Five Asian producer groups launch Asian Producers Alliance at Busan market

Mixed · 2Independent producer organizations from Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Taiwan launched the Asian Producers Alliance (APA) on Sunday 11 October at the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) of the Busan International Film Festival. 1 2 Mixed · 2The members are the Producers Guild of Korea (PGK), the Indonesian Film Producers Association (APROFI), the Philippine Independent Producers Group (PIPG), the Hong Kong Movie Production Executives Association (HKMPEA) and the Taiwan Producers Association (TPA). 1 2 Left · 1Variety reported that the members are independent producers with no studios, conglomerates or state bodies involved, that PGK and APROFI initiated the group, and that all five organizations approved its formation online. 1

Mixed · 2The launch came at the close of a PGK-hosted seminar at the ACFM Producers Hub, "Empowering Asian Cinema: Solidarity and Creative Alliance", moderated by PGK International Committee director Han Jin, on co-production in an industry reshaped by streaming and short-form content. 2 1 Mixed · 2Panelists were Yulia Evina Bhara of KawanKawan Media, Rhee Handae of Sidus and Yamaguchi Shin of Knockonwood; Variety also lists Bianca Balbuena of Epicmedia Productions as a panelist, while Deadline quotes her as a PIPG founder member. 1 2 Mixed · 2Variety said "Squid Game" producer Kim Ji-yeon, a PGK board member, read the founding declaration, which says: "For years, we have faced the same changes alone – in our own markets, in our own languages. Today we choose to face them together." 1 2

Mixed · 2APA's stated aims are to advance co-production across Asia and protect creators' intellectual property, starting as a consultative coalition and evolving into a body with a formal decision-making structure. 1 2 Mixed · 2PGK president Lee Dong-ha and APROFI chair Edwin Nazir are the inaugural co-representatives, and Han Jin and Yulia Evina Bhara are co-secretary generals; all serve one-year terms, with elections at each year's general assembly during ACFM. 1 2 Mixed · 2Lee said: "APA is not a declaration – it is a practice of solidarity that begins now." HKMPEA chair Johnny Wang called it "an entirely new and unprecedented journey". 1 2

Mixed · 2Members plan to meet online quarterly and hold an annual general assembly during ACFM in Busan; other producer organizations across Asia may join, and more than one organization per territory is allowed. 1 2 Mixed · 2APA's next event is a second seminar at the JAFF Market in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in December, hosted by APROFI and focused on creators' IP. 1 2