The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) 2025 is capitalizing on the success of Ne Zha 2, the highest-grossing animated film, by expanding its animation segment. This year, HKIFF allocates over $250,000 to support 24 projects, including new works from established animators, while also focusing on emerging markets like Indonesia, which is experiencing significant growth in animation.
The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) 2025 is prominently influenced by the success of the animated feature, Ne Zha 2, which has grossed over $2 billion globally, establishing itself as the largest animated box office hit ever. This success has prompted industry stakeholders to explore further opportunities within the realm of animation.
In response, the HKIFF Industry Project Market has introduced an animation segment in its programming. Jacob Wong, head of HKIFF Industry, acknowledged that the impressive box office performance of Ne Zha 2 is fortuitous and reflects good timing for this expansion. “That success seems just to be auspicious,” he stated, optimistic about future developments in animation.
The HKIFF Industry focuses on supporting impactful projects, having previously backed award-winning films such as Living the Land and popular animations like Art College 1994 and City of Lost Things. This year, they allocate over $250,000 in cash and in-kind prizes to 24 different film projects. With about 50 submissions for the new animation section, six projects have been selected to showcase their progress, along with two seminars on animation.
One of the anticipated submissions is A Mighty Adventure by animator Toe Yeun, known for My Life as McDull. This animated feature tells the tale of three insects on a quest to shape their destinies. Wong is keen on leveraging the burgeoning animation market in China, which generates approximately $22 billion annually, as well as the emerging animation landscape in Indonesia, projected to reach around $6.6 billion by 2026.
Wong highlighted Indonesia’s potential as a growing animation hub, particularly its appeal in children’s content, stating, “Indonesia is also a major country in Southeast Asia producing animation, especially animation for children, which is a big moneymaker.” Collaboration with Jakarta Film Week aims to foster connections between Indonesian projects and international filmmakers attending Filmart.
In conclusion, the HKIFF is strategically expanding into animation in light of the phenomenal success of Ne Zha 2. This initiative reflects a broader trend of growth in the animation sector, particularly in China and emerging markets like Indonesia. The expansion aims to foster collaboration and enhance the visibility of animated projects in the international film landscape, paving the way for future developments in this vibrant industry.
Original Source: www.hollywoodreporter.com
