Southeast Asia and East Asia sales executives are reporting strong business on key titles at this year’s Cannes Marche du Film.
Vietnam’s Skyline Media, which has its own market booth at the Palais for the first time, has received strong response for The Scourge, based on a hit Vietnamese video game.
“We’ve been excited to meet the Western buyers who usually don’t travel to Asian film markets, while greeting our familiar Asian Pacific partners,” said founder Hang Trinh, who said she was pleased she made the trip despite high travel costs.
Similarly, Beijing Hugoeast Media has had a brisk response to Dear You, a Teochew-language family drama that drew almost 50 international buyers and festival programmers to its market screening. Made on a modest budget, the film has become a massive sleeper hit in China, grossing $75m (RMB510m) after 18 days.
“The market screening - the first outside China – was a great timely opportunity to introduce the film to international buyers, while it’s gaining a lot of traction because of its remarkable box office in China,” said Josie Wu from Hugoeast’s international sales team. She was taking offers from buyers and expects to close multiple deals after Cannes.
Alissa Apaitan, the head of international sales at Bangkok-based M Studio, said awareness of Thai commercial titles is definitely rising. “Buyers are increasingly confident in the theatrical potential of Thai films, particularly horror titles with strong production values and franchise recognition.
“They are looking not only for commercial potential but also culturally distinctive stories that can stand out in cinemas and on streaming platforms.”
She received encouraging feedback for Death Whisperer: Saming The Werebeast, a spin-off from the Death Whisperer trilogy, and upcoming horror Confessions Of A Shaman. “Latin America, North America and Europe remain growing regions for us, where we are continuing to expand relationships,” she added.
With the ongoing challenges to the global economy, rising travel costs and general market uncertainty, this year’s Cannes seems quieter with fewer buyers spotted in town, but it remains productive.
“Fewer familiar faces from Southeast Asia and East Asia are attending, something understandable given the increasing travel and ticket costs,” said Skyline’s Trinh. “That said, Cannes remains an important opportunity for us to continue expanding our international network.”
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