Nov 9, 2015, 7:24am HST
The Hawaii International Film Festival has partnered with Winston Baker to launch the first Asia Pacific Entertainment Finance Forum this month.
Winston Baker offers film finance forums across the globe.
The 35th Hawaii International Film Festival, presented by Halekulani, launches Thursday and runs through Nov. 22.
The APEFF conference will include keynotes, presentations, and panel discussions from experts to discuss topics including breaking into the Chinese film market and co-producing with entities interested in filming in Hawaii.
Katherine Winston, co-founder and managing partner of Winston Baker, says the event will for local, Mainland and Asia Pacific creators, producers, financiers and distributors of film, television, digital and gaming content.
Winston hopes it becomes an annual conference.
“Locals have stories to share that can resonate not only locally but across the Pacific,” she said. “So the content is there – now locals just need to cast a wider net and utilize Asia’s expanding network of distribution platforms, financing resources and talented producers and filmmakers who are coming out of China, Korea, Japan, etc. Through APEFF we hope to foster such collaborations.”
HIFF officials expect 125 to 150 attendees to the forum.
When asked about obstacles for Hawaii-backed film production efforts, Winston said securing capital can be a challenge.
“Financing is definitely an issue, which is part of why HIFF Executive DirectorRobert Lambeth invited us to be a part of the festival programming,” she said. “Encouraging Hawaii-backed film production efforts will require educating financiers about the talent that exists on the island and the potential of Hawaii as a bridge between Hollywood and Asia. It’s also about educating local producers on how utilize co-productions and international distribution strategies in order to reach a wider global audience.”
The film and content producers of today must be well-versed in all media platforms, she said.
The conference will be held at The Modern Honolulu on Nov. 19.
Lorin Eleni Gill covers tourism, health care, nonprofits and the University of Hawaii for Pacific Business News.