Visit to Seoul and Tokyo

Mission accomplished: the animation sector in South Korea and Japan

Representatives of the Fonds national de soutien à la production audiovisuelle and Luxembourg animation companies (Doghouse Films, Fabrique d'Images and Melusine Productions) took part in a promotional and multi-sectoral economic mission to South Korea and Japan from 5 to 11 October, organised by the Chamber of Commerce, chaired by HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke and led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Economy, Étienne Schneider.

Two seminars, one in Seoul and the other in Tokyo, on the animation sector, personal meetings and visits to production studios were on the programme for the film industry delegation. The aim of the visit by the film industry professionals is to find out about developments in the animation sector in South Korea and Japan, make initial contacts with their Asian counterparts and begin negotiations for future collaborations.

"I was positively surprised by the knowledge of the Luxembourg animation sector among the Asian professionals we had the chance to meet. This is the result, of course, of recent international successes, such as the Academy Award nomination for Ernest and Celestine and the Oscar for Monsieur Hublot, but it is above all due to the quality of the work carried out in Luxembourg studios", enthused Filmfong director Guy Daleiden.

"Stephan Roelants, CEO of Melusine Productions and animation representative on the Luxembourg Audiovisual Production Association (ULPA), said: "We are delighted with the success of this trade mission, which enabled us to meet major partners in Asian animation and gave us the opportunity to open doors in an essential sector of international animation that is still too inward-looking.

Photo copyright: © 2014 SIP / Nicolas Bouvy