As Filmart reached the half-way point on Tuesday, sellers were reporting that the market was relatively busy but much more Asia-focused than in previous years.

'We've been quite busy but most of our meetings have been with Asian buyers - there are fewer companies from the US and Europe and substantially less from Japan,' said Distribution Workshop co-founder Jeffrey Chan.

Indeed, most of the sales reported by Tuesday afternoon were to Asian territories - with South-East Asia the most active. Universe Films Distribution had sold the Pang Brothers' The Child's Eye In 3D to Scorpio East for Singapore and Malaysia; The Storm Warriors to PT Parkit Films for India and the Philippines, and City On Alert to PT Parkit for Singapore and Malaysia.

'It's quiet compared to last year,' said Universe's Alvin Lam. 'There have been some new buyers from territories like Indian and Vietnam, but definitely fewer from the US and Europe.'

Diminishing US and European attendance surprised no-one as the global downturn continues to bite, but sellers said they expected to see more Japanese buyers who didn't have so far to travel.

As in previous years, the market was used as a launchpad for high-profile Chinese films. Teddy Chen's Bodyguards And Assassins, Jeff Lau's Kungfu Cyborg and Tsao Rui-yuan's sequel to Eat Drink Man Woman were all announced at splashy press conferences over the first two days.

While the emphasis on Chinese product and growing number of Chinese visitors highlighted the strength of the mainland market, it also made Filmart feel like less of an international event. Meanwhile the Chinese sellers said the market was quieter than last year, but that they'd still done enough business to justify the trip.

'This year's market is cost-effective for us,' said Zhou Tiedong, general manager of China Film Promotion International, which headed a delegation of 43 Chinese exhibitors.

India's BB Cinema acquired all rights to Beijing Forbidden City & Trinity Pictures' disaster movie Super Typhoon, and Zhou said he expected Chinese sellers to close around ten deals during the market.

Ata closingpress conference on Thursday (March 26), Filmart organisers the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) said the overall number of buyers hadsurpassed last year's 4,196 by the third day of the event.However, TDC assistant executive director Benjamin Chau acknowledged that there had been fewer US andEuropean visitors.

'We have to work harder to bring in quality buyers,' said Chau.'US and European companies want to use Filmart to sell to Asia, and also Asian companies want to sell to Western markets, so we have to diversify our efforts.'

Sen-lun Yu contributed to this report

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