07/12/2010

The UK China Animation Forum in Beijing, which began December 6, hopes to generate new business connections between producers, broadcasters, distributors and investors, looking to sell existing programming and co-produce new animated content across TV, film, mobile and online between the two countries.

Jeremy Hunt, the UK’s Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport said, “China is now the world's second largest economy and a key international trade partner for the UK Government. The UK China Animation Forum is a chance for UK businesses to generate advantageous new partnerships, and new revenues, by gaining insight and experience of the opportunities within China first hand. I look forward to learning of the results and to this being one of many creative business links between China and the UK.”

While the UK is a market leader in animation, China’s rapidly expanding industry is no slouch either with its market size estimated at approximately £2bn.

Forum Producer Mark Leaver said, “The UK China Animation Forum will allow ambitious UK companies unprecedented access to the key potential clients and collaborators within the Chinese animation sector. There are significant challenges for any UK business in entering China, but this event gives participants an immediate overview of the market and direct connections to everyone they will need to know, in one room on one day.”

The forum is hosted by UK Trade & Investment, supported by the Cultural Industry Department of Ministry of Culture in China and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in the UK.