South Korea and France have re-entered negotiations to draw up a co-production treaty, following the signing of an informal co-operation agreement at last year's Pusan International Film Festival between the Korean Film Commission (KOFIC) and the Centre National de la Cinematographie (CNC).

A full co-production agreement signed on the governmental level would create a legal means for approved Korean-French co-productions to benefit from the support systems of both countries.

France has concluded over 40 such agreements (though none with countries from East Asia), while for South Korea it would rank as the country's first.

On June 16, a co-production conference was held in Seoul during the 3rd Festival du Film Francais to discuss the agreement and further educate the local film community on its potential benefits.

Speakers included Xavier Merlin, Director of Europe & International Affairs at CNC, and Juliette Renaud of Wild Bunch's newly launched co-production department, which has entered discussions with Korea's Tin House (Wonderful Days) to co-produce animated feature The Lion Boy.

Efforts to conclude a co-production agreement last year were set back when South Korea's Ministry of Finance & Economy called on other Asian countries to liberalise their audiovisual sectors. A commitment to preserve the audiovisual sector as a "cultural exception" in international trade agreements is a key French prerequisite for the signing of co-production treaties.

A potential complication for negotiations is the fate of Korea's Screen Quota system, which remains the last barrier to complete liberalisation of Korea's film industry.

Currently a topic of fierce debate between government officials, US trade representatives and the film industry, the Screen Quota was given a vote of support at an impromptu press conference called by the French delegation during their stay.

Members of KOFIC and CNC say they hope to complete a co-production agreement before the end of this year.