News and Notes from Cannes Film Market and Festival: 14 May 2010

Singapore Announces New Filmed Entertainment Expo

Dr Christopher Chia (2nd from left), CEO, MDA; Dr Tan Chin Nam (4th from right), Chairman, MDA; and Ms Cassandra Tay (far right), Director, Communications and Community & International Relations, MDA; with members of the Members of the ScreenSingapore Board: Mr Dennis Davidson (far left), Mr Michael Werner (3rd from left), Mr Shekhar Kapur (4th from left), Mr Greg Coote (3rd from right) and Mr Ashok Amritraj (2nd from right).

The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) unveiled yesterday plans to start an international cinema event called ScreenSingapore. This event will offer global media businesses a platform to spotlight their creative offerings through a film and entertainment technology market as well as hold screenings of upcoming releases. There will also be conferences and workshops, including financing and producer forums, at the expo.

Slated for June 2011, ScreenSingapore is positioned after the Cannes Film Festival and before summer. It aims to become the market and launch platform for international film releases in Asia and serve as a platform for Asian content to be marketed to the world. In addition, Hollywood studios will also be able to showcase their summer products to the fastest-growing sector in the world.

Dr Tan Chin Nam, Chairman, MDA, said: “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 Officer, MDA, said: “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.”

Helping to provide strategic insights are members of the ScreenSingapore Board, chaired by Mr Greg Coote, Chairman and CEO, Dune Entertainment. Other board members include Dr Chia; Mr Ashok Amritraj, Chairman and CEO, Hyde Park Entertainment; Mr Dennis Davidson, Chairman, DDA Consulting; Mr Wayne Duband, Wayne Duband Consulting; Mr Paul Hanneman, Co-President, International Theatrical Distribution at Twentieth Century Fox; Mr Shekhar Kapur, filmmaker; and Mr Michael Werner, Chairman, Fortissimo Film Sales.

Backing MDA in the establishment of the event are the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Economic Development Board.

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