Panelists include novelist Chetan Bhagat [pictured] and literary agent Marysia Juszczakiewicz.

Top Indian novelist Chetan Bhagat is among the speakers at Filmart’s conference Book-To-Screen Projects In Today’s Box Office Hits, to be held Tuesday [March 19] from 10am to noon at Stage, Hall 1 of the HKCEC.

Chetan’s bestselling novels include Five Point Someone, One Night @ The Call Center, 2States and Revolution 2020.

The other speakers are Marysia Juszczakiewicz, founder of Hong Kong-based Peony Literary Agency, who has worked with adaptations including The Flowers of War; Stu Levy, president of manga specialists TokyoPop and also a director and producer; and Michael Tolkin, the US filmmaker and novelist best known for The Player.

The focus will be on opportunities for book-to-film adaptations for the Asian market; topics of discussion will include trends in what books and comics are being adapted successfully, what producers and directors need to know about optioning literary material, crossover marketing of books and films, how the author fits into the filmmaking process, and what Asian producers can learn from successful Western books adapted into films.

Screen International editor Wendy Mitchell will moderate the discussion, which has been organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

The conference includes a panel discussion followed by audience Q&A.

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