Unlocking the APAC Market: What's Selling, What's Getting Funded, and How Projects Move Forward
- EXNW Stage (map)
As the APAC screen sector becomes increasingly competitive and financially complex, success now depends on navigating fragmented financing systems, evolving incentives, and cross-border collaboration at scale. This session brings together senior leaders in production, financing, and international dealmaking to examine how projects are actually structured, funded, and moved forward across the region. The discussion will explore what content is being greenlit in a profitability-driven streaming environment, how shifting platform strategies are reshaping commissioning, and how producers can work across diverse regulatory and funding landscapes. It will also address where co-productions succeed or fail, how market access is secured, and what it takes to build sustainable partnerships across Asia-Pacific. Attendees will gain practical insight into financing strategies, deal structures, and pathways to get projects from development to distribution in one of the world’s most dynamic screen markets.
Co-founder & Producer, Third Culture Content
Janice Chua is a global film and TV producer who serves as co-founder of Third Culture Content. Chua was the vice president of the International Division at Imagine Entertainment, where she managed the development and production of local language content in international territories, including Taiwan Crime Stories, which was nominated for twelve awards in Taiwan's Golden Bell and two awards in Busan's Asia Contents Awards and Global OTT Awards. Prior to that, Chua was Vice President of Development and Production Asia at Ivanhoe Pictures, where she developed and packaged Chinese-language projects for China and Southeast Asia. Chua also served as one of the producers of Crazy Rich Asians. Born and raised in Singapore, Chua started her career in China as an international film sales manager. She then became Director of International at Beijing Galloping Horse, overseeing international business and co-productions such as John Woo's The Crossing.
Producer, Kanvas Creations Co. Ltd
Jessica Kam-Engle is a seasoned TV/film producer. She is founder of the pan-Asia production company Kanvas Creations, and has recently helped launch CreAsia Studio for Banijay Group as their production arm in SE Asia. Previously, she was Head of Content and Development for Disney+ APAC, and Head of Original Production for HBO Asia. In 2008-16, she was a film producer in Beijing/Hong Kong and produced 10 feature films including critically acclaimed The Piano in a Factory. She also had stints at Celestial Pictures, MTV Asia, MGM Gold Network and Dow Jones Newswires.
Manager, CJ ENM
Currently, KayLynn is CJ CJM Music Global Business Manager focused on global business development, localizing show formats for the West (North/South America, MENA, Europe), and designing new entertainment projects for linear channels and OTT platforms. Previously she was CJ ENM Senior Associate Producer in New Business Development and IP production, leading large-scale entertainment formats including PRODUCE 101 JAPAN. Contributed to launching and positioning artist groups such as JO1, INI, and ME:I, each achieving consistent million-unit sales and strong commercial success across domestic and international markets.
Moderated by:
CEO/Founder, The Collectiv Digital Entertainment Ltd.
Tinnie Chow is Founder and CEO of The Collectiv Digital Entertainment, leading PLAY IT FORWARD, a digital-first distribution and audience development initiative focused on exporting Canadian BIPOC films to global audiences. With over 20 years of experience across television, film, journalism, and digital media, she has held leadership roles at MTV, CBC, META working in the intersection between broadcast, digital, social media and technology. Tinnie led the launch of MTV Chi and MTV K, the first channels dedicated to Asian Americans, and served as Director of Programming for MTV China in Beijing. She is now based in Vancouver and championing diverse storytelling for Canadian filmmakers under the Play it Forward initiative, supported by Telefilm.
EXNW is supported, in part, by a contribution from Global Affairs Canada’s CanExport Associations program.
EXNW is supported, in part, by a contribution from Global Affairs Canada’s CanExport Associations program.
Founded in 1967, Telefilm Canada is a Crown corporation that invests in the development, production, promotion and distribution of the Canadian and Indigenous audiovisual industry. As the largest investor in Canadian cinema, Telefilm supports the economic power and cultural impact of the audiovisual sector in collaboration with industry players. Additionally, Telefilm provides recommendations to the Department of Canadian Heritage regarding the certification of treaty-based audiovisual co-productions, and administers programs of the Canada Media Fund. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Letterboxd.
The Canadian Independent Screen Fund for BPOC Creators (CISF) is Canada's only national fund dedicated to supporting Black and racialized creators by filling strategic gaps in the funding ecosystem and helping production companies build capacity, scale their operations, and access new market opportunities.
VP, Head of Distribution, KC Global Media Asia LLC
Bio +
Bonnie is responsible for securing new partnerships and leading key account negotiations for all KC Global Media channels across Southeast Asia excluding Indonesia, and Pacific Islands, to expand the brand’s presence and create new revenue streams. In addition to affiliate sales, Bonnie oversees the pre-selling of scripted content to various platforms and investors, and scouting for co-production opportunities with production houses and platforms across the region. Indonesia-born Bonnie started her media and entertainment career at Ying Group Pte Ltd. She was part of the film distribution team at The Lippo Group, under the Cinepolis Chain based in Jakarta, handling content acquisitions, marketing, and distribution. Prior to joining KC Global Media, Bonnie handled Affiliate Sales and Content Distribution for WarnerBros Discovery. There, she was responsible for the distribution and renewal of CNN, HBO and Cartoon Network with major broadcasting partners including such as Astro, Telkomsel, Mola TV, MNC Vision, First Media, Singtel, and Starhub.