Medient Studios and Tarantella Pictures have announced a joint venture to create and distribute content for China and Far East-Asian markets.

Kuala Lumpur-based Tarantella Pictures has produced such films as Lagenda Budak Setan and Ombak Rindu, which it claims to be the third biggest Malaysian box office in history.

“Approximately 60% of the world’s population lives in Asia,” said Manu Kumaran, chairman of US-based Medient Studios, which recently backed Nick Cassavetes’ Yellow (pictured.) “We see a comprehensive presence in Asia as a cornerstone of our strategy for the future.

“With the Studioplex in Effingham County (Georgia, USA) and Atlas International in Europe, Medient have all the elements required for great success and we expect to play a vital role in this plan,” said Sharad Sharan, who established the company in Indonesia in 1995.