INFORMATION

2025.01.20 Mon

[Workshop Report] The First “Fukuoka Film Producers Lab” for Film Producers Held!

Aiming for international co-productions from regional areas. Efforts to achieve sustainable film production.

Creative Lab Fukuoka organized the hands-on support program “Fukuoka Film Producers Lab,” aimed at producers and directors aspiring to enter international co-productions and participate in project markets at overseas film festivals. The program brought in top-tier film producers and industry professionals as mentors and lecturers.
The main event, held in October, saw 12 groups and 19 filmmakers with film projects come together. Over the course of three days, the workshop was filled with the enthusiasm of participants and the generosity of lecturers who shared their expertise on the pressing need for producer development in the Japanese film industry.

Three days, seven lectures
The workshop was held at the Fukuoka City Brick Culture Center, hosted by Creative Lab Fukuoka. It was curated by Aika Tachibana, a Fukuoka native and secretary-general of the “Cinema at Sea – Okinawa Pan-Pacific International Film Festival,” along with Huang Yin-Yu, the festival’s executive director, filmmaker, and producer. Over three days, a total of seven lectures were delivered.
The sessions were conducted in a hybrid format, blending in-person lectures with online sessions from remote locations (Oita and France). Participants had the invaluable opportunity to learn directly from industry leaders, covering everything from the basics of international co-productions to detailed case studies. The venue was filled with attendees’ focused expressions as they eagerly absorbed the rich content of the lectures.

[Three-Day Schedule]
10/1 (Tue)
Lecture 1: “What Exactly is International Co-Production?”
Lecture 2: “An Overview of World Sales”

10/2 (Wed)
Lecture 3: “Film Festivals, Funds, Pitching Forums, and Workshops”
Lecture 4: “Understanding International Co-Production and How Japan Can Participate”
Lecture 5: “Case Study: ‘Bangkok Nites'”

10/3 (Thu)
Lecture 6: “Speed Pitching/Practice Session”
Lecture 7: “What Kind of Producer Do You Aspire to Be?”

 
Photos from the Day

■ Starting with Introductions

The first day began with introductions. Moderator Aika Tachibana started by introducing herself, followed by introductions of the two mentors, Huang Yin-Yu and Shin Yamaguchi. This was then followed by introductions from the participants, who came not only from Fukuoka City but also from within and outside the prefecture. Connections were discovered in unexpected places, creating a friendly and warm atmosphere.

■ Lecture Highlights

■ “Speed Pitch/Practice Pitching”

On the final day, during the “Speed Pitch/Practice Pitching” session, participants were not only given lectures but also an opportunity to present their own projects to the instructors. As one instructor put it, “This is a place to learn from mistakes,” and the participants passionately spoke about their projects in their own words, while both instructors and participants listened intently. Feedback on their own projects, as well as comments and advice given to others, became invaluable takeaways for everyone, making it crucial not to miss anything.

The short presentation time of five minutes resulted in many participants feeling pressed for time. The organizers noted this as an area for improvement in time management and program efficiency in the future.

While all lectures were conducted in Japanese, participants could choose to pitch in either Japanese or English. As a result, two groups delivered their pitches in English.

■ Insights from the Final Lecture

■ Commemorative Photo from the Final Day

English Proposal Review
Following the three-day workshop focused on lectures, the program provided a period for reviewing and refining English proposals to encourage participants to actively submit to project markets. For those interested, online proposal reviews were conducted by instructor Taro Imai. Participants received detailed guidance on crafting proposals, including how to write in clear and effective English, standard formatting, and which elements to include and how to structure them. Additionally, participants were advised that while submissions often tend to be made at the last minute, early submission is actually more advantageous.

From Participant Surveys
Almost all participants felt they had achieved their goals, with 85% expressing interest in joining the next session. Below are some comments from the survey:
“Thank you for organizing and providing information about the event. I was thrilled to participate, gain knowledge, and discover that there are people in Fukuoka interested in international co-productions.”
“The content was extremely engaging and educational. I also greatly appreciated the thoughtful follow-up with materials sent via email.”
“This was an excellent program, and I hope it continues in the future.”
“It was an excellent seminar. Thank you for the hard work.”

[Event Overview]
Date: October 1 (Tue) – October 3 (Thu), 2024 (3 days)
Venue: Fukuoka City Brick Culture Center
Organizer: Creative Lab Fukuoka
Mentors: (Titles omitted, listed in Japanese alphabetical order)
– Huang Yin-Yu
– Shin Yamaguchi
Instructors: (Titles omitted, listed in Japanese alphabetical order)
– Taro Imai
– Atsuko Ohno
– Hiroyuki Tanimoto
– Rie Hatano
Moderator: (Titles omitted)
– Aika Tachibana
Participants: 12 groups / 19 individuals (13 from Fukuoka City, 6 from outside Fukuoka City)
Cooperation: Cinema at Sea – Okinawa Pan-Pacific International Film Festival

We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to everyone who supported the execution of this program. Special thanks to our mentors, Mr. Huang Yin-Yu and Mr. Shin Yamaguchi; our instructors, Mr. Taro Imai, Ms. Atsuko Ohno, Mr. Hiroyuki Tanimoto, and Ms. Rie Hatano; and to Ms. Aika Tachibana and Mr. Huang Yin-Yu for taking full charge of planning, design, and management. We also extend our gratitude to the Cinema at Sea – Okinawa Pan-Pacific International Film Festival team and all the participants who joined us from various locations despite their busy schedules. We hope this program will serve as a catalyst for fostering international co-productions originating from Fukuoka. Thank you once again.

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