In their diverse cultures, they found commonalities.

Film commissioners from all over Asia met in Manila recently to discuss vital issues affecting the movie industries in their respective countries.

Hosted by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the meeting of the Asian Film Commissioners? Network (AFCNet) was held for three days in June.

Seven delegates from five countries discussed such urgent issues as censorship, dwindling audience patronage due to Hollywood influx, and lack of funds, marketing support and incentives, among others.

?Although we are competitors, we share common problems and can help each other find solutions,? said Philippine representative Digna H. Santiago, executive director of the Philippine Film Export Services Office which is under the FDCP.

?This meeting is an important step in making the Philippines a shooting venue for foreign productions. The event shows that the Philippines is considered a major player among film commissioners in Asia,? said Rolando S. Atienza, FDCP head.

Among the AFCNet board members present at the meeting were president Park Kwang-Su (Busan Film Commission director) and Kim Soo-Ah (Korea), Deborah Gabinetti (director of the Bali Film Office, Indonesia), Rafayadi Rahman (senior executive of Multimedia Development Corporation, Malaysia), and Toshihiko Inoue (director of the Sapporo-Hokkaido Contents Strategy Organization, Japan).

Multiplier effect

?We learned from the Indonesian delegate that their film industry doesn?t get support from their government, but the Julia Roberts film ?Eat, Pray, Love? was shot in Bali,? noted Santiago.

Attracting big-budget foreign productions has a ?multiplier effect on, and can contribute millions of dollars to, the local economy,? Santiago added.

He reported that Dominique Farruga?s ?Identity Swap,? a big French production, was recently shot in Cebu, while US indie filmmaker John Sayles? ?Amigo,? which recently made it as an entry in the San Sebastian Film Festival, was shot entirely in Bohol.

An organization of professional film commissions and production-service companies in the Asia-Pacific region, the AFCNet has made it its goal to ?disseminate information ? to help each member country attract foreign productions in their area.?

Marketing blitz

Park suggested a ?marketing campaign? that will coincide with the organization?s 10th anniversary in 2013.

Park described it as a ?collective project? that would address obstacles to the growth of the Asian film industry.

The members decided to publish a compilation, inspired by the films ?New York, I Love You? and ?Paris, Je T?aime.? The collection will consist of Asian short stories that will showcase each country?s unique shooting and tourist sites.

Park also announced that ?co-production? will be the main topic in the next Asia Film Policy Forum, to be held during the Pusan Film Festival on Oct. 10 and 11. It?s the third time for the Asia Film Policy Forum to be held within the Busan International Film Commission and Industry Showcase.