Asian Independent Producers Form Cross-Border Alliance at Busan

Independent producers hailing from five distinct Asian territories joined forces on Sunday to officially launch the Asian Producers Alliance (APA). The momentous announcement took place at the Busan International Film Festival's Asian Contents & Film Market, establishing a new framework designed to actively push for cross-border co-production and secure stronger protection of creators' rights throughout the region. Kim Ji-yeon, the renowned producer behind the global hit "Squid Game" and a board member of the Producers Guild of Korea (PGK), took the stage to read the founding declaration as representatives from all participating organizations stood alongside her.

The newly formed coalition brings together the Producers Guild of Korea, 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). A defining characteristic of the APA is that its membership consists exclusively of independent producers, ensuring that major studios, massive entertainment conglomerates, and state bodies remain entirely absent from its foundational structure. The initiative was originally conceptualized and initiated by PGK and APROFI, with the final formation receiving unanimous online approval from all five founding organizations.

The public launch of the APA was announced at the conclusion of a seminar titled "Empowering Asian Cinema: Solidarity and Creative Alliance," which was hosted by PGK at the ACFM Producers Hub. The panel was skillfully moderated by Han Jin, the international committee director for PGK, and featured a diverse group of prominent regional industry leaders. Among the speakers were Yulia Evina Bhara of Indonesia's KawanKawan Media, Rhee Handae, CEO of South Korea's Sidus, Yamaguchi Shin of Tokyo-based Knockonwood, and Bianca Balbuena, co-founder and COO of the Philippines' Epicmedia Productions. Together, these leaders engaged in deep discussions regarding the pressing challenges of modern co-production within an entertainment landscape drastically upended by the rapid rise of streaming services and short-form digital content.

The declaration read during the event underscored a united front against shared regional struggles. For many years, independent creators have been forced to navigate profound industry transformations entirely alone within their individual markets and native languages. By establishing the alliance, these creators have deliberately chosen to face modern hurdles together. The coalition's core mission emphasizes advancing robust co-production initiatives across Asia, ensuring that local stories can be collaboratively produced and travel much further across international borders. As Yamaguchi Shin aptly summarized during the panel discussion, the primary direction for the future of Asian cinema moving forward is to simply think globally.