News

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.

Film markets have long been the domain of producers, distributors, and sales agents, the traditional players of the entertainment economy. But as the boundaries between media sectors continue to blur, a new model of engagement is emerging. At JAFF Market 2025, that model comes into sharp focus. The convergence of feature film with other sectors like streaming, publishing, and social media is not an anomaly; it is the future.