Four days of film puts spotlight on Auckland

4 November 2011

Four days of film puts spotlight on Auckland

This November, an unprecedented series of film industry events is taking place in Auckland involving renowned members of the local and international screen industry.

From 10 – 11 November the annual SPADA conference takes place at the SkyCity Convention Centre. The Aotearoa Film & Television Awards are also on with the Craft awards taking place on 10 November followed by the Gala Awards Ceremony at the Viaduct Events Centre on 12 November. Capping off this stellar week of activity, the 2011 Asia-Pacific Producers’ Network (APN) Symposium takes centre stage from 11 – 13 November with the main forum on 13 November at UNITEC. The symposium is being hosted in New Zealand for the first time by Film Auckland.

China Film Bureau Deputy Director General, Mao Yu, has confirmed his attendance at the 2011 APN Symposium adding to an already impressive line up of more than 30 international delegates from Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand alongside the cream of the New Zealand production sector.

There are still limited places available at the symposium which features a world-class programme of speakers, both international and domestic, discussing production, co-production and post-production in the Asia-Pacific region.

Network with top screen producers including Rob Tapert (Xena:Warrior Princess, Spartacus), Robin Scholes (Mr Pip, Once Were Warriors), Trevor Haysom (In My Father’s Den), John Barnett (Whale Rider), Shogo Tomiyama (Ring, Seven Samurai) and James Choi (Shiri, Taeguki).

There will also be industry representatives from the NZ Film Commission, Film NZ, Park Road Post Production, Images and Sound and Digipost.

Michael Brook, Film Auckland Manager, encourages the New Zealand film industry to register for the APN Symposium.

“It’s a great opportunity to showcase to the APN members why New Zealand has done so well on the world stage in film by hosting them here in our own backyard,” says Michael.

“Don’t miss out on this exceptional opportunity to explore key issues alongside the leaders of Asia’s booming film industry and make invaluable connections.”

APN was formed in 2005 to encourage co-productions, collaboration and joint projects. The forum offers a chance to develop relationships and generate new projects and partnerships between the film and screen industry across the Asia-Pacific region.

“Delegates are looking for New Zealand partners to make English language films that appeal to wider markets than their own. We encourage New Zealand’s screen industry to take advantage of this unique opportunity and register for the forum now,” says Paul Carran, President of APN.

Mayor Len Brown says, “The screen industry in New Zealand is a key export earner. Film Auckland has been developing networks in Asia with both industry and government over a number of years and Auckland is proud to be hosting this important industry event.”

The symposium is made possible with the generous support of core funder Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development, gold sponsor UNITEC, funding partners Film New Zealand, the Ministry of Economic Development, the New Zealand Film Commission and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and bronze sponsors ANZ, Digipost, Images and Sound and Pieter Holl & Associates.

For more information and to register visit www.filmauckland.com/apn.

Notes

The NZ and Asian film industry has been developing a solid relationship over a number of years and has produced a number of key projects with Asian partners or investors. These include Black Sheep (Korea), The Tattooist (Singapore), The Warrior’s Way (Korea) and The World’s Fastest Indian (Japan).

New Zealand has recently signed co-production treaties with South Korea and China which have already resulted in a number of projects in development.

Film Auckland, is the film office for the Auckland region. It is the first point of contact for the Auckland screen production industry, facilitating access to Auckland and New Zealand's vast network of experienced and innovative screen production professionals.

ENDS

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