Bound for Success—Cornerstone of Financing Prudently
Completing the film financing ecosystem across Asia to mitigate risks, the region needs profiles like Film Finances International in the development of a more mature financing approach
Some notable credits that FFI has worked on across Asia
As the originator of the completion bond business for the entertainment industry since 1950, Film Finances International has successfully bonded over 7,000 projects around the world, including dozens of productions in China, Japan, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Its global production team tracks every project’s progress from early pre-production through final delivery for distribution. This includes working with producers to manage production issues, reviewing each project’s viability for success based on the key production elements.
“We have bonded dozens of projects across Asia and had great experiences working with local production partners,” said Steve Berman, Executive Vice President of Film Finances International.
Some notable credits that FFI has worked on are Lost in Translation (Japan), The Great Wall (China), Monkey Man (Indonesia), Marco Polo (Malaysia), Rambo (Thailand), Past Lives (South Korea), City of Ghosts (Cambodia), Bleeding Steel (Taiwan), and Slumdog Millionaire (India).
Where Asia is at in realising potential within the film financing realm
“We have seen potential for growth in both financing and production throughout Asia since I joined FFI over 25 years ago,” said Steve. “That potential is now greater than ever due to global factors driving the need for both domestic Asian content and for international productions to look to Asia for filming locations.”
Streaming has allowed projects from Asia to find global audiences—these new buyers open up opportunities for new financiers to enter the marketplace. As well, the rising cost of physical production in North America and Europe is forcing studios and producers to look for alternate filming sites globally.
Steve Berman
Executive Vice President
Film Finances International.
“In order for this potential to be fully realised, Asian countries will likely need to implement meaningful production incentives along with an expansion of banks or other lenders willing to provide collateralised funding to projects,” Steve revealed. “We already know firsthand that there are fantastic crews and shooting infrastructure throughout Asia, but progress is still needed on the financing side.”
How can things change for the better?
“It takes a village!” Steve declared, illuminating that like any global industry, entertainment production needs several specialised partners working together to create a sustainable business ecosystem.
“That collaboration is precisely how Film Finances has helped the industry grow around the world,” Steve continued. “As an example, a typical project involves the producers, domestic and foreign distributors, a sales agent, a senior financier lending against distribution contracts, a government agency issuing a production incentive, a financier lending against that incentive, and in many cases, other equity financiers.
“The completion bond that FFI provides is often the linchpin that makes it possible for all these parties to come together and allow a project to move forward,” explained Steve.
Film production is inherently risky, and the bond helps mitigate those risk for all parties.
“In 1950, our company was founded in London with the idea of building a safe bridge between entrepreneurial producers and new sources of funding. That innovation changed the film landscape and ushered in an era of independent cinema that produced some of the most celebrated films of the last 75 years,” Steve noted.
Film Finances International has long sought to bring this model to Asia. The producers and talent exist and there is a global market for the product. With the protection of a bond, there is anticipation to attract more financing partners.
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Catch Steve at the Leaders Dialogue on Dec 2, 2025—exclusively at ATF.