The global film industry is in uncertainty as a result of Donald Trump’s most recent announcement that he will impose 100 % tariffs on movies made outside of the United States.
However, Singaporean filmmakers and producers are working harder to develop cross-border partnerships even as the White House is still unsure about how it will be implemented.
International collaborations are essential for both production and distribution, according to them, and they are essential to sustaining growth in the global film environment.
Ms. Tan Si En, co-producer of A Important Spirit, a mystical black comedy romantic movie that was produced in collaboration with Singapore, Thailand, and France, is one of these industry leaders.
The film’s world premiere is scheduled for Friday ( May 17 ) at Cannes, the biggest film festival in the world.
Ms. Tan told CNA that while it is too early to predict the impact of the taxes, they did “make the business much more challenging than it already is.”
” I think it will be complicated because, on the one hand, the tariffs may encourage more US production, but, perhaps, they may also create Asia a much more attractive place to produce tales from our side of the world,” she said.
” I hope the price will prompt us to reconsider our global approach as producers.” Perhaps it will help us put more emphasis on advertising channels like film festivals or film markets like Cannes Film Festival.
When Ms. Tan makes her way to the European area this week, she anticipates seeing the sector come together to determine what will happen next. This includes how to distribute movies to various nations and people.
” I hope that people may think creatively through various kinds of co-operations, perhaps outside the US,” she continued.
” It might be an opportunity for our pictures to reach different websites, or for platforms to explore perhaps lands that they have been neglecting outside of the US,” said the filmmaker.