International
Thailand calls for greater cooperation among Asean film commissions
MUMBAI: The representatives from the Department of Tourism, Thailand Film Office have called for increased regional cooperation among film commissions in the Asean countries during the recently concluded Asian Film Commissions Network (AFCnet), ASEAN – ROK Cooperation Project in Vietnam and Myanmar.
“AFCnet efforts at encouraging film commissions in the region to share their expertise and co-venture with one another is a way to expand our business efforts in a very competitive international environment,” said Thailand Film Office Film Business Promotion Section chief Worateera Suvarnsorn,.
Suvarnsorn along with Ubolwan Sucharitakul, Chief of the Thailand Film Office Shooting Permit Consideration Section ,had presented a Thailand Case Study titled “Invigorating Tourism Through Films” at the event.
Citing several of Thailand’s high profile foreign productions filmed in the Kingdom, such as 20th Century Fox’s The Beach (2000), and Warner Bros‘ The Hangover Part II (2011), Sucharitakul called for coordinated film tourism routes to be promoted which will facilitate increased tourism between neighboring countries.
The Seminar, a series of information and networking meetings sponsored by AFCnet and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea, was held with film commission representatives of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and the Philippines in preparation for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) which will come into effect in 2015.
International
Council of Europe to unveil new TV and streaming co-production convention
Series Mania Forum to host landmark signing to boost global TV collaboration
LILLE: The small screen is getting a big policy push. At this year’s Series Mania Forum in Lille, Alain Berset will take centre stage to chair the opening ceremony for a new international convention aimed at reshaping how television and streaming series are co-produced across borders.
Set for March 26 at the Théâtre Marie Curie in Lille Grand Palais, the signing marks the debut of the first legal framework dedicated specifically to the independent co-production of series. In an industry where stories travel faster than ever, the move aims to make collaboration smoother, fairer and more transparent.
Backed by the Council of Europe, the convention is designed to strengthen cultural ties, give independent producers a firmer footing, and bring greater clarity to deals in a rapidly evolving content landscape. With streaming platforms fuelling a surge in global storytelling, the timing feels deliberate.
Council of Europe secretary general Alain Berset, underscored the cultural heft of series today, noting how they carry voices and viewpoints across borders. He called on member states and countries beyond Europe to sign on, framing the initiative as a way to turn culture into a tool for cooperation and democratic exchange.
For Series Mania founder and general director Laurence Herszberg, hosting the signing is both symbolic and strategic. She described the convention as a step that could widen the range of stories reaching audiences, staying true to the forum’s long-standing mission of championing diverse storytelling.
The ceremony will unfold alongside the Lille Dialogues, a high-level summit that gathers policymakers and industry leaders to debate the future of Europe’s audiovisual sector. Berset is also set to deliver the opening address there, adding political weight to a week already rich in creative ambition.
In short, as screens multiply and borders blur, Europe is putting a framework in place to ensure that storytelling keeps pace, collaboratively and coherently.
