Singapore Media Festival celebrates Asian TV and film

SINGAPORE — More than 15,000 people, including 5,000 film-makers, producers and celebrities from more than 60 countries, are expected to attend the inaugural Singapore Media Festival (SMF) this year.

Hosted by the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA), the SMF brings together four marquee events — the Asia TV Forum and Market (ATF), ScreenSingapore, Asia TV Awards and Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF). It will be held from Dec 4 to 14.

“We see the SMF as that one time in a year when we bring the region and the world to Singapore and it’s a great opportunity for industry professionals and practitioners (in Singapore) to work with partners from all over to exchange ideas, trade in content and discover stories and new opportunities to collaborate,” said Ms Angeline Poh, assistant chief executive (Industry) of the MDA, at a media briefing for the SMF.

“International players are increasingly looking to Asia for innovative stories and original content, and the SMF aims to create more opportunities for international and Asian media players to meet and explore opportunities for collaboration. Singapore is a focal point for business and talent in South-east Asia. This makes it a great home for international and home-grown media companies,” she said.

Ms Poh also explained that one of the key aims of the SMF was to create more cross-over collaborations between film and television.

“Last year, when the Asia TV Forum and Market and ScreenSingapore were co-located here for the second year in a row, we saw a 10 per cent increase in attendance from 2012, along with a rise in content sales and more than S$200 million in deals secured,” she said. “This year, we expect to see even more cross-pollination among events, as the films screened at the SGIFF will also be offered at ScreenSingapore for international sale and distribution.”

The SMF will also act as a platform to showcase the best of South-east Asian content.

Mr Robert Gilby, chairman of the SMF advisory board and managing director of The Walt Disney Company (SEA), said the South-east Asian media industry had experienced rapid growth and development over the past few years and had become a source of and strong contender for creative content.

He explained: “The SMF aims to ride on this potential to strengthen Singapore’s position as the gateway to the region and fill the need for a regional media event that will bring together Singapore and South-east Asian content and talent to be enjoyed by viewers from all over the world.”