Janet Yang to Close Taiwan Content Fest With Keynote on Asian Cinema’s Global Push

Janet Yang, the first Asian American to lead the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will cap off the Taiwan Creative Content Fest with a keynote address exploring how Asian filmmakers can expand their reach in international markets.

The Emmy and Golden Globe winner, known for producing “The Joy Luck Club,” “Over the Moon” and “Indictment: The McMartin Trial,” is among more than 25 international speakers at the Taiwan Creative Content Agency’s annual gathering.

Jane Wu, who helmed the Emmy-winning animated Netflix series “Blue Eye Samurai,” will trace her career path from storyboard artist to director and discuss working across borders with various production companies.

On the Korean front, Sean Saeyoon Shim of “Moving” producer Mr. Romance and Youngsun Soh from A+E Global Media Korea will address funding and distribution tactics for international projects.

Southeast Asian platforms are sending their content chiefs to discuss acquisition priorities: Le Thuy Trang from Vietnam’s FPT Play, Komin Aoudomphan from Thailand’s True Digital Group, and Roland Lee from Malaysia’s Astro will reveal what drives their programming decisions for Asian content.

Japanese storytelling will get its own spotlight through Mika Omori, who penned “Hitori de Shinitai” and “The Unfettered Shogun,” along with NHK’s “Anpan” producers Ken Kurasai and Yuki Uchida. Their panel examines how period dramas blend fact and fiction.

Three Golden Bell Awards Best Actress contenders – Ning Chang, Alice Ko and Allison Lin – will appear together for the first time to discuss career trajectories and roles for women both in front of and behind the camera.

TAICCA chair Sue Wang said the industry is being reshaped by shifts in technology, business models and investment strategies, and noted that observing developments in South Korea, the U.S., Japan, France and Southeast Asia can sharpen Taiwan’s competitive edge internationally.

The forum’s dozen sessions span topics including variety formats, IP development and AI applications. It runs Nov. 4-7 at Taipei’s Nangang Exhibition Center.