During the Creative Asia Conference at the Busan International Film Festival, Netflix announced an expanded slate of creative development initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region, with executives highlighting the company’s commitment to cultivate local talent and improving production standards.
Speaking at the conference, Biff Program Director Karen Park highlighted the changing landscape of Asian cinema. “Asian creativity was always there, and it wasn’t seen,” Park said. “Now, it is finally changing thanks to our global platform and changing attitudes.
Park believes Netflix’s global reach has broken cultural barriers, saying “subtitles aren’t scary because now everyone is watching ‘squid games’.” She added that the change represents more than just consumption. “People are beginning to see Asian stories as “oriental” rather than “exotic” and not as universal human stories rather than as “oriental.” ”
Minyoung Kim, Netflix’s Vice President of APAC Content (Ex-India), outlined the company’s partnership philosophy. “Authenticity is not formal. It’s based on relationships,” Kim said. “The only way to achieve that is to work with local creators, local talent and various local production partners.” Since launching local production almost a decade ago, Netflix has partnered with over 250 local production partners across the APAC region.
The company has announced several new initiatives. In Australia, Netflix is launching Lumina. This is a program that provides neural bodies with pathways into the visual effects industry through partnership with bus stop films. Participants will receive training and on-set work arrangements for their upcoming local production “My Great Career.”
Creative Asia itself expanded to the Joghanet Pack Asia Film Festival held in Indonesia in December this year, combining emerging Southeast Asian creators with masterclass and networking opportunities.
Netflix’s regional training program has shown a major impact. The company’s South Korean VFX Academy has now trained more than 330 students over 2.5 years in its fifth iteration, with 70% securing industry work through partnerships with studios including Eyeline Studios, Westworld, VA Corp, Dexter Studios and Gulliver Studios.
Other ongoing initiatives include the Southeast Asia Reel Life Program, which recently concluded its third annual event in Bangkok with 100 participants, and the on-site training program in Taiwan for emerging authors and production experts working on the Netflix Original Project.
Sung Q Lee, head of APAC Roduction at Netflix, emphasizes the company’s focus on improving working conditions. “Our mission is not just to adhere to local standards, but to help set new standards,” Lee said. “We also want production teams to have access to the best skill training, so we can use the latest technology and build new career paths with jobs that have never existed before.”
The production panel featuring Yongsoo Lee (Korean producer), Chalchai “Nat” Keto Nast (CEO of White Light in Thailand), and Nishiyama Momo (intimate Japanese coordinator), highlights evolving industry practices. Lee explained that the person who is producing the upcoming Netflix series, “Can I translate this Love?” is implementing daily crew briefings to maintain safety standards in international locations.
Nishiyama noted the growing acceptance of intimacy coordinators in Japan, saying this was a role that emerged just five years ago. “The people on set feel safer and want to be more vocal, and there’s more open debate,” she said. “Netflix brings separate experts for mental health, harassment, respect training and more.”
From 2021-24, Netflix’s skill and talent development initiative across APAC reached over 8,000 people, demonstrating the company’s commitment to creating a sustainable, creative ecosystem across the region.
