The Asia Pacific Actors Network (APAN) saw its launch today (Oct 5) at the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF).

Headed by veteran Korean actors Ahn Sung-ki, Kang Soo-yeon and Park Joong-hoon, APAN is creating a film development fund to provide pre-production costs to up-and-coming directors, with funds from producer/distributor M&FC, headed by music composer Cho Seung-woo.

APAN also held a marathon of conferences with star-studded panels which included Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park, Jason Scott Lee, Jang Hyuck, Kato Masaya, Wong Fann, joined by agents such as Endeavor's Daisy Wu, Andrew Ooi (who represents Maggie Q) and Yeongbum Jung (Star J Entertainment).

The panels discussed the aims and goals of the new network, how to organise it, and compared international casting experiences. Panelists pointed to the need to create a database and streamline the process of how to find and contact actors in different countries.

Leading talent agencies Namoo Actors (Korea) and Chengtian (China) also signed an exclusive agreement on organising a Korea-China actors' network between the two companies. Kim Jong-do, head of Namoo, and Li Yuqi, vice president of Chengtian, signed the agreement and spoke of the need for further shared data about talent in different countries when casting for international productions.

Actors such as Kim Tae-hee, Kim Ji-su, and Kim So-yeon from Namoo and Yan Tang, Wei Kang, Yi Yan Jiang and Song Jia from Chentian, were part of the exchange and were present at the ceremony. Moon Geun-young and Song Ji-hyo from Namoo are also part of the exchange.

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