Cannes – The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) and Tiger Gate Entertainment, a joint venture by Lionsgate and Saban Capital Group, have entered into a strategic partnership to commission a slate of multiplatform projects in the action, horror and thriller genres for markets worldwide over the next four years. This initiative marks the latest push to promote greater co-productions involving Singapore and international partners, and comes on top of the US$1.1 billion in private funds available in Singapore. The MDA-Tiger Gate partnership will seed the production of genre film projects, with a focus on action, horror and thriller genres for theatrical and television distribution in Asia as well as outside of the region. Projects will be jointly selected by Tiger Gate and MDA for co-investment, to be co-produced by successful applicants with their respective partners. Tiger Gate will represent all selected projects across all platforms – including theatrical – within Asia, while Lionsgate will manage all distribution outside Asia. During a roundtable media interview last week, Tiger Gate CEO William Pfeiffer said they are looking at green-lighting two to five projects in the first two years, and another two to five projects in the following two years. Tiger Gate added it is looking for “modestly budgeted films” in the US$2 million to US$5 million range, and not necessarily projects with big names. “We like to develop some new talent,” Pfeiffer said. By partnering with the MDA, Tiger Gate, with its current Thrill and KIX channels, aims to enhance its feature film and television programming and implement its strategy of looking beyond just ‘linear’ TV towards next-generation media distribution and innovative revenue generation, the company said.