Asian storytelling takes center stage at the Singapore Media Festival (SMF), as Southeast Asia’s leading international media event returns for its third edition this year, from 23 November through 9 December. Hosted by the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA), SMF is a gathering of distinguished Asian media executives, and a platform for notable regional creative talent to showcase their content as well as to interact with their fans.
Robert Gilby, Chairman of the Singapore Media Festival Advisory Board and Managing Director of The Walt Disney Company (SEA), said, “Asia’s diverse cultures, heritage and communities have led to the creation of inspiring and innovative stories that have both relevance and resonance with an international audience. SMF was established as a platform to identify and nurture the next generation of storytellers in this region, with guidance and mentorship from industry veterans from across Asia.”
This year’s SMF constituent events include the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), ScreenSingapore (SS), and Asian Television Awards (ATA).
“As the most diverse Asian film and TV media event, SMF presents unequaled opportunities to connect, partner and co-create with the best talent from across the region. We expect a bolder SMF 2016 that celebrates great storytelling from Asia and beyond. The festival will serve as an excellent springboard for global media players venturing into Asia, and for Asian media professionals seeking international exposure,” added Gilby.
This year, three new members will join the SMF Advisory Board, lending their expertise and insights towards charting the Festival’s strategic direction. They are: Mr Albert Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Emperor Motion Pictures; Jeff Cheong, president, Tribal Worldwide Asia and Aseem Puri, chief marketing officer, Unilever International.
Lee, a prominent veteran in the international film distribution sector who also sits on the board of Hong Kong’s Chamber of Films and Motion Picture Industry Association, shared, “I am honoured to be part of this process to uncover the best stories and storytellers through the Singapore Media Festival. Such a festival is primed to bring global partners together for strategic collaborations that will elevate our stories and spotlight our talent.”
This year’s edition will see a sustained push to bring good stories to fruition, in particular, with a focus on developing film projects and supporting filmmaking talent.
Following a successful debut last year, ScreenSingapore 2016 will host its second edition of the Southeast Asian Film Financing (SAFF) Project Market in partnership with the Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA) and Europe’s Ties that Bind:Asia/Europe Producers Workshops (TTB). This initiative will create the opportunity for stories to come to life by connecting promising filmmakers and producers in the region with potential commissioners, financiers and co-production partners for their upcoming film projects. Up to 15 projects will be selected by an esteemed panel of international film industry experts, and featured at the SAFF Project Market in December 2016. The 27th Singapore International Film Festival will continue to provide festival goers with the opportunity to learn the art of storytelling through film from the Asian directors-in-attendance and guest filmmakers, through programs like the Southeast Asian Film Lab and SGIFF Masterclasses. Notable veterans such as Terence Chang, who produced highly acclaimed movies such as Mission Impossible 2 (2000) and the two-part Chinese language film The Crossing (2014-5); as well as Apichatpong Weerasethakul, whose works have won him widespread international recognition and numerous awards including the Cannes Palme d’Or in 2010, were among the respected mentors in previous years. This year’s mentors include Anocha Suwichakornpong (Thailand), who was a recipient of a Hollywood Foreign Press Association Fellowship, and Bernard Chauly (Malaysia), who has created successful commercial films that capture Southeast Asian social trends.
This year will also see the introduction of another new initiative that seeks to nurture and showcase up-and-coming Singapore filmmakers. SGIFF will start commissioning a new short film by a Singapore filmmaker every year that will make its world premiere at the festival. Gladys Ng, winner of SGIFF 2015’s Best Singapore Short Film, is the first filmmaker to be commissioned under this initiative.
Two past SGIFF winners have also made waves internationally, with their films making World Premieres at this year’s 69th Cannes Film Festival. Boo Junfeng’s APPRENTICE is an Official Selection of the Un Certain Regard, while K. Rajagopal’s A YELLOW BIRD is an Official Selection of the 55th La Semaine de la Critique (Critics’ Week).
Boo’s highly-anticipated psychological drama is a Singapore–Germany–France–Hong Kong–Qatar co-production that was shot inSingapore and Australia, while Rajagopal’s first feature, which had been picked for Cannes’ Cinefondation L’Atelier in 2014, is a co-production between Singapore and France. Both films have cast actors from not just Singapore but the region, includingMalaysia, India and China, and have already been picked up by international sales agents.
Boo shared, “It is great to be able to work with partners from around the world to bring to life films like Apprentice. Such collaborations allow us to push boundaries, think out of existing paradigms, and create films that move audiences and inspire conversations.”
Rajagopal said, “I have always believed that it is the responsibility of a filmmaker to give a voice to communities, and to give these voices an audience. To be able to present our stories at key nodes in the global media network such as Cannes and the Singapore Media Festival allow these voices to be amplified. I am thrilled to have this opportunity, and hope to be able to bring this back to the Singapore International Film Festival at the end of the year.”
The Singapore Media Festival is hosted by the Media Development Authority, and comprises events organised by Reed Exhibitions, Contineo Media, and SGIFF Ltd.
For more details of the Singapore Media Festival, visit www.sgmediafestival.com.
