The East Asia Film Festival Ireland brings key film talents from East Asia to Irish audiences whether this is through our cinema screenings, commissioned online interviews or hosting in-person visits.

We are delighted to welcome Japanese documentary filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda and Taiwanese producer Chuti Chang in conversation with Irish film producer Edwina Forkin to discuss ‘PRODUCING INDEPENDENT CINEMA IN A GLOBALISED ENVIRONMENT’.

Chuti Chang is an independent film producer from Taiwan. From 2000 to 2019, she worked as an international coordinator and producer with 3H Productions, helmed by the legendary Hou Hsiao-Hsien. Now working with Volos Films, Chuti has produced notable films including Far Way Eyes (2021), A Holy Family (2022) and The Settlers (2023), and is involved in developing several upcoming projects.

Kazuhiro Soda is an award-winning Japanese independent director, screenwriter, cinematographer, producer, author. He spent many years in New York as correspondent producing documentaries for NHK, before directing his first ‘Observational Film’, Campaign (2007), winning the Peabody Award for Best Documentary. Among his past celebrated films are Zero (2020), Inland Sea (2018), The Big House (2018), The Oyster Factory (2015), and Mental (2009).

Edwina Forkin is the main producer at Zanzibar Films founded in 1998, an Irish production company which specialises in international co-productions, logistics and legal issues, as well as organising budgeting, funding and production scheduling.  With more than 20 years of production experience under her belt, Forkin has produced over 41 award winning film and TV productions.