Asia TV Forum & Market

Hui Leng Yeow, the senior project director of ATF and ScreenSingapore at Reed Exhibitions, talks to World Screen about the 17th edition of the Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), taking place at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands from December 6 to 9.

Over the four days, event organizer Reed Exhibitions is expecting to host more than 5,000 Asian and international content buyers and sellers looking to buy, sell, co-produce and distribute programming.

“Just as the industry is dynamic, ATF also constantly evolves and adapts to stay current,” says Hui Leng Yeow, senior project director of ATF and ScreenSingapore at Reed Exhibitions. “A new highlight for this year is the Digital Showcase that will present one of the latest evolutions of content, along with various technologies that support this growing appendage. This provides an opportunity for attendees to delve deep into virtual reality (VR) with VR fireside chats, coupled with an experiential zone, leading to ATF’s Digital Corridor, where technology players integral to the media and entertainment industry will be present for the first time.”

The ATF C-Level Summit 2016 will focus on “Managing the Business of Disruptors,” where senior-level executives from Asia and beyond will provide analysis and insight into working in the digital realm.

“ATF will continue to be a vital platform for producers,” says Yeow. “This year, the new ATF Formats Pitch and second edition of Southeast Asian Film Financing (SAFF) Project Market will offer an opportunity for producers to attract financiers, distributors and collaborators who can bring their projects to fruition.”

The ATF Formats Pitch 2016 is targeted at Asia-based producers looking to take their ideas across and beyond the region with an established format distributor. A partnership with all3media International, the Pitch is meant to connect producers and their in-development unscripted formats with commissioners, investors and co-production partners. “While participants receive valuable advice and input from some of the industry’s most experienced format professionals, their formats will have an opportunity to be exported and developed within and even outside the region,” Yeow says.

During Junior@ATF, producers can gain perspective on extending their brands beyond television screens through various collaborations. Another mainstay at the ATF conference, Formats@ATF, will delve into “TV’s Future in Asian Formats,” providing intelligence about regional trends and opportunities. This track will also spotlight format co-production and creating formats for the small screen.

Meanwhile, the SAFF Conference will uncover the secrets of how producers can successfully raise investments, tap into grants, attract sponsorships and assemble various forms of financing to get their films made.

“Over the four days, TV and film professionals will acquire knowledge from and network with some of the most influential leaders and brightest minds in TV, film and digital media, while securing opportunities to buy, sell, finance, distribute and co-produce,” says Yeow.

“For each edition, we pride ourselves on obtaining the best available content for our conference and market. In addition to hearing from the most relevant and current industry leaders as they share their expertise, attendees can look forward to networking with the biggest industry players to explore partnership opportunities in terms of content procurement, distribution and even co-production.”

She adds that sessions targeting each of these purposes have been ramped up, enhancing the return on investment for attendees and participants. This includes a new feature at ATF that focuses on business matching.

“New relationships are expected to be forged as new players from the OTT space take center stage, reinforcing that Asia’s content business is indeed a vibrant one,” Yeow says. “This is coupled with the understanding of new trends and acquisition of new forms of content delivery, especially via ATF’s new VR initiative this year—Digital Showcase.

“Existing connections are strengthened as industry heavyweights and mainstays return for the year with new sights set and face-to-face contact maintained to [result in] pacts and contracts. No doubt, it allows for participants to expand on the supply chain, where survival aspects of the industry are highlighted, bringing together production, agency, platform and distribution.”