ASEAN Film Leaders Call For MoU To Boost Regional Co-Productions, Crew Mobility

KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 (Bernama) -- Film industry leaders from Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia have called for a multilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) among ASEAN countries to strengthen regional co-productions, enhance content distribution and ease film crew mobility.

Indonesian Film Board secretary-general Judith J. Dipodiputro said ASEAN has strong potential for regional collaboration due to its youthful population, cultural proximity and low trade barriers under the ASEAN Economic Community.

“This is not a challenge, it’s a massive opportunity. We also speak the same cultural language and we understand each other’s expressions and values,” she said at the Beyond Borders: Funding Pathways and Development Strategies by ASEAN Film Agencies during the ASEAN Film and TV Summit 2025, held in conjunction with the Eighth Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) here today.

Judith highlighted that ASEAN’s 680 million population - including 40 million aged 15 to 17 and 176 million aged below 14 - represents a growing audience for culturally rooted regional storytelling, citing the success of Upin & Ipin and ASEAN horror films.

“It’s time to speak to our neighbours - and then to the world,” she said, urging the region to move beyond national markets.

National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) chief executive officer Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib echoed the call for a formal ASEAN-wide MoU or treaty to encourage broadcasters to prioritise ASEAN-made content.

He also proposed streamlined visa processes to facilitate cross-border film production and crew mobility.

Huoy Socheat, deputy director of the Cinema and Cultural Diffusion Department at Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, said the MoU would help overcome distribution barriers among ASEAN countries.

He added that Cambodia is actively promoting cinema tourism by offering filming incentives, logistical support and short-term visa facilities to attract international productions.

Organised by FINAS in collaboration with MIFFest and the Asian Film Alliance Network (AFAN), the summit brings together policymakers, creators and investors to explore policy alignment and co-production opportunities.

The summit runs until Friday (July 25) and will conclude with the Malaysia Golden Global Awards (MGGA) on Saturday (July 26), celebrating excellence in ASEAN and international filmmaking.

-- BERNAMA