MGTO, IC and Macao industry delegates at Macao Pavilion
Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) mark their joint presence at the 20th Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) with the first Macao Pavilion set up in the event. The two offices also led a delegation of film and television industry partners from Macao to take part in FILMART. The 20th edition of FILMART is currently held in Hong Kong from 14 March until 17 March. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Chief of Department for the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries of IC, Frankie Ho, Head of Destination Marketing Department of MGTO, Betty Fok, and Acting Head of Tourism Product and Events Department of MGTO, Jennifer Si Tou, attended the Joint Cocktail Reception for the 20th Anniversary of FILMART & the 40th Anniversary of Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) today (14 March). The reception was officiated by John Tsang Chun-wah, Financial Secretary of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Macao delegates and industry professionals of Hong Kong updated each other on the current situation and development trends of the film and television industry in Hong Kong and Macao. Macao Pavilion debuts in FILMART MGTO and IC have teamed up to run the first Macao Pavilion in FILMART, which occupies an area of 72 square meters in the event. The two offices have also invited 12 entities from the local film and television industry to introduce their business in the Pavilion, with chances to meet up with worldwide industry professionals to exchange news and explore partnership opportunities. The joint promotion is rolled out not only to raise the standard of local movie and television production, but also to steer local industry development towards the international market. Local film and television entities joining FILMART this year include Salon Multimedia Macau Limited, Macau Film Limited, Aomen TV Limited, Pride Entertainment Productions Co. Limited, Day Day Studio Company Limited, Chessman Entertainment Production Co. Limited, Pontus Maximus Productions, Moon Culture, Maisoriente Consulting Limited, Efficient Productions (Macao) Co., Limited, Cinematheque – Macau Cultural and Cinematographic Association as well as Macau Films & Television Productions and Culture Association. Film and television production enhances tourism development MGTO has always been a supporter to local cultural and creative industry while IC actively promotes local industry development. The two offices have partnered with each other in different projects to foster local tourism development through combination of cultural and tourism elements for a stronger synergistic effect, in line with the SAR Government’s endeavor to promote industry diversification. In recent years, film and television crews have come from Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, the United States and other places to Macao for film or TV drama shooting. Audiences around the world can appreciate the city’s glamour through their camera angles, which have given wider publicity to Macao. Their far-reaching promotional effects have drawn more visitors to Macao for a first-hand experience of the movie scenes. They have also built up Macao’s positive image and international profile. Last year, certain scenes of different Hollywood and Greater China movies were filmed in Macao. Some of the movies even unfold their storyline in the city, proving the growing attention Macao has received internationally. IC also encourages local industry development by granting subsidies for local film shooting, cultivating local talent for the growing market as well as supporting local film and television production entities to develop their business. The film and television industry creates a strong momentum for local tourism development and effectively builds up a destination’s colorful image. As great examples, widely-acclaimed Hong Kong movies and the booming film and television industry in Korea have both created a positive impact on travel and tourism in Hong Kong and Korea by driving local tourism growths and raising their destination profile. MGTO and IC will continue their partnership to support cultural industry development and promote the city via film and television production, capitalizing on the cultural industry to enhance tourism development for Macao’s long-term benefits. To further the promotion, MGTO has invited a delegation of local media to inspect FILMART and visit the Macao Pavilion tomorrow (15 March). The Office is also hosting a media reception to exchange news with industry professionals and media from Hong Kong and Macao on the current situation and future prospect of the film and television industry, as well as its impact and momentum on tourism.
