This year's Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (Filmart) will host two new thematic pavilions - TV World and Locations World - as part of its drive to become the leading cross-media trading platform in the region.

Almost 40 companies, from the US, Europe, Asia Pacific and other regions, are expected to attend Locations World. Co-organised by the Hong Kong government's Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority, the showcase will also promote Hong Kong as an international shooting location.

TV World will feature 54 companies from 12 countries including Spain 's Filmax International, Korea 's MBC and large delegations from China and Hong Kong.

Filmart organisers, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC), also announced that this year's closing ceremony will feature the charity premiere screening of animated feature Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, produced by Hong Kong's Imagi International Holdings.

The event will also feature the world premiere of Japanese feature Shindo and the Hong Kong premiere of Luc Besson's Arthur And The Minimoys, along with around 150 industry screenings.

TDC assistant executive director Raymond Yip said the market would be 'bigger than ever' this year with new companies and countries participating. The organisers are expecting a 10% increase in exhibitors to around 450 in addition to 4,000 buyers and other visitors.

For the third time, Filmart will be held as part of Entertainment Expo, a combination of eight film and media-related events which runs from March 20 - April 15. Three events - Filmart, co-production market HAF and the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) - all kick off on March 20 while the Expo runs until the Hong Kong Film Awards gala on April 15.

The inaugural Asian Film Awards, organised by the HKIF, will also be held on the evening of March 20.

As the market is growing, the Hong Kong Music Fair, which was part of Filmart last year, will move onto another floor of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre and be held as a separate event under Entertainment Expo.

Yip also said that many events will be open to the public for the first time this year as Expo seeks to create synergies with Hong Kong 's tourism sector.

Full list of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong events:

Hong Kong FILMART (March 20-23)

Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (March 20-22)

Hong Kong International Film Festival (March 20 - April 11)

Hong Kong Film Awards (April 15)

Hong Kong Music Fair (March 21-23)

Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum (March 21)

IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award (March 22)

Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards (March 16-25)

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