After nine years of working in the field of Sino-European collaboration, the producer’s association Bridging the Dragon decided to enlarge the scope of its activity to Far East Asia.

Since its inception in 2013, Bridging the Dragon has implemented all kinds of actions aimed at making the Chinese market more known and at fostering a collaboration between film professionals of the two sides. In the last years, the association has been a reference point for Europeans wishing to work with China.

While maintaining its core focus on China and Europe, the association plans now to gradually build a triangular network with other Far Eastern regions that have strong film potential.

This is the response to the ever-changing market of today. Over the past two years, the events have made working with China more and more difficult. At the same time, contents from other Far Eastern countries have become increasingly popular internationally. Streamers such as Netflix or HBO, have made Asian TV and movies appreciated in the whole world. More and more international and Chinese companies are now seeking to work with these active and creative new players. In order to meet their needs, the association decided to enlarge its platform.

The launching of this process will be the upcoming new edition of Bridging the Dragon yearly Lab taking place from 25th to 28th November 2022 in collaboration with the Mallorca Film Commission and ICEX, the national public business entity whose mission is to promote the internationalization of Spanish companies and to attract foreign investment. For the first time, the lab will open up a new perspective on Far East Asia.

The think-tank workshop will welcome the main representatives of different film industries in Asia, including the director of funding and support department of KOFIC (Korean Film Council) Kim Hyoun-soo; Daniel Kim, in charge of the Asian Contents & Film Market at Busan International Film Festival; Kaori Ikeda, the Director of International Support and Deputy Director of TIFFCOM (affiliated market of Tokyo International Film Festival) ; Takeo Kodera, head of international co-productions at KADOKAWA Corporation, one of the top five film companies in Japan; Jennifer Jao, Director of Taipei Film Commission; Patrick Huang of Flash Forward, well-known Taiwanese producer (A First Farewell, The Road to Mandalay); Singaporean producer Chan Pui Yin (I Not Stupid 1&2, Homerun) and Nomin-Erdene Gereltuya, Head of Foreign Relations and Cooperation Department of the Mongolian National Film Council. The guests will interface with a selection of producers from various European countries in order to activate collaborations and synergies. A group of Chinese tutors such as Wang Qiao, the Vice President of New Classic Media, well-known production house in China involved in Monk Comes Down the Mountain and the Chinese remake of Spanish thriller Perfect Stranger will connect online to provide participants with up-to-date information and perspectives on the Chinese market.

Among this year’s European participants, a mix of veteran figures all with a specific interest in Asia: from Silver Bear winner Andamion Murataj (AL), to Frauke Kolbmüller of Oma Inge Film (DE), whose third production System Crasher won a silver bear at the 69th Berlinale and was the German entry for International Film Oscar® 2020; from Michael Frenschkowski from Red Bull’s production arm Terra Mater Factual Studios (Austria) to Italian Stella Savino (MIA Film), former executive producer of Luca Guadagnino’s films (Call Me By Your Name; Suspiria; A Bigger Splash; The Staggering Girl).

Producer / Director Cristiano Bortone, managing director of BTD: “After years of work, we have gained the experience of integrating resources from China and Europe and make their cooperation possible. As the association expands its scope of action to the larger Far East, we are exciting to see the kind of surprising new formulas that will be generated by this triangle.”