Netflix unveiled an expanded slate of creative development initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region during its Creative Asia conference at the Busan International Film Festival, with executives highlighting the company’s commitment to nurturing local talent and improving production standards.
Speaking at the conference, Karen Park, BIFF program director, emphasized the shifting landscape for Asian cinema. “Asian creativity has always been there — it just wasn’t being seen,” Park said. “Now, thanks to global platforms and shifting attitudes, that’s finally changing. The Busan International Film Festival has become a massive stage for showcasing Asian cinema to the world.”
Park credited Netflix’s global reach with breaking down cultural barriers, noting that “now that everyone is watching ‘Squid Game,’ subtitles aren’t scary any more.” She added that the shift represents more than just consumption: “People are starting to see Asian stories as complex, emotional, not ‘oriental’, not ‘exotic’, but universal human stories.”
Minyoung Kim, Netflix’s APAC VP of content (ex-India), outlined the company’s partnership philosophy. “Authenticity isn’t a formula – it’s founded in relationships,” Kim said. “The only way to achieve that is to work with local creators, local talent, and a wide variety of the best local production partners.” Since beginning local productions nearly a decade ago, Netflix has partnered with over 250 local production partners across the APAC region.
The company unveiled several new and expanding initiatives. In Australia, Netflix is launching Lumina, a program providing neurodiverse individuals with pathways into the visual effects industry through partnership with Bus Stop Films. Participants will receive training and on-set work placement on the upcoming local production “My Brilliant Career.”
Creative Asia itself is expanding to the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival in Indonesia this December, connecting emerging Southeast Asian creators with masterclasses and networking opportunities.
Netflix’s regional training programs have shown significant impact. The company’s VFX Academy in Korea, now in its fifth iteration, has trained more than 330 students over 2.5 years, with 70% securing industry jobs through partnerships with studios including Eyeline Studios, Westworld, VA Corp, Dexter Studios, and Gulliver Studios.
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Other ongoing initiatives include the Reel Life program in Southeast Asia, which recently concluded its third annual event in Bangkok with 100 participants, and on-the-job training programs in Taiwan for emerging writers and production professionals working on Netflix Originals projects.
Sung Q Lee, Netflix’s APAC head of roduction, underscored the company’s focus on improving working conditions. “Our mission isn’t simply to comply with local standards, but to help set new ones,” Lee said. “We also want production teams to have access to the best skills training, so they can use the latest technology or forge new career paths in jobs that have never existed in their countries before.”
A production panel featuring Yongsu Lee (producer, Korea), Chartchai “Nat” Ketnust (CEO of Whitelight, Thailand), and Momoko Nishiyama (intimacy coordinator, Japan) highlighted evolving industry practices. Lee, who is producing the upcoming Netflix series “Can This Love Be Translated?”, described implementing daily crew briefings to maintain safety standards across international locations.
Nishiyama noted the growing acceptance of intimacy coordinators in Japan, a role that emerged only five years ago. “People on set feel safer, more empowered to speak up, and there’s much more open discussion,” she said. “Netflix brings in separate experts for things like mental health, harassment, and respect training.”
From 2021-24, Netflix’s skills and talent development initiatives across APAC have reached more than 8,000 people, demonstrating the company’s commitment to building sustainable creative ecosystems throughout the region.
From Variety US