Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM is doubling down on its commitment to Asian storytelling with the launch of First Light StoryHouse, a new label designed to elevate Asian and Asian American narratives on the global stage.
The venture was conceived and will be jointly overseen by three founding partners: CJ vice chair Miky Lee, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning producer Janet Yang, who recently completed her tenure as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; and Dominic Ng, chair and CEO of East West Bank.
Operating under CJ ENM’s new Asian Content Initiative, First Light StoryHouse will focus on identifying, developing and supporting authentic Asian and Asian American stories across film and scripted television. The label plans to invest early in the development phase, serving as co-producer to help bring market-ready projects to fruition before securing partnerships with studios, production companies and streaming platforms.
“Recent successes from Asian storytellers have shown the potential and authenticity of their stories,” said Lee. “Through this effort, we aim to spotlight these voices, believing in the power of storytelling to bridge cultures. Janet Yang and Dominic Ng have long championed this mission, and together, we are committed to empowering these stories on the global stage.”
Yang, who made history as the first Asian American to serve as Academy president, added: “In Miky Lee and Dominic Ng, I’ve found kindred spirits — true champions for cross-cultural storytelling. Given CJ’s game-changing contributions to global culture and Dominic’s commitment to building cultural bridges, we’ve discussed our aligned interests over many conversations and have decided to create a venture together.”
The initiative will be managed by CJ ENM under Jerry Kyoungboum Ko, head of the company’s global film business. Projects will span various genres, themes and cultural perspectives, celebrating the breadth of Asian experiences both in the U.S. and internationally.
Ng said: “This joint effort behind First Light StoryHouse will serve as a powerful connector between the East and West, fostering deeper understanding and expanding opportunities for creative voices.”
The announcement comes as CJ ENM continues to ride high on its string of international successes. The company has established itself as a powerhouse in bringing Asian cinema to global audiences, with Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” making Oscar history in 2020 as the first non-English-language film to win best picture. More recently, “Past Lives,” co-distributed and co-financed by CJ ENM and A24, earned nominations for best picture and original screenplay at the 2024 Academy Awards.
CJ ENM’s current slate includes “Bugonia,” Yorgos Lanthimos’ English-language remake of the South Korean cult classic “Save the Green Planet!” starring Emma Stone, and Venice selection “No Other Choice,” a new film from Park Chan-wook featuring Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin.
