NETPAC

NETPAC
Name	NETPAC
Formation	1990
Headquarters	Singapore
Type	International non-governmental organization
Purpose	Promotion of Asian cinema
Region served	Asia and global

NETPAC The Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema is an international body established to advocate for, preserve, and disseminate films from Asia through festivals, awards, publications, and institutional partnerships. Founded by filmmakers, critics, and festival organizers linked to institutions such as the Berlin International Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, and Venice Film Festival, it engages with cultural bodies like the Asian Film Archive and academic centers including the University of Hong Kong and the School of Oriental and African Studies. NETPAC collaborates with festivals, broadcasters, and archives to increase visibility for works from regions represented by entities such as South Korea, India, Japan, Iran, and Indonesia.

History

NETPAC arose in the late 1980s and was formally established in 1990 following dialogues at events connected to the Toronto International Film Festival, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, and the Singapore International Film Festival. Early convenings included participants from the Asian Film Festival of Rotterdam, the Hong Kong International Film Festival, and cultural attachés from missions like the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Japan Foundation. The organization built networks with curators from the British Film Institute, scholars from Columbia University and Australian Film Institute affiliates, and filmmakers active in movements exemplified by directors linked to the New Iranian Cinema and the Korean New Wave. Over ensuing decades NETPAC embedded itself within circuits comprising the Busan International Film Festival, Shanghai International Film Festival, and collaboration with museums such as the National Museum of Singapore.

Mission and Objectives

NETPAC's mission emphasizes the promotion, preservation, and critical appreciation of films made in Asia and by diasporic Asian filmmakers. Objectives include supporting premieres at festivals such as the Locarno Film Festival and Berlinale, fostering scholarship tied to programs at institutions like New York University and Jawaharlal Nehru University, and strengthening archival efforts related to collections held by the National Film Archive of India and the Korean Film Archive. It seeks to facilitate distribution channels via partnerships with companies operating across regions including Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central Asia.

Organizational Structure

The organization operates through an international secretariat historically hosted in cities such as Singapore and engages an elected board with representatives from film festivals like the Pusan/Busan International Film Festival and educational institutions such as the University of Tokyo and the University of the Philippines. Working groups include programming panels, archival liaisons, and jury committees linked to festivals such as the Fajr International Film Festival and the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. Regional chapters coordinate activities across subregions connected to national film bodies like the Film Development Council of the Philippines and the National Film Development Corporation of India.

Activities and Programs

Core activities encompass festival juries, retrospectives, publication of critical essays, and training workshops in collaboration with organizations such as the Asia-Europe Foundation, UNESCO cultural initiatives, and film schools like Lodz Film School. NETPAC members curate programs for festivals including the Cairo International Film Festival and the Moscow International Film Festival and run mentorship schemes with archives such as the Filmoteca de Catalunya and distribution partners tied to companies active in markets like Hong Kong and Taiwan. Educational outreach has included masterclasses associated with the Sundance Institute and lecture series at universities such as National University of Singapore.

Awards and Recognition

The organization presents annual awards at numerous festivals, often collaborating with events such as the Singapore International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, and the Osian's-Cinefan Festival. NETPAC juries have awarded films by directors associated with movements like the Philippine New Wave, names emerging from industries in India and Bangladesh, and auteurs from Iranian cinema and South Korea. Recognition has elevated careers and facilitated selection for awards at ceremonies like the Asian Film Awards and entries for festivals such as Cannes and Berlin.

Membership and Chapters

Membership comprises filmmakers, critics, programmers, and scholars from cities and institutions including Seoul, Mumbai, Tokyo, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Dhaka, and universities such as Peking University and Seoul National University. Chapters operate regionally with active presence at festivals like Dhaka International Film Festival and collaborations with national bodies such as the National Film Development Corporation in several countries. Membership selection is conducted by committees drawing nominees from film academies, festival teams, and cultural organizations such as the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Impact and Criticism

Impact: NETPAC has amplified visibility for films from underrepresented Asian regions, aiding filmmakers who later gained recognition at the Academy Awards and major festivals like Cannes and Venice. Its archival and curatorial work has strengthened holdings in institutions such as the National Film Archive of India and the Korean Film Archive, and influenced programming at festivals including Busan and Rotterdam. Criticism: Observers from academic circles at institutions like SOAS University of London and commentators associated with outlets such as Variety and Sight & Sound have argued that selection practices sometimes privilege urban centers like Mumbai and Seoul over peripheral cinemas in regions such as Central Asia and South Pacific; others have questioned transparency compared with governance models at organizations like the British Film Institute and festival committees at Cannes.

Category:Film organisations