EXCLUSIVE: The Producers Guild of Korea (PGK) and the Sakha Filmmakers Association (SFA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at creating a direct route to international co-productions and professional exchange between the Korean and Sakha screen production sectors.
The Sakha Republic (Yakutia), in Russia’s Far East, has built one of the country’s most procative film industries, making films mostly in the Sakha (Yakut) language and developing a strong local theatrical audience. Its films have been drawing growing attention at festivals and markets across Asia and internationally.
The MOU with PGK was signed at the Sakha Filmmakers Association booth during the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) in Busan, with the aim of starting a long-term industry partnership between producers from the two territories.
Under the agreement, PGK and SFA will establish a new framework for co-production between Korean and Sakha producers, aimed at developing projects together and sharing information on public financing available in both territories.
The partnership will include project showcases, producer-to-producer meetings and B2B sessions designed to identify projects with international potential and move them towards co-production.
The two organisations will also bring the partnership to major international markets, including ACFM, Hong Kong Filmart and the Cannes Marché du Film, creating new opportunities for Sakha projects to connect with the wider Asian and international industry.
For PGK, the agreement continues a programme of international partnerships built since the pandemic, alongside MOUs with the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), the Hong Kong Film Production Executives Association (HKFPEA), the Indonesian Film Producers Association (APROFI) and the Brazilian Audiovisual Industry Union (SIAESP).
PGK President Lee Dong-ha said: “Sakha cinema is one of the most distinctive voices to emerge in Asia in recent years, and it belongs in the conversation among Asian producers. Through this MOU, PGK and SFA open a direct channel between our two production communities – one that we intend to turn into actual co-productions.”
Stepan Burnashev, SFA’s Executive Director, said: “Sakha cinema grew from a small regional community into a strong local film culture because our filmmakers kept telling stories in our own language and from our own perspective.
“Korea is an important example of how a strong local identity can connect with audiences around the world. This agreement gives our producers a direct working relationship with the Korean industry. We want it to lead not only to exchange, but to projects developed and produced together, and to a lasting connection between our filmmaking communities.”