DUBAI, UAE, June 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, launched the second report in its 2026 Future of Finance series.
The Changing Face of Banking: Building Resilience Through Change report underscores that resilience, rather than size or legacy, will define long-term success for banks navigating disruption. It examines how global banks must adapt their operating models to absorb disruption, evolve, and remain resilient amid AI, digital-native challengers, and shifting global demand.
Built on AI-driven, cloud first and asset light models, challenger banks are setting new standards for speed, personalisation and cost efficiency, exposing the limitations of traditional operating models. Their rapid growth pressurises established institutions to innovate faster to remain competitive. Without decisive transformation, industry profit pools could fall by USD 170bn by 2030, pushing many institutions below their cost of capital.
H.E Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer at DIFC Authority, commented: "As the global banking industry undergoes its most significant transformation in nearly two decades, institutions must embrace innovation, resilience and adaptability to thrive in a rapidly evolving financial landscape shaped by AI, digital assets and shifting global markets. In Dubai and DIFC, we are committed to enabling this transformation through a future-focused ecosystem that connects global institutions to high-growth opportunities across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, while supporting banks in building the agility and resilience needed for the future."
The report identifies that banks moving early and decisively will not only defend profitability but unlock new client groups, new regions and frontier asset classes. In doing so, they position themselves to capture a larger share of global finance.
As a bridge between the East and the West, Dubai's geographical location enables banks to connect emerging FinTech innovation with global capital and reach high growth markets across Asia, the Gulf and Africa.
Banks are likely to use jurisdictions with supportive regulation to pilot new services and test model accuracy and governance in controlled environments before scaling regionally. As the world's first AI-native financial centre, DIFC is integrating intelligence into regulatory processes and market infrastructure, enabling firms to build, test and scale AI-driven financial services.
The report reveals entrepreneurs, family offices, and women represent influential banking clients whose distinct and evolving financial needs remain underserved.
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DIFC Future of Finance Report: Digital native, AI driven challenger banks redefining banking models, signalling industry's biggest shift since 2008
Officially Launched to Foster Cross-sector Collaboration, Nurture Creative Talent and Drive the Sustainable Development of Hong Kong's Creative Industries
HONG KONG, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Microfilm Production Support Scheme (Music) ("Support Scheme"), organised by the Hong Kong Association of Interactive Marketing (AIM) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), officially launches its 14th edition today with the Matching Session and Kick-off Ceremony held at the InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong. Miss Yvonne IP, Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, officiates as Guest of Honour, together with Mr. Francis FONG, Chairman of AIM, and Mr. Ricky FUNG, BBS, CEO of IFPI (Hong Kong Group) Limited, marking the commencement of this year's Support Scheme.
The Support Scheme has long promoted cross-sector collaboration among Hong Kong's advertising production, film and television, and music industries. Through production funding and professional training, the Scheme encourages local creative talent to produce original and story-driven microfilms, nurtures the next generation of creative professionals, and contributes to the sustainable development of Hong Kong's creative industries. Over the years, the Scheme has continued to support emerging talent in advertising, film and music, encouraging innovative forms of creative expression through cross-disciplinary collaboration and injecting new momentum into Hong Kong's creative ecosystem.
Funding and Professional Training to Support Creative Talent Development
The 14th Support Scheme consists of two funding categories: Tier 1 "Advertising Production Start-ups" and Tier 2 "Professional Advertising Production Houses". For Tier 1, ten start-up advertising production companies participate in this year's Scheme. During today's ceremony, the teams are paired with singers by drawing lots, forming ten creative partnerships. Each team will receive funding of up to HK$130,000 to produce a 4 to 8-minute original microfilm. For Tier 2, five self-formed teams comprising directors, scriptwriters, singers and advertising production companies are introduced at the ceremony. Each team is eligible for funding of up to HK$240,000 to create a 12 to 16-minute original microfilm.
Beyond financial support, the Scheme provides a comprehensive range of professional training and mentoring opportunities. Industry veterans and experts will be invited to offer guidance on scriptwriting, directing, production management and post-production techniques, helping participating teams enhance both the quality of their works and their overall creative capabilities.
Promoting Original Productions and Expanding Industry Exposure
Completed microfilms will be showcased through a variety of channels, including FILMART 2027, local television stations, online platforms, social media channels, the Scheme's official website and related promotional activities. These efforts aim to increase public and industry exposure to Hong Kong's original creative content while demonstrating the strength and potential of local creative talent.
The organiser stated that the Support Scheme has, over the years, provided a valuable platform for advertising production companies, directors and music creators to collaborate and exchange ideas. Through supporting the creation of more original works, the Scheme aims to nurture emerging creative talent, strengthen collaboration among the advertising, film and music sectors, and further enrich Hong Kong's creative industry ecosystem.
Following today's Kick-off Ceremony, the selected teams will begin pre-production and filming. The completed microfilms are expected to premiere online in January 2027 and will subsequently be showcased to industry professionals and audiences during FILMART 2027.
Awards to Recognise Excellence and Encourage International Exposure
To recognise creative excellence, the Support Scheme will present a series of awards, including:
- Best Microfilm Production Award (Gold, Silver and Bronze)
- Best Microfilm Actor Award (Gold, Silver and Bronze)
- Best Microfilm Actress Award (Gold, Silver and Bronze)
- Best Microfilm Scriptwriting Award
- Best Microfilm Cinematography Award
- Best Microfilm Art Direction Award
- Most Popular Microfilm Award (selected through public voting)
Outstanding works and teams may also be recommended to participate in international microfilm and short-film competitions, helping expand their international exposure and creating further development opportunities.
The advertising production companies, directors and singers participating in the two tiers of the 14th Support Scheme are listed below:
Tier 1 "Advertising Production Start-ups"
(In alphabetical order of the advertising production companies' English names)
| | Advertising Production Start-ups and Directors | Singers and TheirRecord Labels |
| 1 | CADO FILM LIMITED Director: Fan Ka Chun, Ng Kwan Hei | Mini Chan Company: Galac Limited |
| 2 | CITYFILM Director: Li Yiu Chu | ALITZ Company: Ksound Union Limited |
| 3 | FIRST CUT PRODUCTION LIMITED Director: Chan Tsz Hong | JESS Law Company: Song Entertainment Limited |
| 4 | ICHIBANHK Limited Director: Lai Chun Hei | Connie Hau Company: TVB Music Group Limited |
| 5 | Kolak Production Limited Director: Au Yeung Chun Ho | Kaka Wan Company: Longitude Production Limited |
| 6 | ONLY HUMAN STUDIO Director: Wong Wing Chi Nicole | K!RZ Company: JL Music |
| 7 | SHADOWPLAY Director: Ng Hin Lam Allan | Melonyea Company: Improvisation Limited |
| 8 | Ten Point Creative Co Director: Yuen Wai Ho | CHANGOR
Company: Mic Production Limited |
| 9 | Westudio Director: Poon Ka Fai | The Lemon Ones Company: Swans Production Hong Kong |
| 10 | 96 Good Boy Workshop Director: Simon On | Winky Wong
Company: Winky Wongky Production |
Advertising Production Start-ups and Directors
Singers and TheirRecord Labels
1
CADO FILM LIMITED
Director: Fan Ka Chun, Ng Kwan Hei
Mini Chan
Company: Galac Limited
2
CITYFILM
Director: Li Yiu Chu
ALITZ
Company: Ksound Union Limited
3
FIRST CUT PRODUCTION LIMITED
Director: Chan Tsz Hong
JESS Law
Company: Song Entertainment Limited
4
ICHIBANHK Limited
Director: Lai Chun Hei
Connie Hau
Company: TVB Music Group Limited
5
Kolak Production Limited
Director: Au Yeung Chun Ho
Kaka Wan
Company: Longitude Production Limited
6
ONLY HUMAN STUDIO
Director: Wong Wing Chi Nicole
K!RZ
Company: JL Music
7
SHADOWPLAY
Director: Ng Hin Lam Allan
Melonyea
Company: Improvisation Limited
8
Ten Point Creative Co
Director: Yuen Wai Ho
CHANGOR
Company: Mic Production Limited
9
Westudio
Director: Poon Ka Fai
The Lemon Ones
Company: Swans Production Hong Kong
10
96 Good Boy Workshop
Director: Simon On
Winky Wong
Company: Winky Wongky Production
Tier 2 "Professional Advertising Production Houses"
(In alphabetical order of the advertising production companies' English names)
| | Company Names | Directors | Singers | Singers' Record Labels |
| 1 | After Life Production Co | Leung Kam Fai | WINKA @COLLAR | MUSIC NATION ARTISTS MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED |
| 2 | Good Good Creative | Lee Hui Kiu | Ng Yip Kwan | KENKONMUSIC LIMITED |
| 3 | Rockship Studios Limited | Put Chung Ho | Alan Po | The Motion Sound Music Co. |
| 4 | TOPPEST PRODUCTIONS CO. | Ma Man Kin | Andy Lin | Now Music Entertainment Limited |
| 5 | YYYuen Production Limited | Tsang Chun Yuen | Ngai Tsun Sang Jeffrey | BTBAS Entertainment Limited |
Company Names
Directors
Singers
Singers'
Record Labels
1
After Life Production Co
Leung Kam Fai
WINKA
@COLLAR
MUSIC NATION
ARTISTS
MANAGEMENT
COMPANY
LIMITED
2
Good Good Creative
Lee Hui Kiu
Ng Yip Kwan
KENKONMUSIC
LIMITED
3
Rockship Studios Limited
Put Chung Ho
Alan Po
The Motion
Sound Music Co.
4
TOPPEST PRODUCTIONS CO.
Ma Man Kin
Andy Lin
Now Music
Entertainment
Limited
5
YYYuen Production
Limited
Tsang Chun Yuen
Ngai Tsun Sang
Jeffrey
BTBAS
Entertainment
Limited
For more information about the 14th Microfilm Production Support Scheme (Music), please visit: https://www.microfilm-music.hk
Organiser: Hong Kong Association of Interactive Marketing (AIM)
Lead Sponsor: Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee. |
Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
The 14th Microfilm Production Support Scheme (Music) Matching Session and Kick-off Ceremony Commences
