Singapore-based production company Akanga Film Asia has been set as the newly-launched Spanish Audiovisual Hub in Asia. It will seek to expand connections between the film, TV, animation and games industries of Spain and those in Asia.
Akanga is headed by Fran Borgia, a Spanish producer who has Asian film production credits including Boo Junfeng’s “Apprentice,” Yeo Siew Hua’s Locarno-winning “A Land Imagined,” Kamila Andini’s “Yuni” and Amanda Nell Eu’s “Tiger Stripes.”
The company was selected after a tender process initiated by the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in Singapore, representing ICEX Spain Export and Investment. Borgia is appointed as the “Consultant for the Audiovisual Sector of Spain in Asia” and will work closely with veteran producer and festival consultant Lorna Tee.
“The project aims to enhance Spain’s positioning as a production country and as a destination for filming, post-production of live-action and digital images, and investment in the audiovisual sector. The awarding of this contract represents a significant milestone in promoting Spanish culture in the Asian region,” ICEX said in a statement.
“As a Spaniard who has lived in Asia for over 20 years, I see the vast opportunities for collaboration between the Spanish and Asian audiovisual industries and we are excited to be building the bridges with a great team of collaborators,” said Borgia.
The hub expects to attend multiple film markets and festivals in the remainder of the year. These include: the Venice film festival, Busan’s ACFM, Tokyo’s TIFFCOM, the Taiwan Creative Content Fest, Film Bazaar in Goa, India, Indonesia’s JAFF and the Asian Television Forum & Market in Singapore.
Tee, who straddles Asia and Europe and is a former Variety executive, was recently a producer on Cannes film “Viet & Nam.” She is the secretary general for the Asian Film Alliance Network (AFAN), an association of 7 film agencies from Asia to foster closer understanding and enhance collaboration within the region.