HA NOI — Movie makers attended a seminar in Ha Noi on Monday to discuss the strengthening of co-operation between ASEAN and South Korea through film exchange.

The two-day seminar, One Asia in Film, is a part of the ASEAN – RoK Film Community project funded by the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The seminar's goal is to promote ASEAN – South Korea co-operation and support the establishment of film commissions in ASEAN countries.

The film commission supports shootings at home and abroad, deriving direct and indirect economic benefit from cultural promotion and tourism, according to Oh Seokgeun, director of Busan Film Commission.

"ASEAN could become a new origin of creation rather than just a market for culture," he said.

Under the project, the Busan Film Commission and Asian Film Commissions Network (AFCNet) are hosts of the seminar in Viet Nam and later in Myanmar from January 12-13.

Viet Nam and Myanmar are less well-known spots in the film industry but possess outstanding scenery and natural environments; both have great potential as filming locations, according to a presentation made at the seminar.

Less developed industry infrastructures can take advantage of the natural backdrop, environment and available resources to promote the region, thus help the development of the area as a tourist destination, create jobs and lead to development of the local industry.

Ngo Phuong Lan, vice director of the Vietnamese culture ministry's Cinematography Department and Cho Kwanghee, the Korean representative director of Bom Film Production, discussed the role of the film commission at the seminar.

Lan also featured a panorama of Vietnamese cinema in recent years.

Representatives from the Cambodia Film Commission and Film Business Promotion Section of Thailand's Film Office also shared experiences in invigorating tourism through films.

Vietnamese movie makers had the chance to meet and listen to lectures from the Korean director, Lee Joonik, of Oscar-nominated The King and The Clown, Sunny. The director talked about his commercial yet non-mainstream works as well as life in the world of films.

By means of lectures, panel discussions with AFCNet experts and regional colleagues, the seminar brings Vietnamese movie makers some practical information in setting up film production networks, said Lan.

"The seminar is also an opportunity to expand relationships in cinema and tourism among members of AFCNet," she said. — VNS