Archived News 2005

BIFCOM 2005

19th November 2005

Film New Zealand attended BIFCOM (Busan International Film Commission and Industry Showcase) 2005 held in Busan, South Korea, from the 10th-12th October and the New Zealand TVC Seminar held in Seoul on October 14.

Participants

Susan Ord, Film New Zealand; Mike Horgan, Investment New Zealand; Andrew French, New Zealand's Trade Commissioner to South Korea; the New Zealand Ambassador to South Korea, David Taylor; Young-Gyun Shin, NZ Trade and Enterprise, Seoul; April Fong, Regional Marketing Manager, North Asia; Jo Kelly from The Sweet Shop; Jay Han from New Location; Brad Avery from Batch Film; Peter Grasse, Curious Film; Kathleen Drumm, NZ Film Commission; Robin Scholes, Touchdown Pictures; Philippa Campbell from Escapade Pictures, Sue Thompson and Michael Stephens, Park Road Post. Also in attendance were several Tourism New Zealand representatives.

Introduction

There are several different components to this event and they are:  BIFCOM, PPP and PIFF.

PIFF (Pusan International Film Festival) is in its 10th year and has established itself as the biggest cinematic event on the international festival circuit for those interested and involved in Asian cinema. This year the festival presented a record 307 films including Vincent Ward's River Queen which was shown to several thousand people on the huge outdoor screen.

BIFCOM was established in 2001 and has become one of Asia's most pre-eminent showcases for film making – from locations through pre and post production. Over 30 film companies and 32 film commissions Asian film commissions took part including Film New Zealand and the Honolulu and Vladivostok Film Offices.

Technical demonstrations and presentations and a seminar on filming in North Korea and one called "How to Attract Hollywood Projects to Asia" featured Michael Lake, Executive Vice President Worldwide Feature Production at Village Roadshow Pictures.

PPP (Pusan Promotion Plan) The PPP is a 3 day financing forum that acts as a networking platform between film makers and financiers, as well as distributors and potential customers. More than a thousand participants took part. In addition there is a growing film trade show – a kind of mini-market has been created to promote and develop the Asian film industries and which has become a pivotal meeting and business point for all those involved in the development and production of Asian film-making. It has evolved into an event that offers the opportunity for individuals and companies to explore potential partnerships. It also strengthens the film market function by providing offices for Asian sales agents and production companies.

International production and distribution companies taking part included:

• Arclight Films (Australia)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (Switzerland)
• Back-Up Films (France)
• Beijing Culture Development Co., (China)
• Bewild Co., Japan
• Buena Vista International Korea (Korea)
• Distant Horizon (USA)
• Focus Features (USA)
• Fortissimo Films (Hong Kong)
• Gemini Films (France)
• Hong Kong Development Council (Hong Kong)
• Imaginasian Entertainment, Inc. (USA)
• Lion Rock Productions (USA)
• Lion's Gate Entertainment (USA)
• Long Tail Entertainment Company (Canada)
• Lucky Red (Italy)
• Madman Entertainment (Australia)
• Maverick Films (USA)
• Ming Productions/Dragon Studios (China)
• Mosaic Media Group (USA)
• New Line Cinema (USA)
• Palm Pictures (USA)
• Pony Canyon Inc. (Japan)
• SBS Television (Australia)
• Silverko  Production (USA)
• SND  Groupe M6 (France)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan Inc. (Japan)
• Splendid Film GMBH (Germany)
• Subway Cinema (USA)
• Tartan Films Distribution (UK)
• Village Roadshow Pictures (AUST/USA)
• Warner Bros (F.E.) Inc. (Hong Kong)
• The Weinstein Company (USA)
• Western Movie Group Xi' Film Studio (China)
• Wild Bunch (France)

The New Zealand stand was the largest and most prominent in the show and comprised  the Film New Zealand stand, a large backdrop with a location image provided by JoyRide with New Zealand written across it in large type , two Tourism NZ banners, two plasma screens and four tables that held our marketing collateral. (For the first time ever we had marketing materials translated into Korean and these were a major P.R. success.) Other collateral included the Film NZ black presentation packs with all the regional film offices DVDs which were received with much appreciation.

Media

The ambassador, David Taylor was interviewed on the largest national broadcasting company KBS, Andrew French, the Trade Commissioner was interviewed by MBC (Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation and SBS (Seoul Broadcasting Service) and Susan Ord was interviewed by the PBS (Pusan Broadcasting Service).

Newspaper coverage in the major Korean newspapers was comprehensive.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise placed ads in Cine 21 and Ad Times magazines which included Y-G Shin's contact details. He reports that there was very favourable feed-back from many of the BIFCOM attendees because it is very unusual for a foreign organization to do this. It was also suggested including details of the New Zealand participating companies next year which is clearly an extremely good idea.

These included Asian broadcasters, film directors and key people from TV drama production teams. Asian budgets are increasing in size and their stories are diversifying in many different ways and almost all of them were extremely interested in working with or in New Zealand.

Some of our visitors included representatives from:

• Zero One Pictures
• Inter Origen
• Fine Works Pictures
• Cine Sir
• Mini Film
• Film Bom Production
• Production M
• Indecom Cinema
• Vim Production
• Zin In Sa Film
• Copter Vision
• Dragon Head Film
• The 6th Element
• Yu & Co
• Cine Line2
• JinYinSa

Two regional Korean film commissions expressed their interest in co-operating with Film New Zealand over any future joint productions and advised us that they were planning on sending representatives to tour New Zealand early next year.

New Zealand Reception and Cocktail Party

This was hosted by the Ambassador, David Taylor and well over 100 guests were welcomed and provided with New Zealand wine and finger food. It was a highly successful and enjoyable function.

Young-Gyun Shin, NZTE's Trade Development Executive, Seoul said, "We received great feed-back from both BIFCOM and the Seoul TVC seminar and all attendees were highly impressed by what New Zealand has to offer. It is clear that there are very good opportunities for the New Zealand screen sector in the Korean market across film, television, TVC and music videos. We'll be working to ensure that we capitalize on the leads and networks generated over the coming months…Our advertising in the trades was very effective and attracted a lot of attention with many people commenting that they now where to go when they're 'thinking New Zealand'."

Seoul

Black Sheep

On Thursday 13 October an historic investment agreement was signed in Seoul between the Korean company Daesung Group, Park Road Post, The New Zealand Film Commission and Philippa Campbell, the producer of Black Sheep (due to film early February in Wellington.)

TVC Seminar and Reception 14 October

Over 40 representatives from Korean advertising agencies and production companies attended this event which was held at the recently opened New Zealand Centre in Seoul. Jay Han from New Location, Jo Kelly from The Sweet Shop, Brad Avery from Batch Film and Peter Grasse from Curious presented a selection of their companies work and outlined both the competitive and creative advantages of working with New Zealand companies. Again, our Ambassador delivered the welcoming speech. Susan Ord, Mike Horgan and Sue Thompson also attended.

Young-Gyun Shin reports, "We received some very good feed-back and many told us that through the presentations they had discovered potential shooting locations and had got some very helpful ideas. Even though more than ten Korean TV commercials are shot in New Zealand every year it seemed that not many Korean agency and production people know much about shooting in New Zealand…I think that it would be worthwhile for us to put more resources in this area."

Bae Seong Bong – Director of the Korea Commercial Film Maker Union indicated that we should be very pleased with the number of Korean participants.  Other countries had organised similar seminars but had not attracted the same numbers as the New Zealand presentation – this is an  indication of the interest the Korean industry has with working with New Zealand.

Mr Bae advised that there was a perception in market that to work in New Zealand the Korean industry had to have an Australian partner.  He agreed to assist us with dispelling this perception and communicate this to his membership.

Philippa Campbell, Robin Scholes, Bridget Bourke and Michael Stephens joined us for the reception after the seminar.

Opening of NZ Film Festival in Korea

The festival will travel to five Korean cities but opened in Seoul with a reception attended by all the New Zealanders, members of the Daesung Group and many distinguished guests. Again, the ambassador opened the proceedings. The opening picture was River Queen and both Vincent Ward and Temuera Morrison were present for a Q & A.

Other features showing at the festival were, Heavenly Creatures, Forgotten Silver, Bad Taste, Once Were Warriors, Ngati, The Price of Milk, The Irrefutable Truth About Demons, In My Father's Den and Stickmen. Short films included Two Cars, One Night, Eating Sausage and Playing Possum.

For more information visit www.nzff.co.kr.

Conclusion

It is abundantly clear that New Zealand is very highly thought of in Korea and there is enormous goodwill towards both the country and the screen production industry. It was made very clear that in common with most Asian countries building relationships up over time is the key to success.

BIFCOM 2006 is moving to significantly larger premises and it has been suggested that the event will grow at least 10 fold. This will provide more opportunities for New Zealand screen industry personnel and companies to explore not only the Korean market but a pan Asian one. New Zealand should be there with bells on!

 

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