Discovery Announces Initiative to Develop Chinese Doc Talent

SINGAPORE,
December 9: In its bid to further foster documentary filmmaking talent across
Asia, Discovery Networks Asia Pacific has unveiled Eye on China, a partnership
with China Education Television-3 (CETV-3).

The
new initiative will allow five filmmakers from China, Hong Kong and Macao to
develop titles that illustrate, through personal stories, the achievements made
by China over the last three decades. "Discovery Channel has been
cultivating Chinese documentary filmmakers for years and providing them with an
international stage to showcase their work to a global audience," said
Chang Fang, the senior VP and general manager for China at Discovery Networks
Asia-Pacific. "Eye on China takes this effort to a whole new level, and we
are confident that the resulting films will engage and entertain viewers in
China and beyond."

The
films produced out of Eye on China will be aired by CETV-3 on Discovery's
programming block on 27 provincial and municipal TV
channels across China next October, in conjunction with the
nation's 60th anniversary celebrations. The films will also air on the
Discovery Channel across the region. Submissions will be taken until February
6, and up to 12 short-listed candidates will be invited to a workshop in
Beijing. Five winners will then be selected to receive funding for their
projects. Beach House Pictures, a production company
that has a long-standing relationship with Discovery Channel, will provide
production support and international production teams will complete
post-production of the films in Singapore.

In
related news, Discovery has announced the winners of its Eye on Malaysia
initiative with Malaysia's National Film Development Corporation
(FINAS). The five filmmakers will each be commissioned to produce a 30-minute
documentary showcasing Malaysia's culture, history and heritage. The completed documentaries
are scheduled to premiere on Discovery Channel next year. The winning
submissions came from Jak Othman, with Kungfu
Football; Abdul Hamid Abdullah, with Honey
Hunters of Malaysia; Chew Han Tah, with The
Joss Stick Maker; Ikhwan Rivai, with Beneath
The Winds; and Suhaimi Baba, with
The Wind Chucker.

—By Mansha Daswani