The second edition of the Singapore Media Festival (SMF) returns this November, said Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA). This year, the annual SMF will run from 26 November to 6 December, bringing together a seamless market for film, TV, conferences, awards and festival screenings. Global industry players looking to expand their media business in Asia can expect a more vibrant marketplace and a bigger celebration of the best content and media talent in the region.
The festival will see the return of established media events including the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF); Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) and ScreenSingapore (SS); and the Asian Television Awards (ATA). In 2014, the inaugural SMF concluded to resounding response, bearing testament to Asia’s growing importance in the global entertainment landscape.
The Festival was fruitful in many ways for event partners and the public. SGIFF made a strong comeback to the regional film circuit, unveiling 147 movies from 50 countries supported by strong ticket sales. SGIFF’s competition section, the Silver Screen Awards, gave a total of nine prizes for emerging filmmakers in Asian Feature Films and Southeast Asian Short Films. Deals between Singapore players with regional, international media players were announced at SMF, including the launch of a S$130 million (US$100 million) media fund for investments in China’s media and entertainment industry. A record number of attendees and exhibitors and approximately S$355.1 million (US$256.28 million) in sales deals were also registered at the ATF/SS.
The SMF also saw new deals formed between established international media players. A strategic cooperation between China’s online video platform, Tencent, with FOX International Channels saw both partners embark on an endeavour to make over 300 hours of programming and documentaries from National Geographic available to the mainland China market.
The Asian Television Awards, which awards the best of regional television, received over 1,300 entries and was broadcasted to approximately 50 million households across Asia.
Robert Gilby, Chairman of the Singapore Media Festival advisory board, Managing Director of the Walt Disney Company (SEA), said, “The Singapore Media Festival serves as a platform for creative, content and commerce leaders from Singapore, Asia and other regions around the globe to come together to form fruitful partnerships, that place Singapore as Asia’s leading hub for content creation. The board is greatly heartened by the meaningful partnerships forged and vibrant exchange of ideas at SMF 2014. We look forward to expanding the relationships and industry discussions in an even more successful edition in 2015.”
Angeline Poh, Assistant Chief Executive (Industry), Media Development Authority, added, “The Singapore Media Festival aims to be one of Asia’s flagship media events that facilitates exchanges within the industry and shines the spotlight on Singapore and Asian content.”
She added, “We will continue to promote collaboration around new avenues of content creation and delivery as well as audience engagement.”
