New Zealand VFX giant joins Taiwan agency to build AI film hub

Weta FX, the New Zealand visual effects studio known for work on the Lord of the Rings and Avatar franchises, has agreed to partner with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency. The two organizations plan to use the collaboration to position Taiwan as a regional center for artificial intelligence in screen production across Asia.

The partnership is scheduled to be formally announced on November 6 at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest in Taipei. The launch event will take place on the main stage immediately following the opening ceremony. The agreement covers three main areas: joint investment, AI research and development, and the training of new industry talent. Specific financial details and operational terms will be revealed at the launch event.

Sue Wang, chair of the Taiwan Creative Content Agency, will join three Weta FX executives on stage for the announcement. The Weta FX representatives include CEO Daniel Seah, chief technology officer Kimball Thurston, and visual effects supervisor Sheldon Stopsack. Seah has a personal connection to the island, having grown up in Taiwan. The studio previously visited the Taoyuan International Film and Technology Forum in August.

The alliance combines Taiwan's strengths in advanced technology and its creative workforce with Weta FX's global production experience and network. The goal is to integrate Taiwanese technologists and artists into international screen projects. This effort aligns with the agency's mission to support content creation through new technologies. A recent market platform called TTXC Innovations served as a model by connecting creators, developers, investors, and distributors in one setting.

The Taiwan Creative Content Agency was established by the Ministry of Culture in 2019. It supports local content in film, television, animation, publishing, comics, music, gaming, and the performing arts. The agency provides funding, co-production schemes, and international partnerships to help develop and market work overseas.

Weta FX operates out of Wellington, with additional offices in Vancouver and Melbourne. The studio has received eight Academy Awards for visual effects, 17 Academy Science and Technology Awards, eight BAFTAs for special visual effects, 10 VES Awards in the photoreal feature category, and five Emmys. Its most recent major release was Avatar: Fire and Ash in 2025. The studio is currently working on The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, Marvel Studios' Avengers: Doomsday, and Children of Blood and Bone.

The next public step for the partnership is the formal launch at the festival's main stage on November 6. The event will mark the beginning of the joint work in investment, research, and talent development.