Strong Connection with Asian Film Makers continue to Flourish

Film Auckland and New Zealand film makers continue to make strong inroads into the Asia film market. Following up on a flurry of activity, including a trade delegation to China and Korea in June; and a reciprocal delegation of Chinese and Korean film makers in August, Film Auckland attended the 2nd annual Asia-Pacific Producers Network in Incheon, Korea on the 3rd of October. The APN was attended by Producers from seven nations (China, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and New Zealand), Melissa Lee was elected a director of the Board of APN to represent New Zealand.

Melissa Lee, an Auckland based producer, was a foundation member of the APN's inaugural meeting held in Pusan in 2006 attended by such luminary producers like the 3 time Academy Award winning Japanese producer Satouru Iseki, the Executive Producer of The World's Fastest Indian.

APN is an organisation of producers in the Asia-Pacific Region and committed to realising the future success of Asia-Pacific film through mutual support and co-productions. APN hopes to establish a Seoul Information Centre where APN member producers can share and network.

The New Zealand delegation to APN 2007 Forum included:

  • Pete Rive - Chair, Film Auckland
  • Susan Ord - Film New Zealand
  • Paul Carran - Producer, Film Factory, Film Auckland Board member
  • Melissa Lee - Producer, Asia Downunder
  • Michael Stephens - Film and Entertainment lawyer, Stephens Lawyers
  • Sue Thompson - Producer, Direct Effect
  • Andrew French - NZ Trade & Enterprise
  • Young-Gyun SHIN - NZ Trade & Enterprise

Pete Rive, the Chair of Film Auckland, said "The New Zealand delegation came away from the APN feeling very positive that it would be a fantastic forum for developing co-production relationships with our Asian neighbours. I can see that APN will grow into a close group of producers who can share information and help each other to create new and exciting projects together. APN will help to find investors and co-finance deals on interesting creative product and encourage original Asia-Pacific stories."


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