Closer ties with the film industries of China and Korea are being fostered.
Film Otago Southland is hosting a delegation of screen professionals in Wakatipu this week.
Southern film-makers mingled with the four guest producers and representatives from Otago-Southland, Wellington and Auckland in a function in Surreal bar last night, after the visitors were treated to a scenic afternoon of Skyline Gondola and TSS Earnslaw trips. The entourage visited locations used in The Lord of the Rings and is visiting Arrowtown today.
The delegates are in New Zealand as part of the Asia-Pacific Producers' Network (APN), a group of more than 80 leading screen producers, mainly from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and New Zealand.
The network was formed by producers, studios and distributors in 2005 to encourage co-productions, collaboration and joint projects.
The sixth annual network symposium was held in Auckland during the weekend and was described as one of the most powerful groups of film-makers to visit New Zealand.
More than 15 projects were pitched and discussed at the gathering in South Korea last year.
The delegation's visit coincides with optimism a $2 million international Fujifilm television commercial, which features panoramic shots of Queenstown, will give New Zealand tourism a boost.
The commercial for the Japanese camera manufacturer is on air in more than 26 countries. It was filmed earlier this year at the Kawarau bridge, where AJ Hackett Bungy operates; and at Skippers Canyon bridge.
Fujifilm New Zealand general manager Stephen Hodson, of Auckland, said in a statement the commercial would also be streamed online to global markets, and stills from the shoot would be used in product brochures for the company's new range.
Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt said featuring Queenstown's scenery and one of its adventure experiences in the commercial would give the resort "invaluable global exposure".
