Nation Group plans documentary tie-ups

The Nation Group is teaming up with television networks in the Asia-Pacific region to produce international-standard documentary films for digital television stations, Nation Multimedia Group editor-in-chief Thepchai Yong revealed yesterday.

The rights for the digital stations will be auctioned later this year,

Thepchai added that the Nation Group was also planning to produce several documentaries reflecting regional lifestyles, history and culture, as well as issues in Asia-Pacific.

He also exchanged views on documentary production with executives from several television stations at the "Asian Side of the Doc" - the biggest yearly forum and exhibition featuring Asian documentaries held in Kuala Lumpur from March 19-22.

Executives of leading television stations, independent documentary producers and distributors who are at the forefront of the sector from 35 countries attended the event.

The main objective of the forum is to provide a stage where documentary producers and television stations in Asia and other regions can meet and share experiences as well as co-produce documentaries.

Thepchai met Afendi Hamdan, chairman of Malaysia's state-run National Film Development Corporation, which has been playing a role in promoting the production of films and documentaries in Malaysia. They shared ideas on producing a documentary on Thailand's violence-torn three southernmost provinces.

"We agree that both Thai and Malaysian television stations should help people in the two countries understand the situation in the South through a documentary that provides them with well-rounded information from both sides," he said.

The plan, which will mark the first such cooperation between the two countries, is being formulated as the Malaysian government plays a mediator's role to bring about peace talks between the Thai government and the insurgent group Barisan Revolusi Nasional.