Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke will finance South Korean newcomer Baek Seung-Hoon to direct a comedy called "Flying Duck," he announced on October 13.

Jia Zhangke [sohu.com]

The Golden Lion-winning director announced the project at the ongoing Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) in Busan, South Korea, and said he viewed it as an important step in his endeavor to help fresh directors realize their dreams.

"Flying Duck" is one of four films to benefit from Jia's new-director plan, which will finance new directors in the coming year with 100 million yuan (US$14.7 million) of funds raised by Jia's production company, Xstream Pictures.

The film's director, Baek Seung-Hoon, has studied at Beijing Film Academy and speaks fluent Chinese. He calls his first feature film a "cross-border romance." The film will be led by Chinese actress Ni Hongjie and Korean actor Choi Joon-Suk.

Veteran Chinese actors Jackie Chan and Ge You are also in talks to appear in the picture.

Jia Zhangke, who will produce the film, says he is looking forward to discovering more young talent for Asian cinema.

Co-productions between different Asian countries, particularly between China and South Korea, have been warmly received following the success of such films as "The Myth", which stars Jackie Chan and Korean actress Kim Hee-Seon, and "Sophie's Revenge," starring Zhang Ziyi and So Ji-Sub.

The latest successful example is the romantic flick "Chengdu, I Love You", co-directed by Fruit Chan and Cui Jian from China, and Hur Jin-Ho from South Korea. The film was chosen to close the Venice International Film Festival last month, and is enjoying strong popularity among distributors.

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