EXCLUSIVE: Taiwanese filmmakers are set to unite with producers from Korea, Thailand and Indonesia on a slate of six Chinese-language genre films backed by Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) and spearheaded by AR Asia Production.
The titles are the first to be made under the Rocket initiative, a first of its kind programme designed to spark cross-border co-development across Asia of films with global reach.
The first wave of filmmakers includes director Lai Chun Yu, actor-turned-director Su Ta and scriptwriter-turned-director Charles Yang.
The commercially driven projects span romance, horror and action and recently entered a joint development phase. Full screenplays are expected to be completed in six months, ahead of being presented at the pitching session at Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF), which runs from November 4-7.
All six projects are Chinese language and comprise screenwriters and directors from Taiwan, who will work under the guidance of a trio Asian genre powerhouses. Korea’s Bound Entertainment led by Samuel Ha, Thailand’s Transformation Films by Sangar Chatchairungru and Indonesia’s Sinemart Production by David Suwarto will support two projects each.
The budget of each project is capped at $1.6m (NT$50m). Each receives development funding of $18,000 (NT$600,000) from TAICCA.
Korea’s Bound Entertainment has selected Love Loops, a time-travel romance from CalFilms, written by Sting Huang; and Aremengan Mountain, a horror rooted in Southeast Asian mythology from White Crane Films, directed by Lai Chun Yu and written by Eric Xie and Lai.
Thailand’s Transformation Films will partner on Masked Warrior, an action film from Studio76, directed by J Huang and written by Daphne Chou; and Haunted Hills, a psychological horror from Shine International Cinema, directed by Charles Yang and written by Bryia Hou.
Indonesia’s Sinemart Production selected Follow Your Heart, an emotionally charged horror feature from 4U Films, directed by Su Ta and written by Su and Fan Chichi; and Corpse-born Child, a dark horror from Rayeagle, directed by Ling Po-wei and written by Hsu Hao Yi.
The initiative marks a new chapter in TAICCA’s ongoing efforts to position Taiwan as a regional hub for international co-productions, while fostering stronger creative links across the vibrant genre industries in Asia.
“The Rocket programme has brought together Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia in a powerful mix of cultures and talent,” said Ronan Wong, co-founder of Hong Kong-based AR Asia, who serves as executive producer of all six projects.
“Each title reflects a shared ambition to create culturally resonant films with genre appeal that can reach global audiences. Some of the projects have attracted several investors. We will convoy the six co-productions from the writing room until their release in cinema.”
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