Asia TV Forum, ScreenSingapore to showcase 13 new films, new converged TV formats

SINGAPORE : More than 4,000 film and television trade delegates from 60 countries will converge in Singapore to trade, market and screen their content at the Asia TV Forum & Market / ScreenSingapore 2012.

The event, from December 4—7, combines a converged film and television market with global industry players, including studios, broadcasters, production houses, distributors and financiers in attendance.

Singapore’s film and television industry players are expected to have a strong showing at the event, with over 100 local media companies showcasing more than 600 hours of the best in local content at the Singapore Pavilion.

On the film front, local filmmakers will be making Singapore proud with its bumper crop of 13 new films to hit the market. These include horror films, comedies, documentaries and coming—of—age stories about love, marriage and parenthood.

The 13 films are "The Wedding Diary II", "Ah Boys to Men II", "That Girl in Pinafore", "Ghost Child", "Mister John", "Menstrual Man", "Taxi Taxi", "Wa is for Wayang", "3 Peas in a Pod", "Afterimages" "3.50", "Red Numbers" and "Pickles".

Seven of these new films will be featured at "Sneak Peeks", an event organised by the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) to market Singapore films to international distributors.

MDA said the production volume of Made—In—Singapore films has doubled; rising from just six films in 2002, to 13 next year.

Box office takings jumped 1.5 times in 2011, with earnings of S$9.2 million, compared to S$6 million in 2002.

Singapore also continues to have one of the largest film exhibition sectors in this part of the world.

Apart from films, Singapore’s local media industry will also be showcasing their content innovation, particularly on the converged format at the event.

Broadcaster MediaCorp will showcase its latest transmedia drama, "96C Caf".

Starring Tay Ping Hui, Chris Tong and Cynthia Koh, the mini drama will be telecast online on XinMSN and continue its run as a 20—episode serial on Free—to—Air TV.

The drama’s theme song is also supported under MDA’s Development Assistance grant, which provides funding support for original Singapore compositions.

MDA said television programmes made by Singapore production houses are seen by audiences in over 70 countries around the world.

With Singapore’s continued efforts to tap opportunities for Singapore companies in the China market, MDA is supporting the China—Singapore Dialogue where Singapore TV producers can network directly with representatives of China’s top broadcast stations for collaboration in dramas and documentaries.

This will be attended by some 50 producers including representatives from China Central Television (CCTV), Shanghai Media Group, MediaCorp and MyChinaChannel.

— CNA/il