13 New Singapore Films Next Year, New Converged TV Formats on Show, and More at Asia TV Forum & Market - ScreenSingapore 2012

SINGAPORE, Nov. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore will be a hub of media activity come 4 - 7 December when more than 4,000 film and television trade delegates from 60 countries converge in the island state to trade, market and screen their content at the Asia TV Forum & Market ScreenSingapore 2012.

The event promises to be exciting as it 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 includes horror films, comedies, documentaries and coming-of-age stories about love, marriage and parenthood. 

The 13 new Singapore 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. For the details on the films as well as their expected theatrical release dates in Singapore, please refer to Annex A.  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.

Today, the production volume of Made In Singapore films has doubled; rising from just six Singapore films in 2002, to 13 new Singapore films for next year.  Box office takings jumped 1.5 times in 2011, with earnings of SGD$9.2m, compared to SGD$6m in 2002.  Singapore also continues to have one of the largest film exhibition sectors in this part of the world.

The Wedding Diary II to make its World Premiere in Singapore

Of the 13 films, The Wedding Diary II by Clover Films has been selected as the Closing Premiere of ScreenSingapore. As part of its world premiere, the cast and director will be walking the red carpet at Golden Village Cineplex, Vivo City, at 8:30pm on 6 December.  

Said Mr Lim Teck, Managing Director, Clover Films and ScreenSingapore Board Member, "We are proud that The Wedding Diary II is selected as the closing premiere at ScreenSingapore. The global spotlight will certainly help boost the film's profile, as well as add buzz and vibrancy to Singapore's film scene."

The Wedding Diary II is produced and distributed by Clover Films (Singapore), Golden Screen Cinemas (Malaysia), Asia Tropical Films (Malaysia), Star Chinese Movies (Hong Kong), Satellite Television Asia Region (Malaysia) and Mega Cineplex (Malaysia).

It has a strong Asian cast, including veteran Singapore actors Jack Choo and Marcus Chin, as well as Malaysia's Aniu (Homecoming, Ice Kacang Puppy Love), Hong Kong's Elanne Kwong (Love Lifting, The Wedding Diary) and Taiwanese singer-actress Cynthia Wong (Devotion).

Singapore filmmakers go on to the global stage to share insights with international film community

With ScreenSingapore's spotlight on Asia, local filmmakers will share their personal perspectives gained from years of working in the China market, and on financing and co-production matters with international filmmakers:

• Film director Jack Neo will speak at the film co-production & financing panel on "South East Asia: New Filmmaker, New Money" (6 December). Mr Neo is a 32-year veteran of the film and television industry and a Cultural Medallion winner. His films have achieved overseas success in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia. His film I Not Stupid was named one of the Ten Best Chinese Movies at the 8th Golden Bauhinia Awards. In 2009, he was voted The Most Popular Male Artist at the 18th Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in China. 
• Mike Wiluan, Chief Executive, Infinite Studios will be moderating the film co-production and financing panel on "South East Asia: New Filmmaker, New Money" (6 December). His company, Infinite Studios, has invested in film and television content with global partners from Canada, United Kingdom and Australia. Mr Wiluan's company is currently shooting Serangoon Road, one of South East Asia's largest television co-productions, with Australian Broadcasting Corporation and HBO Asia.
• Kenneth Tan, Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Assessment), MDA, will be the moderator for the Film Keynote panel featuring Bona Film Group's Yu Dong (5 December) and "Theatre Innovation: A Conversation with Dolby" panel (5 December). Mr Tan was the former Managing Director of Golden Village and Chief Executive Officer of MediaCorp Radio and Chief Operating Officer of MediaCorp TV.
• Joachim Ng, Director (Industry Operations), MDA, will moderate the animation co-production and financing panel (6 December). Mr Ng is responsible for overseeing MDA's industry operations, including, converged content.

Converged Singapore productions and new TV formats on show at ATF/SS 2012 

Moving from film to broadcast, our local media industry will be showcasing their content innovation, particularly on the converged format.  

For instance, Singapore companies will showcase converged content, such as the highly-successful The Kitchen Musical, a musical television drama by The Group Entertainment which was nominated for "Best Drama Series" in the International Emmy Awards 2012. Operating on a fresh format i.e. TV musical, the series is expanding its footprint to Asian countries such as Vietnam, Philippines and even as far as US and UK, in the form of a theatre musical, book and adaptations of its TV series.

Still on content innovation, MediaCorp will showcase its latest transmedia drama, 96°C Cafe. The mini drama will be telecast online in xinMSN and continue its run as a 20-episode serial on Free-to-Air TV and stars Tay Ping Hui, Chris Tong, Cynthia Koh, Desmond Tan, Julie Tan and Ian Fang. The drama's theme song is also supported under MDA's Development Assistance grant, which provides funding support for original Singapore compositions.

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

Dialogue, networking and collaboration opportunities

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. Melvin Ang, Executive Director, MyChinaChannel and Executive Director mm2 Entertainment will also share his experience on working in the China market at this session.

In line with the converged market, MDA continues to place emphasis on cross-content collaboration. To further catalyse such projects, MDA is organising a business matching session on 5 December bringing together local film, television and music talent with international players for such collaboration opportunities.

Said Mr Yeo Chun Cheng, Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Industry), Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA), "This market provides tremendous opportunities for global media players to capitalise on business opportunities created by Asia's expanding media sector, and to do so from Singapore, a great place to inspire talent and create compelling international content. The various platforms that MDA has created will bring people together, and those who know how to tap on them will certainly find their time at the market to be extremely rewarding."

The 500-sq m Singapore Pavilion, located at H02, G02, G13 and J02 at Sands Expo and Convention Centre Hall C, Marina Bay Sands comprises a good mix of companies from a good mix of television, film, music, animation, and media services sectors, mirroring the converged nature of the market. Catch a preview of selected Singapore content at the Singapore Pavilion at https://www.youtube.com/user/MDASingapore.

The Singapore entertainment and media market is projected to have a 5.8 per cent compounded annual growth rate, while Singapore's digital spending is projected to grow at 10 per cent per annum from 2012 to 2016 according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2012-2016.

About Media Development Authority (MDA)

The Media Development Authority of Singapore (www.mda.gov.sg) promotes the growth of globally competitive Animation, Broadcast, Film, Games, Interactive Media, Music and Publishing industries. It also regulates the media sector to safeguard the interest of consumers and promotes a connected society. MDA is a statutory board under the Ministry of Communications and Information (www.mci.gov.sg).

SOURCE Media Development Authority