Fostering creativity and collaboration through cross-cultural filmmaking: a report on the Co-Create Cinema Australia-Korea Film Lab

This paper outlines the Co-Create Cinema: Australia-Korea Film Lab (2024), a creative collaboration between emerging filmmakers from the two Asia-Pacific nations. The project brought together five creatives who were tasked with producing one short film together over five days under the mentorship of screen industry professionals from both countries. Co-Create was financed by the Australia-Korea Foundation and led by the Asia Pacific Screen Academy in partnership with Griffith Film School. This initiative aimed to foster a creative co-production mindset that prioritises the human dimensions of cross-cultural filmmaking – connection, collaboration, and cultural awareness. This article discusses the project’s methods and findings, offering a critical reflection on its outcomes, including the film artefact and the design of the lab. It concludes by providing recommendations to inform similar cross-cultural initiatives.