Hong Kong revving up audiovisual industry

Chinese audiovisual industry leaders on Monday lauded the ongoing partnership between Hong Kong and mainland enterprises in television drama and movie production, describing the special administrative region as an "optimal gateway" for Chinese film and TV content to reach global audiences.

The comments were made at a forum titled "Cooperation and Innovation for a New Vision" in Hong Kong, coinciding with the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market, a leading film and entertainment content marketplace.

The forum, organized by the International Cooperation Department of the National Radio and Television Administration of China, drew nearly 300 drama directors, producers and representatives from leading industry companies to discuss content innovation, shortform video drama trends and the role of artificial intelligence in audiovisual production.

Yan Ni, deputy director-general of the International Cooperation Department of the National Radio and Television Administration of China, emphasized the strengthened ties between mainland and Hong Kong industry practitioners.

She cited the amended Agreement on Trade in Services of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement that was implemented this month.

The amendment includes new liberalization measures for co-production and mainland access for Hong Kong television channels.

Yan highlighted Hong Kong's role as a cultural hub with global connectivity, making it an ideal platform for expanding China's international presence.

The success of the television drama Best Choice Ever, adapted from a novel by Hong Kong writer Nee Yeh-su, was cited as an example of successful collaboration.

Luo Yi, deputy director-general of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Radio and Television, noted the drama's positive reception and its establishment as a cross-regional intellectual property transformation benchmark.

Panel discussions focused on the global popularity of short-form drama, with episodes lasting from seconds to minutes, as a key area for Chinese practitioners to achieve breakthroughs.

You Xiao, an official from the National Radio and Television Administration, said Chinese short dramas are being recognized as a significant cultural export, comparing their prominence to US movies, South Korean reality television and Japanese animation.

Short-form dramas produced on the mainland saw approximately 100 million downloads last year, generating revenues exceeding $100 million in the global market. Authorities pledged support for all sectors to capitalize on this trend.

Experts also discussed the role of AI in expanding the global reach of Chinese cultural works.

Fu Binxing, CEO of Zhejiang Huace Film & TV, said her company developed a large language model, "Flourished Peony", that is capable of generating subtitles and dubbing in multiple languages. This allows for faster distribution of Chinese films and TV dramas in overseas markets.

Fu emphasized that AI should serve as an aide to creativity, not a replacement for human innovation, and encouraged producers to proactively use AI tools to explore high-quality creation.

wanqing@chinadailyhk.com