Tokyo – Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific (DNAP) has announced the five winners of Discovery Channel’s First Time Filmmakers (FTFM) Japan initiative, a project designed to help develop the documentary storytelling skills of Japanese filmmakers while providing them a platform for their talent. FTFM Japan is a partnership between DNAP and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan (MIC).
The five filmmakers will each be commissioned to produce a 30-minute documentary that tells the story of ‘Ultimate Japan’. The completed documentaries are scheduled to premiere on Discovery Channel Japan and on DNAP’s networks across Asia Pacific, reaching more than 190 million households in 33 countries.
“Discovery Channel’s FTFM initiative underscores Discovery’s commitment to the local production community by providing filmmakers in the region with the opportunity to work with our brand to produce films for a global audience. In partnership with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan, we are looking forward to present five compelling documentaries which we believe will resonate well with our viewers here in Japan and around the Asia-Pacific region,” said Louis Boswell, President & Representative Director, Discovery Networks Japan, Inc.
Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Toru Fukuoka, Director-General of the Information and Communications Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan said, “It’s a great honour for the MIC to work with Discovery Channel on First Time Filmmakers Japan. It is an excellent opportunity to cultivate Japanese documentary filmmakers and provide them with an international stage to showcase their work to a global audience. We are confident that the resulting films will capture the essence of ultimate Japan and engage viewers in Japan, Asia and beyond”.
13 participants from the FTFM Japan initiative were shortlisted from proposals received from all over the country. These filmmakers were invited by Discovery Channel to pitch their proposals to the judges at a special session. The judges comprised of producers from DNAP and representatives from MIC. Since its launch in Asia Pacific in 2000, over 35 first time filmmakers in the region have benefited from the FTFM project. Filmmakers from Australia, South Korea, UK, South Africa, Germany, Netherlands, Southeast Asia and China have received recognition on the international stage and have won several international awards.
