148 Submissions for ScreenSingapore’s SAFF Project Market

SINGAPORE: The first edition of the Southeast Asian Film Financing (SAFF) Project Market, launching at this year's ScreenSingapore, has received a total of 148 project submissions from 22 countries.

The SAFF Project Market, organized in partnership with ScreenSingapore, the Southeast Asia Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA) and Ties That Bind, is meant to connect promising filmmakers and their projects with commissioners, investors and co-production partners. The call for submission was open to documentary, fiction and animated film projects featuring a Southeast Asian element, not in the late stage of production at the time of application, and not yet fully financed. A five-member selection panel will now evaluate the 148 projects to shortlist the top 10 that will be featured at the SAFF Project Market in December.

Justin Deimen, the executive director of SAAVA, remarked: "We're encouraged and motivated by the support given by the international industry for the inaugural SAFF Project Market. The overwhelming response is testament to the relevance of the Project Market and the media financing focus to the film industry, especially in Southeast Asia. I hope to see SAFF grow in significance in the near future as we tap into the potential of producers and media professionals that we have in the region."

Yeow Hui Leng, the senior project director of Asia TV Forum & Market and ScreenSingapore at Reed Exhibitions, noted: "One of the key focus areas for ScreenSingapore has always been talent development of our Asian filmmakers, producers and scriptwriters. Film financing is a subject that is close to the heart of the film industry in Southeast Asia. The SAFF Project Market, a new feature at ScreenSingapore, addresses it by bringing in investors and co-production partners to meet with promising talents to collaborate on their projects."

Paolo Bertolin, consultant to the Venice International Film Festival and part of the SAFF Project Market selection panel, added: "The depth of stories, filmmakers and producers from the Southeast Asia is phenomenal. We are seeing a beautiful and exciting synergy happening between the established film communities from all over the world working with undiscovered talents in this region."