Fox International Productions, the global arm of U.S. film production company 21st Century Fox, plans to produce more films in Korea, according to its president Tomas Jegues.

“We’re currently making one film a year here, but we’re stepping up production to three or four films a year,” said Jegues after the press screening of Fox International’s most recent project, director Na Hong-jin’s “The Wailing,” which is also known as “Goksung.” The film has been invited to screen at Cannes Film Festival’s Out of Competition category next week.   

“(This film) shows a perfect example of the kind of films and filmmakers we want to work with,” said Jegues. “(Na) is a man with a unique vision who has made three very different films,” he said, referring to Na’s “The Chaser” (2008) and “The Yellow Sea” (2010), a film in which Fox International was an investor.

“We gave (Na) complete creative freedom and you see why. There’s a sense of phenomenal drama ... and character development (in “The Wailing”). We’re in the business of doing commercial films with artistic value, ones that will bring audiences to theaters,” Jegues said.

“The Wailing” marks “just the beginning” of Fox International’s expansion in Korea, Jegues said, adding, “I’m here to start a whole round of meetings with filmmakers this week. We’ll have more to talk about in six months. ... The local films we’re making here are now competing with Hollywood films,” he said.

Fox International has previously produced local films “Running Man” (2013) and “Slow Video” (2014), which achieved moderate box office success, and Im Sang-soo’s “Intimate Enemies” in 2015.

Fox International will also be concentrating on the Chinese market, according to Jegues.

“The creative forces in (Asian markets) are so powerful and so good. We’re going to see more films all across Asia going forward,” he said.

By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com)