Independent film producers from five Asian territories have established a new cross-border coalition named the Asian Producers Alliance (APA). The launch took place during the Asian Contents & Film Market at the Busan International Film Festival, where Kim Ji-yeon, a producer of “Squid Game” and board member of the Producers Guild of Korea (PGK), read the alliance’s founding declaration.
Launch and founding members
The coalition brings together five regional organizations: 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). The group consists entirely of independent producers, operating without the involvement of studios, conglomerates, or state bodies. PGK and APROFI initiated the network, and online approvals from all five participating organizations finalized its formation.
“For years, we have faced the same changes alone – in our own markets, in our own languages. Today we choose to face them together,” the declaration stated. “We will advance co-production across Asia, so that our stories can be made together and travel further.”
Leadership and goals
Initially operating as a consultative coalition, the APA prioritizes cross-border co-production within Asia and the defense of creators’ intellectual property rights. The organization intends to evolve into a body with a formal decision-making structure over time. Membership will remain open to other producer organizations across Asia during its first year, permitting more than one organization per territory to join.
PGK president Lee Dong-ha and APROFI chair Edwin Nazir will serve as the alliance’s inaugural co-representatives. Han Jin and Yulia Evina Bhara of Indonesia’s KawanKawan Media will lead the secretariat as co-secretary generals. All four appointed leaders will serve one-year terms, with elections scheduled for each year’s general assembly.
Future plans
The coalition plans to convene online on a quarterly basis and hold an annual general assembly during the Asian Contents & Film Market. Additionally, the APA scheduled its second seminar for December at the JAFF Market in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, where APROFI will host discussions centered on creators’ intellectual property.
