Optimism for Asia Pacific film industry

Singapore/Brisbane – Senator Chris Dodd, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), recently delivered the keynote address at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) 2011.

Senator Dodd addressed an audience of diplomats, state government ministers, APSA filmmakers, and business leaders at Queensland’s Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane, Australia.

Senator Dodd said in his speech that film remains a powerful economic force even in times of global uncertainty. “I am proud to report that the film industry remains a key driver of economic growth around the globe. Make no mistake: These are not easy times for anyone. But the film industry remains strong and resilient.”

He cautioned that while the film business was currently going through an evolutionary stage of digital innovation – and delivering exciting new ways of seeing films to audiences, content theft remained a serious threat. “But in the midst of this time of remarkable change, our industry is also facing new challenges. Among the most imposing of them is the persistent, pernicious and widening threat of content theft.”

Senator Dodd also suggested that film offers a great way to experience shared values and the dreams of others. “And for filmmakers in Hollywood or Shanghai or Tehran or Brisbane, the fundamentals of what makes our industry work are the same. A good story, well-told, can always find an audience. The films we’re honoring this week are examples of what this diverse region can produce.”