Hong Kong FilMart and the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum are serving as a crucial international sales arena where Asian film companies are unveiling diverse slates and ambitious projects. This year, entities like Malaysia’s Abnormal Studios, the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), and Thailand’s M Studio are significantly expanding their presence, emphasizing international co-production, global distribution, and the rich storytelling traditions from their respective regions.

Malaysia’s Abnormal Studios, previously known as Westec Media, is formally making its international sales debut at FilMart. Headlining its inaugural slate is “Because of You Ka Kui,” a feature documentary dedicated to Wong Ka Kui, the pivotal creative force behind Beyond, widely celebrated as the defining Canto rock band in music history. The film is produced by Yip Sai Wing, a founding member of Beyond, and Leslie Chan, the manager credited with discovering the group. Directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Rosa Pang, the documentary features intimate conversations with individuals who knew Wong personally and professionally, alongside rare concert footage, previously unreleased archival materials from his early years, and never-before-seen work.

Abnormal Studios also presents a carefully curated collection of Indonesian library titles spanning various genres, targeting platform and broadcast buyers. The horror genre offerings include Rocky Soraya’s popular “Mata Batin” franchise and three films from “The Doll” series: “The Doll” (2016), “The Doll 2” (2017), and “Sabrina” (2018), all produced by Hitmaker Studios and Soraya Intercine Films. Critically acclaimed dramas such as “5 cm” (2012) and “Tenggelamnya Kapal Van der Wijck” (2013) are also part of the lineup. Romance titles include “Eiffel… I’m in Love” (2003), its 2018 sequel, and “Sunshine Becomes You” (2015). For comedy enthusiasts, three films starring Raditya Dika— “Single” (2015), “The Guys” (2017), and “Target” (2018)—are being showcased.

In terms of new Southeast Asian features, Abnormal Studios is bringing two Malaysian productions: “Next Stop, Somewhere,” a drama by James Lee exploring loneliness and displacement, featuring veteran Hong Kong actor Anthony Wong in a lead role; and “KL Love Story,” an ensemble urban drama from director Teng Bee, set within Kuala Lumpur’s Chinese community and starring Haoren, Ms. Puiyi, Thomas Kok, Jacqueline Tiang, Tong Bing Yu, and Steve Yap. From Vietnam, Đinh Tuấn Vũ’s horror film “The Hermit Crab” follows a widower who suspects his wife’s death was not accidental.

The company also boasts a diverse Cambodian lineup. Jimmy Henderson, known for “Jailbreak” (2017), is currently in production on “What the Darkness Keeps,” an action-horror film where a vacationing couple are hunted by a mysterious creature. Other Cambodian titles include “Wedding Dress,” a story of love, resilience, and loss adapted from a Korean source and set in Phnom Penh; “The Ghost of Banana Tree,” a modern retelling of a local legend; “Far Away Close to You,” a portrait of young love by Mony Kann Darung; “Silent Murders,” a crime thriller set in Cambodia’s criminal underworld by Amit Dubey; and “Her Deadly Eyes,” a revenge horror film adapted from a popular Cambodian e-novel.

Beyond its completed projects, Abnormal Studios is actively seeking pre-sales, co-production, and financing partners for several development projects. These include “An Angel Lurks on the Streets of Kyoto,” directed by Chen Gongming, which centers on a Japanese housewife whose life changes after a lottery win; and “Thaiwan Boyz,” an eight-episode cross-cultural LGBTQ action drama set in the competitive world of Muay Thai. Two Taiwanese vertical drama series, “The Sister Who Carried Evil,” a supernatural horror, and “Summer Serendipity,” a romantic drama, round out the development slate. As a subsidiary of Westec Media, Abnormal Studios has managed over 400 titles across Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Mongolia, and Nepal since 2020, releasing approximately 100 films annually. Its distribution successes include “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” and “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In.”

Meanwhile, Taiwan is showcasing a robust lineup of film and television projects at FilMart, spearheaded by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA). This initiative highlights Taiwan’s growing commitment to international co-production and global distribution. The Taiwan Spotlight Showcase on March 18 features two prominent titles. The TV series “Addicted,” starring box office draw Yi-Han Chen alongside Harry Chang and Sam Lin, delves into various forms of addiction, covering themes from crime and social issues to coming-of-age narratives. Following this, the narrative feature “Haru and Tae,” directed by Japanese filmmaker Akira Ikeda and starring Taiwanese actors Kuan-Ting Liu and Ke-Fang Sun, uses a fantasy-driven story to explore family and generational bonds. Both projects will offer exclusive first-look materials, including never-before-seen stills and footage, with directors and main cast members present to share insights. TAICCA chair Sue Wang emphasized that TAICCA participates in projects as an investor through its Creative Content Development Program (CCDP) and Taiwan’s International Co-Funding Program 2.0 (TICP 2.0), rather than as a grantor, aiming to build market traction and attract global partners.

Taiwan maintains a strong presence at FilMart, with its pavilion hosting 106 companies and showcasing 242 titles across diverse genres, reflecting the unique voices and international ambitions of Taiwanese talent. Notable entries include “Suffocation,” Taiwan’s first single-shot horror film, selected for the 2026 Cinequest Film Festival; “I Blew Out the Candles Before Making a Wish,” which explores themes of money, family, and responsibility; and the romantic comedy “Labour of love,” examining contemporary relationships and the complexities of love and commitment. The documentary “Ripple” offers a grounded look at life in Bengbu, China, focusing on fishermen and their families rebuilding their lives on land, and was selected for the 2024 Feature-Length Documentary Program of the China Film Foundation.

Taiwan is also highlighting its international co-productions at the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF). “Mama Mia Let Me Go!” (a Hong Kong/South Korea/Taiwan co-production) has been selected for the In-Development Project (IDP) program, alongside three other works-in-progress seeking post-production funding. These efforts are geared towards gaining valuable exposure, attracting interest from international festivals, and securing wider global recognition for Taiwanese content.

Thailand’s M Studio has also made a significant announcement at FilMart, unveiling two highly anticipated new films for its 2026 line-up. “God Skin,” scheduled for an August 27 release in Thailand, is an action-fantasy film. It follows Vin, a desperate delivery rider seeking funds for his dying mother’s medical treatment, whose life takes a dangerous turn when he enters an underground arena where fighters bear mystical “God skin” tattoos. Set against the vibrant, neon-lit streets of Bangkok, the film features high-octane choreography from the renowned team behind the iconic Thai martial arts masterpiece “Ong-Bak.” Directed by Paween Purijitpanya, known for “Tomorrow and I” and “Ghost Lab,” “God Skin” stars Gee Sutthirak Subvijitra, Minnie Phantira Pipityakorn, and Jaii Itkron Pungkiatrussamee. Purijitpanya expressed his aim to create challenging, fresh content that entertains and provokes thought, hoping to elevate Thai cinema.

M Studio’s second revelation is “Exchange,” a horror-mystery directed by Chatchai Hongsirikun, slated for a November 5 release. The film centers on a Thai mother’s desperate search for her missing 18-year-old exchange student daughter in Canada. As she investigates, she uncovers an eerie mystery surrounding the host family and is compelled to confront forces that may have possessed her child. The film stars Sutthirak Subvijitra and Denise Jelilcha Kapaun. The Bangkok-based company, which produces 10-15 films annually, has become a formidable force in Thai cinema, achieving strong traction particularly in the competitive Southeast Asian market. Its 2023 release, “Death Whisperer” (aka “Tee Yod”), notably shattered Thai box office records, earning over $14 million locally.