Singapore and Japan signed an agreement Friday to boost bilateral cooperation in the film and television industry.
The Common Statement of Policy on Film, Television and Video Co-Production comes under the framework of the Japan-Singapore free trade agreement, signed in January.
The agreement is aimed at boosting funding sources, exposure and links between industry players from both countries, according to a statement released by the Singapore government.
Japanese Ambassador to Singapore Kunihiko Makita and Tan Chin Nam, Singapore's permanent secretary for information, communications and the arts, signed the pact, which seeks to "promote cultural understanding between the two countries by encouraging audiovisual cooperation in each other's film and television industry."
It will allow producers to apply for funds from Japan or Singapore and facilitate linkups between production houses and broadcasters in the two countries.
The Japan Foundation will offer subsidies of up to 5 million yen for each support project, while the Singapore Broadcasting Authority and the Singapore Film Commission are each prepared to commit up to 1 million Singaporean dollars (about 70 million yen) every year to support coproduction projects.
"The respective producers would benefit from greater exposure and accessibility to each other's film and television market," the statement said.