EXCLUSIVE: South Korea’s Lotte Cultureworks, Lotte Entertainment Vietnam and Japan’s Toei Company are joining forces to make a concerted push into Vietnamese films.
The three companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together on developing and co-producing films in the Southeast Asian country.
Under the agreement, the trio will explore opportunities for collaboration, including investment and distribution in Vietnam and international markets. They will also explore the licensing and adaptation of their collective IP in the production of Vietnamese-language films.
Lotte Cultureworks CEO Kim Jong Ryul said it would work with Toei on “a diverse range of projects” that it is developing with creators in Vietnam.
“Vietnam is one of Asia’s most promising markets, with a young audience base and a rapidly growing local film industry,” said Kim Jin Keun, general director of Lotte Vietnam. “Our collaboration with Toei will bring new possibilities to local stories, and through this partnership, Lotte Entertainment Vietnam will do its utmost to help Vietnamese films reach a broader global audience.”
Toei president CEO Fumio Yoshimura said the collaboration would reinforce the work already achieved by Lotte in Vietnam. “Building upon the profound bonds that both Lotte and Lotte Entertainment Vietnam have so successfully nurtured within the region, it is an immense privilege for Toei to unite in our mission: stories that fascinate the world.
“We look forward to ensuring this partnership serves as the foundation for an enduring legacy, delivering distinguished Vietnamese IP and visual content to the world stage.”
Lotte Cultureworks operates and manages Lotte Cinema, South Korea’s second-largest cinema chain. On the production side, it has developed blockbuster hits such 2018 box-office hit Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days, and political thriller Escape From Mogadishu, the country’s highest-earning film of 2021.
Lotte Entertainment Vietnam is one of the country’s leading film investment and distribution companies, with local box office hits including Blood Moon Party, Furie and Ma Da. Its upcoming local productions include Sister Sister 3, The Last Island, The Last Bullet, Saigon Oppa (working title) and animated feature Thanh Giong.
Toei has extensive experience in film and IP-driven production on a national and international scale, including global blockbuster franchises such as Dragon Ball, One Piece and Slam Dunk, as well as long-running series such as Kamen Rider and Super Sentai.
No comments yet