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Goldfinch takes flight: expanding its reach into Asia with a new Singapore office
In a bold and exciting move, U.K.-based entertainment financier Goldfinch is set to spread its wings into the Asian market, with plans to open an office in Singapore by the end of 2024. This strategic expansion marks a significant milestone as the company celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Reinventing financing for Asian media projects
Goldfinch’s entry into Asia comes with a mission to implement innovative, credit-based financing facilities to support film and television projects across the region. Over the last decade, Goldfinch has successfully closed $250 million in deals across 300 projects, showcasing their formidable expertise in the industry. This includes notable productions like the BFI London Film Festival title, “Quant” (check it out here), and the Raindance selection, “A Bird Flew In.”
Birth of Goldfinch Asia
In conjunction with the new office, Goldfinch is launching Goldfinch Asia, a brand-new operating entity. Key to this expansion, Singapore-based entertainment financing firm Aurora Global Media Capital, established in 2017, will merge into this new entity. The merger signifies a synergy of deep expertise and industry knowledge.
Leadership redefined
Justin Deimen, the founder of Aurora Global Media Capital, joins Goldfinch Asia as a managing partner. With over a decade of experience in creative entrepreneurship and independent cross-border producing, Deimen is set to bring a wealth of knowledge and insight. His previous engagements include a notable tenure with 108 Media and his current role as executive director of the Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association, an ASEAN-focused creative producing trade organization.
Working alongside Deimen, Goldfinch’s senior leadership team, CEO Kirsty Bell and COO Phil McKenzie, will guide the new entity. Their extensive experience in the Western indie system will be invaluable as Goldfinch integrates proven funding models into the Asian market.
Expanded operations
Goldfinch Asia will extend its operations across various high-growth APAC markets, including South Korea, India, Japan, Australia/New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. Bringing additional leadership strength, David Webster, CEO of The Carrot Collective and co-founder of AI Create, joins as a director. Webster’s two decades of experience in venture building and creative leadership, including roles with BBH Asia, are set to bolster Goldfinch Asia’s strategic direction.
Innovative financial models
Goldfinch Asia aims to implement a suite of credit-driven funding models that have proven successful in Europe and North America. These models include cashflowing of tax incentives, financing pre-sales and post-sale contracts, media inventory financing, and gap financing for unsold production rights. This sophisticated approach to financing is designed to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving content industry.
Supporting the evolving content landscape
Beyond financing, Goldfinch Asia will offer executive producing and sales consultancy services, crucial for structuring, packaging, and monetizing productions. This comprehensive support aims to help local producers navigate the complexities of the content industry, enhancing their projects’ market viability.
A market ready for change
Bell and McKenzie emphasized the strategic timing of this expansion, citing the rising global demand for Asian content and the growth of domestic production. They see an enormous opportunity to apply Goldfinch’s established funding and monetization models to the Asian market, benefiting investors, producers, and buyers alike. The company aims to tailor their processes to be culturally specific, fostering strong roots and partnerships in the region.
Deimen adds that shifting from equity-centric to credit-based investment in Asian productions will significantly mature the regional industry. This change allows independent producers to retain more control over their projects, leading to an increased volume of high-quality content. Ultimately, it positions Asian content and filmmakers more favorably within the global market, igniting further value creation across the media industry.
Goldfinch’s ongoing contributions
Goldfinch continues to make significant contributions to the film industry through its genre production label, Dreamtown Entertainment, and has produced distinguished documentaries under its Goldfinch Entertainment banner. Additionally, the company runs an Oscar and BAFTA-winning short film fund known as First Flights.
As Goldfinch Asia embarks on this new journey, the market anticipates a transformative impact on the landscape of Asian film and television production. The blend of financial innovation and seasoned leadership promises to usher in a new era of opportunities and growth.
Join us in following the developments of this exciting venture, and keep up with the latest updates by sharing this story on your favorite social media platforms. Stay tuned for more insights and advancements in the world of film and entertainment!
