The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) and Europe’s EAVE organisation have announced the launch of “EAVE Ties That Bind”, a new development workshop for Asian and European film producers.

Also involved are the Friuli Venezia Giulia Film Commission and Italy’s Udine Far East Film Festival.

EAVE Ties That Bind will consist of two four-day workshops to be held in Udine (Italy) in April 2010 and Pusan (South Korea) in October 2010, bringing together ten film producers from Asia and Europe.

Each producer will be selected together with a feature film project in development and will work with leading industry experts from both continents during the two workshops, in groups and on an individual basis.

The workshop sessions will focus on a range of issues including script development, co-production between Asia and Europe, financing, marketing and promotion in the two regions.

The programme will culminate in Pusan 2010 with meetings between the workshop participants and leading Asian and European financiers and sales agents.

EAVE chief executive Alain Fountain said: “This is an opportunity for producers to come together, get to know each other, learn a common language and develop long-term creative and business partnerships and networks.”

PIFF director Kim Dong-ho said: “This should have the effect of creating a foundation for co-productions, something that is much needed in Asia, whether between Asian countries or between Asian and European countries. It should also create a better way for Asian films to get into the European market.”

The main funder of EAVE Ties That Bind is MEDIA International, a new EU fund established by the European Commission in 2009 to strengthen cultural and commercial relations between Europe’s film industry and filmmakers of other countries.

EAVE is holding a three-day “mini EAVE” workshop within the framework of the Asian Film Market in Pusan on October 11-13.

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