14 Feb – Previously, we reported that Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) is postponing its 2020 edition, now the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKDTC) has confirmed the new dates. Originally meant to be held for four days from 25 to 28 March 2020, the 24th edition of the largest film and TV trade fair in Asia will now only be held for three days from 27 to 29 August 2020.
As for the 44th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF44), while it was previously reported that it will be held as planned from 24 March to 6 April 2020, the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) has just revealed that the film festival will have to be postponed. The Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), usually held in conjunction with HKIFF, will also be rescheduled. HKIFFS executive director Albert Lee said, "The HKIFFS' two flagship events, both scheduled to start in less than six weeks, will be postponed to the summer of 2020. However, the April/May edition of the year-round Cine Fan repertory program has been cancelled (outright)." Meanwhile, HAF director Jacob Wong said that there are plans to hold the forum during FILMART this August, though added that "HAF Goes to Cannes" that will be held at this May's Cannes Film Festival will go ahead as planned. To date, there are 48,000 cases of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection and 1,350 deaths reported in China. The outbreak has spread to more than 20 countries, with one death reported in the Philippines and one death out of the 51 confirmed cases in Hong Kong.