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The Communiqué News

HKTDC’s Ruzbeh Mistry Reveals Big Opportunities Ahead of Filmart 2026


Swati Bhat

A/V Courtesy: Pritish Bagdi CLICK ON IMAGE TO VIEW THE INTERVIEW

In an exclusive, wide-ranging conversation with Swati Bhat, Editor-in-Chief of The Communique News, Mr. Ruzbeh Mistry, Executive Head – South Asia at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), shed light on Hong Kong’s rapidly growing collaboration with India’s dynamic film and content ecosystem.

From bold new opportunities in co-production and content distribution to the rise of animation, AI, and regional cinema, the interview offered a definitive preview of what the industry can expect from Filmart 2026, Asia’s leading film and entertainment marketplace.

Strengthening India–Hong Kong Film Cooperation

Mr. Mistry emphasized HKTDC’s strategic focus on India — one of the world’s fastest-growing entertainment markets — and highlighted why Hong Kong is emerging as a preferred business gateway for Indian producers, studios, and OTT platforms.

This year, HKTDC’s active presence at NFDC’s Film Bazaar is part of a larger push to expand bilateral collaboration.

Well-established Indian industry leaders such as Zee TV and Ultra are already regular participants at Filmart, leveraging Hong Kong’s global networking advantage.


Why HKTDC Filmart Matters for Indian Filmmakers & Media Companies?

Filmart is uniquely positioned to offer India direct access to global markets through:

*Co-production alliances with Asian and European partners

*Distribution deals for films, OTT content, and regional-language titles

*Networking with international sales agents & festival programmers

*Exhibitor opportunities for Indian streaming platforms and studios

*Panels, masterclasses, and pitching forums curated for content creators

For Indian exhibitors, the Hong Kong marketplace has consistently generated business outcomes ranging from licensing deals to high-value international collaborations.




The INOX venue buzzed with the energy of India's folk traditions. Artists from across the nation, showcased by the Central Bureau of Communication's troupes, captivated audiences with traditional dances, regional songs, and vibrant storytelling, celebrating India's heart and heritage.

The Thadiya folk dance and song from Garhwal, Uttarakhand, brings the Himalayan spirit to IFFI 2025, performed soulfully by CBC PRTs.

The CBC PRTs' performance of Assam's captivating Bhortal dance enthrals the audience at IFFI 2025.

The vibrant Sambalpuri folk dance of Odisha highlights the state's rich rhythmic heritage.

Jajhiya folk dance performance from the Mithila region of Bihar by CBC PRTs at IFFI 2025

The SINHTOO DANCE of the Hatti Tribe in Sirmour District, Himachal Pradesh, vibrantly showcases tribal culture and energy.

The Gussadi-Tribal dance of Telangana captivates with its intricate steps, traditional attire, and raw cultural energy.

A lively Dogri dance from Jammu showcases the region's cultural melodies and joyful spirit at IFFI 2025.

A beautiful Raas Folk Dance by People's Action for Social Development, Daman and Diu, celebrating unity through rhythm.

The spectacular Addukke Karagattam, a traditional Tamil Nadu folk dance requiring immense skill and grace, thrills the IFFI 2025 audience.





The Exhibition is pleased to present two new digital companions: Spatial Intelligens, developed by sub, a transdisciplinary architecture and design studio led by Niklas Bildstein Zaar, and In Other Words, produced by VOLUME, one of the featured participants.


Pritish Bagdi

Artificial Intelligence at the Forefront of Biennale Architettura 2025

Artificial intelligence takes center stage at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective, curated by Carlo Ratti and organized by La Biennale di Venezia. Open until November 23, 2025, it features a GENS Public Programme and introduces two new digital companions. Spatial Intelligens, developed by sub, and In Other Words, by VOLUME, extend the curatorial theme, inviting visitors to explore architectural ideas and question knowledge organization within cultural institutions.

Artificial Intelligence at Work AI has been used for summarizing texts, generating captions, and assisting with wayfinding. These tools transition from logistical support to public engagement, making the Exhibition a responsive system.

“The Biennale becomes a living lab,” says Carlo Ratti, “a place for asking new questions”.

SUB’s Spatial Intelligens

Spatial Intelligens, an AI-powered digital twin by sub, enhances the Exhibition with personalized visitor interactions and a conversational AI. Accessible via mobile devices, it provides a personalized journey map, transforming individual experiences into collective architectural understanding.

Niklas Bildstein Zaar, sub: “This project redefines exhibitions, showcasing architecture in a living dialogue. Spatial Intelligens embodies the Biennale’s spirit: architecture as a living, evolving system.”

VOLUME - Ultimate Biennale Companion: In Other Words...

In Other Words, part of VOLUME’s Bursting Bubbles initiative, uses AI to mediate between expert discourse and cultural engagement. It offers an AI-generated audio guide with diverse perspectives, creating a polyphonic reading of the Biennale. Available as a podcast on Spotify, it also includes reimagined Venetian souvenirs questioning symbol circulation.

Stephan Petermann, VOLUME editor: “This experiment explores AI’s impact on storytelling, challenging archetypal writing in design exhibitions.”

La Biennale as a living laboratory

Both tools are part of a broader experimental ecology at the Biennale Architettura 2025, emphasizing knowledge production and infrastructural imagination. Ratti notes, “The use of AI invites rethinking authorship and collaboration, addressing architecture’s future in an age of algorithmic mediation.”





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