China, Singapore in Film Co-Pro Deal

BEIJING: China and Singapore have agreed to collaborate on theatrical feature and TV movie production across the live-action, animated and factual genres.

The Film Coproduction Agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 7th China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Co-operation (CSJCBC) in Beijing by Singapore’s Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Industry and Information, Communications and the Arts, Sam Tan, and SARFT Vice Minister Zhang Pimin. Under the terms of the pact, China/Singapore co-productions will enjoy the same access to government funding and incentives as do national productions in each country.

“China and Singapore mutually admire each other’s achievements in the film sector," said SARFT’s Zhang Pimin. "In recent years, both countries have embarked on film-related exchanges such as importing each other’s films and co-organizing film festivals, which set the foundation for closer collaboration in the future. The signing of the China-Singapore Film Coproduction Agreement provides direction and guidance for filmmakers from both countries to pursue co-productions, and creates favourable conditions for partnerships in content and technology development. We hope to continue strengthening our interaction with Singapore in the film sector and explore more and better ways of partnership."

Secretary Sam Tan added: “With a rising global interest in Asian media content, this Film Co-Production Agreement presents immense opportunities for filmmakers in China and Singapore to collaborate, as well as share experiences and resources to showcase the rich heritage and culture in our two countries internationally through films. There is also potential for filmmakers from both countries to collaborate in new growth areas, such as stereoscopic 3D productions."

The Film Co-production Agreement will be administered by SARFT’s Film Bureau and Singapore’s MDA.