.

Stay tuned as this dynamic sector continues to evolve!