New Film Market for Asia

CANNES: Singapore will host a new film market in June 2011, featuring screenings of Asian and international movies, conferences, workshops and financing forums, among other elements.

ScreenSingapore is positioning itself as a post-Cannes Film Festival platform for international film releases in Asia and a platform for Asian content to be marketed to the world. It will also aim to lure the Hollywood studios to showcase their summer releases. It will come just a few months after Filmart, the film trade show held in Hong Kong.

Dr Tan Chin Nam, chairman of the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA), noted: “ScreenSingapore presents a compelling proposition for premier films to be launched throughout Asia and the world, and where international buyers, sellers and producers will trade content, ideas, expertise and entertainment technology in a vibrant marketplace situated in the heart of Asia. An event of this scale will encourage more collaboration between East and West and spark off the creation of New Asia content for world audiences. It is a strategic initiative in support of our vision to be a trusted global capital for New Asia media making Singapore a globally integrated media capital. It is a powerful contributor to enrich our media ecosystem.”

Dr Christopher Chia, chief executive of MDA, added: “Anchoring an international cinema event in Singapore enhances our efforts to grow the media sector. It will also provide an annual platform for global talents, filmmakers and the business community to congregate in Singapore—a natural gateway that bridges the best of East and West.”

The MDA has secured the backing of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Economic Development Board. The board members for the event include chair Greg Coote, the chairman and CEO of Dune Entertainment; Ashok Amritraj, chairman and CEO of Hyde Park Entertainment; Dennis Davidson, chairman of DDA Consulting; Wayne Duband of Wayne Duband Consulting; Paul Hanneman, co-president of international theatrical distribution at Twentieth Century Fox; filmmaker Shekhar Kapur; and Michael Werner, chairman of Fortissimo Film Sales.

Coote commented: "As the U.S. market matures and the growth in the business shifts to outside of the U.S., Asia grows in importance. Singapore will leverage its position as the gateway to Asia and grow a global event that not only services the broad regional exhibition industry but also positions the summer product for release. The Asian market is increasingly important to all the major film producers, in all languages, from around the globe. So to have this major showcase in Singapore, with its secure financial base, is an important development, both as a marketing platform for upcoming releases and for selling films into the region. Equally, Asian filmmakers will now have a shop window in which to display their wares to buyers from the five continents.”