The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the country’s national film agency, continues its thrust to strengthen regional cooperation for the development of the audiovisual industry as it participated in the recently concluded Roundtable for the proposed ASEAN-ROK Film Cooperation Organization last November 6 to 7, 2019 in Busan, South Korea.

Representatives from various film commissions attended the third Roundtable Session conducted in Busan last November 7, 2019

Film agencies and commissions participated in the third Roundtable Session in Busan

Pushed for by FDCP, led by Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño, together with the Korean Film Council led by Chairman Oh Seok-Geun, the Singapore Film Commission led by Director Joachim Ng, and the ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN-ROK Film Organization aims to establish a film cooperation among the countries to develop film policies and educational programs, expand co-production and distribution partnerships, exchange new film technologies and skills, activate film location promotions, and strengthen film archiving.

FDCP, through its OIC Executive Director Ria Rubia and Head for Distribution and Exhibition Division Anna Abalahin, represented the Philippine delegation along with representatives Rhea Cy from the Senior Officials Responsible for Information (SOMRI) from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and Director Vinci Beltran of the Presidential Communication Operations Office. It was also attended by the majority of the ASEAN member states and the ASEAN Secretariat with Head of the Culture and Information Division, ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Department Jonathan Tan.

Officers of film commissions during the first Roundtable Session last July 4, 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo from the FINAS Malaysia Facebook page)

FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño engages in a discussion with FINAS CEO Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nadzr (Photo from the FINAS Malaysia Facebook page)

The Busan Roundtable was the third and latest of the continued discussions for the establishment of the organization, with the first one held in Bangkok, Thailand last July and the second one in Cebu, Philippines hosted by FDCP. These roundtables were also attended by representatives from the Film Commissions from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos.

From left: Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Acting Director Carlyn Monastrial, Philippine Information Agency Program Management Division Rhea Cy, FDCP Chairperson Liza Diño, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Commissioner Teddy Co, and Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Kristian Ablan

FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño with participants of the second Roundtable Session hosted by FDCP in Cebu 

FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño with the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) staff during the second Roundtable Session in Cebu

FDCP Chairperson Liza Diño shares a laugh with Singapore Film Commission Director Joachim Ng

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Program Management Division Rhea Cy and FDCP Chairperson Liza Diño

“FDCP welcomes this film cooperation between the ASEAN member states and the Republic of Korea. We have been partners in this endeavor since the beginning as we believe that regional cooperation is really the next step to further FDCP’s efforts for collaboration among stakeholders locally and internationally. With South Korea as a partner, a country which has one of the most thriving film industries in Asia and in the world, we could certainly learn a lot from them while also opening up our local film industries, platforms, stories, and narratives to be shared among each other,” said Chairperson Diño.

FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño and Korean Film Council Chairman Oh Seok-Gun at the second Roundtable Session in Cebu

“We thank Chairman Oh for initiating this proposed organization, as well as the respective film commissions from ASEAN member states for being supportive of the exciting and wonderful opportunities to look forward to in the future,” she added.

An output of the roundtable with KOFIC and the ASEAN film commissions include the implementation of proposed ASEAN-ROK-partnered programs that allow for more substantive platforms and programs for filmmakers, producers, and artists from the countries, which include FDCP’s Film Industry Conference and Project Market.

The plans for the creation of the ASEAN-ROK Organization will be announced in the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit happening this November in Korea.