Talents in creative industries from Asia and across the world will gather in Hong Kong next month to join the region's leading entertainment event that covers film, television, music and highlights digital entertainment this year, the organizer said on Tuesday.

Hong Kong Entertainment Expo 2010, organized by Hong Kong Trade Development Council, will run for nearly a month, beginning from March 22 and closing on April 18.

"We hope Entertainment Expo Hong Kong will become the most important entertainment event in Asia," said Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong government Gregory So at a press conference.

As Hong Kong Entertainment Ambassador, local actor Tony Leung said that Hong Kong's entertainment industry is diversified and of huge potential.

"The expo has made a great success over the past several years, and provided the industries with great opportunities in promotion, funding, and talents cultivation," said Leung, adding that the public's involvement is crucial for the expo.

The multimedia extravaganza will bring together nine feature events, including the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market ( FILMART), Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony, Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum (DELF), Hong Kong Music Fair (HKMF), IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award, and the Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards.

More than 500 exhibitors from over 20 countries and regions will take part in this year's FILMART during March 22 to 25, which will feature over 250 film screenings and 60 seminars and networking sessions.

The HKIFF, to be held from March 21 to April 6, will screen over 200 movies from 50 countries and regions. The film festival last year attracted more than 580,000 people from all over the world.

World-class creative industry leaders and Asian talents will also gather in the city to share their expertise, experience and insights on the upcoming trends in the global digital entertainment/media market.

The seventh Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum (DELF), organized by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, will be held on March 23 with the theme "Seeing 2020: The Next Wave of Digital Creativity", as an effort to link up Hong Kong's digital creativity with the global digital content industry.

This year's forum will explore the factors and forces that will influence the shape and future of digital content and media entertainment over the next 10 years, and what entrepreneurs and businesses in the creative industries can do to sustain their success and business growth through the transforming waves of digital media.

"We hope that DELF 2010 will be able to provide more insights for Hong Kong's digital entertainment and digital media practitioners, and make Hong Kong an exemplar and globally successful center for creative innovations in the industry," said Mark O. Clift, Chief Operating Officer of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited.

Five-time Oscar award winner Richard Taylor, the CEO of Weta Workshop Ltd and co-owner of the Weta companies, who contributed to James Cameron's box-office blockbuster "Avatar" in visual effects, costumes, props and weapons, will share his outlook on the future of digital entertainment and media.

A series of programs, seminars and workshops on 3D film will also be held at FILMART this year.

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