Finas poised to forge more international partnerships at ATF 2015

The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas), is poised to establish new international co-production partnerships with several agencies at the Asia TV Forum and Market (ATF) 2015, to be held in Singapore from Dec 2 to 4.

More than 100 business matching meetings will be organised during ATF 2015 to reinforce business links between Malaysian and global companies.

"This year, 21 Malaysian companies will participate under the Malaysian delegation, including Animasia Production Sdn Bhd, Animonsta Studios Sdn Bhd, Astro, Go ASEAN, Inspidea Sdn Bhd, Media Prima Bhd, Primeworks Studios Sdn Bhd, and Total Sport Asia, among others," Finas director-general Datuk Kamil Othman said when contacted by Bernama.

Kamil, who will be attending the event for the first time since his appointment, would be meeting several global agencies and other national pavilions to forge relationship and encourage international co-productions.

ATF is the go-to market to experience the dynamism of Asia’s expanding content entertainment industry, hence Finas is seizing this opportunity with the objective to create and co-produce new content, particularly in feature film, animation, television series, documentary and more, he said.

During ATF 2015, Finas will be discussing with The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) to promote and facilitate the exchange of contents, so as to contribute towards creative economic growth.

It also would be finalising co-production agreements with Screen Australia – the Australian Federal Government’s key funding body for the Australian screen production industry.

Together with Go ASEAN and Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios, Finas would host a "Creative Malaysia Networking Reception" on Dec 2, to foster ongoing connection with international key players and further discuss on accessing Malaysia's content market.

Add to that, Finas is set to attract possible co-production partners from France, Spain, South Korea, China, Taiwan and Japan at ATF 2015 with the various funds offered by the agency.

Such incentives include the recently introduced 'Co-Production Fund' that is designed to provide financial assistance for a project within the Eligible Project Categories to be co-produced by a Malaysian company and one or more foreign companies.

Likewise, the Film in Malaysia Incentive (FIMI) – that offers 30 percent cash rebate on Qualifying Malaysian Production Expenditure (QMPE) – will be re-introduced at ATF 2015 to entice international quality co-productions in Malaysia.

The continued success of the incentive was projected to grow Malaysia's creative content industry up to 30 per cent, resulting in job creation and revenue generating opportunities, Kamil said.

He added that in the next few years, Finas anticipated that the Malaysian content industry would rise to become a prominent player in the region through effective partnerships and co-productions.

Finas' recent successful co-productions included "Lelaki Harapan Dunia" (Everything Films, Malaysia with Volya Films, The Netherlands; Flying Moon Filmproduktion, Germany; Mandra Films,France; and others); "Welcome to the Railworld – Japan" (Primeworks Studios, Malaysia with Nippon TV, Japan); "Upin, Ipin dan Ultraman Ribut" (Les' Copaque Production, Malaysia with Tsuburaya Productions, Japan); and "Bubble Bath Bay" (Lemon Sky Animation and Ideate Media, Malaysia with Telegael, Ireland).

The Malaysian delegation to ATF 2015 is organised by Finas, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and Multimedia Development Corporation, with the support of the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation and the Creative Content Association Malaysia.