Dubbed Korea-Indonesia Cinema Global Networking, the three-day event comprises seminars on Korean and Indonesian film industries, Korea’s integrated box office system and co-production study cases; presentations by 12 Korean and Indonesian firms involved in film production, animation and visual effects businesses; and one-on-one meetings between companies from both countries slated for Aug. 11-12.

KOFIC’s Future Strategy Division chief director Lee Sang Seok told a press conference on Wednesday that he expected the event to bring about the first Korean-Indonesian co-produced film, which is most likely to be remake. “Creating opportunities of collaboration will not only just occur in the production of films; there’s also the sharing of knowledge in technological advances along with animation and CGI.”

Fauzan Zidni, a producer at Cinesurya Pictures, said co-production was a good step forward in developing and improving the local film industry. He provided examples of films co-produced with other countries, such as Dain Said’s thriller fantasy Interchange slated for release later this year that collaborates with Malaysia and starring Nicholas Saputra, and Fauzan’s own upcoming movie directed by Mouly Surya, Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts, which is a co-production project with French producer Isabelle Glachant.

Co-producing movies with other countries could be very costly and complex as there is unimaginable difficulty in communication, especially with far off countries such as the US with the huge time difference and the need to translate almost every shape and form of the movie’s material between producers. However, the impact on the film industry is huge in the long-term, including access to a bigger and new market, financial resources from other countries, international locations to shoot, as well as opportunity to learn from each other.

Prior to the event, KOFIC launched a similar program in Vietnam and is currently co-producing a movie with the country.

Korea has experienced growth in its film industry since 1990, leading it to become the seventh- biggest box office market in the world. Meanwhile, Indonesian movies have begun to appear more and premiere at international film festivals, receiving many awards for performances and craft.

For those who are interested in learning the ropes of movie production, Film Producers Association (APROFI) chairman and film producer Sheila Timothy said university students were welcome to join the internship program at the association.