In 2026, the conversation about artificial intelligence in film has split along geographic lines. While Hollywood remains locked in debates over the technology's use, Asia's entertainment industry is moving forward, a shift made starkly clear at this year's Hong Kong Filmart.

The event, which runs from March 17-20, features 28 separate talks dedicated to AI. Topics range from screenwriting and animation to full product demonstrations, with only a single session addressing copyright risks. The programming marks a decisive turn. Where once top executives from Hollywood and Chinese studios dominated the schedule, geopolitical tensions have left a void. Organizers have filled it with the tools they believe will drive—or disrupt—the next chapter of growth.

"AI is transforming production and reshaping storytelling," says Candas Yeung of the HKTDC, which runs Filmart. "A significant majority of movies now use some form of this technology. We want to promote its adoption and connect creators with technologists."

The exhibitor list underscores the focus. Major U.S. studios are largely absent, save for Warner Bros. Discovery. In their place are tech firms like Google, Alibaba, and a prominent showcase for Chinese AI startups such as Kling AI. Launched by Kuaishou in 2024, Kling has grown rapidly, claiming over 60 million creators by the end of 2025. It has already been used on professional productions like the drama *Swords Into Plowshares*, where it slashed pre-visualization timelines for complex scenes.

Anxiety exists, reflected in films like Park Chan-wook's dystopian *No Other Choice* (2025). But without the strong unions seen in Hollywood, Asia's film sector is being shaped more by market enthusiasm and technological pragmatism than by negotiated safeguards. The direction is set: at Filmart, the future is already rendering.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter