The "Mannheim Meetings" co-production market plans to expand next year to include projects from Asia in addition to the present line-up from Europe, Latin America and North America.

The Meetings co-ordinator Olaf Aichinger told screendaily.com that he has a scout based in Korea who would recommend Asian projects for participation in Mannheim.

Aichinger anticipates that the total number of projects at the Meetings would remain at around 60 despite the addition of a new region. This year's Meetings have 61 projects being pitched to 40 potential financiers over four days in 450 pre-organised one-to-one meetings (2001 had seen 320 meetings organised for about the same number of projects).