News

In today’s fast-shifting creative economy, the lines between media formats are blurring. Cinema is no longer the only way for stories to reach audiences. Music, books, video games, web content, and even academic research now shape the value chain of storytelling. Recognizing this evolution, JAFF Market launched the JAFF Content Market (JCM) as a cross-platform, cross-sectoral space for collaboration.  

In recent years, much of the discourse around streaming services and cinemas has revolved around competition. Will Netflix replace the cinema? Are theaters becoming obsolete? These questions, while valid, may overlook a deeper truth emerging across the film industry especially in Southeast Asia.

As Southeast Asia’s screen industries continue to evolve, one thing is becoming clear: cross-border collaboration is no longer just a creative experiment, it’s a necessity. From financing and talent development to distribution and market access, international co-productions now sit at the heart of the region’s filmmaking future.

Success for a filmmaker in Asia’s rapidly growing yet uneven film landscape, requires more than vision. It requires the infrastructure that supports creative voices at every stage of the process, from concept to screen to global distribution. That’s exactly what JAFF Market, the industry platform of the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF), is designed to provide.  

Asian cinema is undergoing a renaissance. From South Korea’s global breakthrough to the rise of Southeast Asian storytellers, the region is making its mark on the international stage. Yet behind every Cannes selection or streaming platform hit is a story that almost didn’t happen. The gap between a filmmaker’s vision and the resources needed to realize it is still vast, especially for emerging voices.