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Promotional notice for the global capacity-building program on Netflix’s global strategy and production. <Netflix>

Netflix and the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) will hold a global capacity-building program on Nov. 10 at the Cinematheque of the Korean Film Archive (KOFA) for about 100 working film and video professionals and aspiring filmmakers. The instructors are Netflix staff who handle content planning and production, and they will share the development strategies and production experience the company has built up in the global market.

The program is part of a talent development memorandum of understanding that Netflix first signed with KOFIC and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) in 2023 and has now maintained for four years. Applicants must have studied film or video or have professional experience in the field, and applications are open through Oct. 28 on the KAFA website (www.kafa.ac).

From ‘Local First’ Development to How Netflix Produces

The program consists of two lectures and a panel discussion. The first lecture, “Understanding Netflix’s Global Strategy: Development in the Local First Era,” covers the Local First concept — an approach that builds projects from the emotions, everyday culture and interests of viewers in a given territory. The lecture will trace how stories that resonate with Korean audiences reach viewers worldwide.

The second lecture, “Understanding Netflix Production for Korea’s Audiovisual Industry Professionals,” shifts to the production stage. It covers the process by which a creator’s concept becomes a finished work, and how Netflix works with partner companies along the way. A panel discussion and a Q&A session follow the lectures.

A KOFIC official said the program is an occasion for Netflix to share its accumulated experience in content development and production with Korean filmmakers, and that it is expected to help raise expertise participants can apply on set. The official added that KOFIC will continue to widen growth opportunities for the next generation of filmmakers and support the competitiveness of Korean cinema.

A Netflix official said helping the talent who will lead the future of Korean film build varied experience and develop their creative skills matters to the company’s growth alongside the Korean creative ecosystem. The official added that Netflix will keep working with KOFIC to share its development and production experience and to create opportunities for next-generation filmmakers to turn their own stories into finished works.

A Partnership Built at the Korean Academy of Film Arts

Education cooperation between KOFIC and Netflix has centered on the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA), which operates under KOFIC. Netflix signed an agreement with KOFIC in 2023 and that year sponsored KAFA’s education programs and creative grants for outstanding participants.

In January 2025, the KAFA x Netflix masterclass brought in writers and directors from abroad to give lectures and one-on-one mentoring to selected directors. At the KAFA and Neo Sora masterclass held in Busan the same year, Sora — the director of Happyend, The Chicken and Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus — spoke to young creators about his own directing experience.

Netflix said it has also widened release opportunities for emerging creators. According to the company, one-third of the Korean series and films it released over the past three years were debut works by first-time directors and writers, and four of the seven Korean films it released in 2025 were directed by first-time filmmakers. The session on Nov. 10 runs at the KOFA Cinematheque, with applications accepted through Oct. 28.

Sources

• Dong-A Ilbo, “Netflix and KOFIC to Hold Global Capacity-Building Program for 100 Filmmakers,” 2026.10.21

• Etoday, “KOFIC to Pass On Global Development and Production Experience to Next-Generation Korean Filmmakers With Netflix,” 2026.10.21

• Financial News, “Netflix Nurtures Korean Film Talent — Shares Global Production Know-How With KOFIC,” 2026.10.21

• EBN, “[Digital & Now] Netflix and KOFIC to Develop Next-Generation Korean Film Talent,” 2026.10.21

• Digital Today, “Netflix Signs MOU With KOCCA and KOFIC for Fourth Consecutive Year to Train K-Content Talent,” 2026.04.29

• Metro Seoul, “Netflix to Support Emerging K-Content Talent Through Cooperation With the Korean Film Council,” 2023.08.09