Dated: 22 November 2004
Animation and film buffs can look forward to an exciting fortnight of public activities and events at the Asia Media Festival (AMF) happening from 22 November to 3 December 2004.
Hosted by the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) for the third year running and organised by Reed Exhibitions Singapore, the AMF is an annual event in the Asia-Pacific for the media and entertainment industry as well as for the public. This year’s AMF is expected to attract more than 10,000 visitors from around the region and will showcase a host of trade and public events in print, broadcasting, film, publishing, digital and other media.
AMF Events for the Public
Animation enthusiasts can mingle with their favourite manga characters and try their hand at creating their own animation works at the AnimaXtion Fair. Admission is free for this four-day fair, which takes place from 25 to 28 November 2004 at Hall 5, Singapore Expo. At the AnimaXtion Symposium, aspiring artists will be able to learn from the experiences of top acclaimed Japanese anime producers like Akitaro Daichi and Yoshiro Kataoka and Singapore’s Nickson Fong, who will speak about their latest works and experiences.
Another highlight of the festival is AMF Film Showcase, which will feature critically acclaimed films from the international film circuit. The opening film for the showcase, which runs from 29 November to 3 December 2004, is a Spanish film, Mar Adentro (The Sea Inside). It won the Jury’s Grand Prix (Silver Lion) at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year and is directed by Alejandro Amenabar, who also directed The Others, starring Nicole Kidman. Mar Adentro’s star, Belén Rueda –Spain’s top TV actress –will open the AMF Film Showcase on 29 November 2004, at the Golden Village Marina cinema.
Other films to be featured in the showcase include the Malaysian film, Puteri Gunung Ledang (Princess from Mount Ledang);Schizo (Shiza) from Kazakhstan, another award-winning film at the 2004 Tokyo Film Festival and Singapore’s co-production, Rice Rhapsody, starring Sylvia Chang and Martin Yan.
More information on the films, ticket prices and screening times will be available at the Singapore Film Society website at www.sfs.org.sgfrom 25 November 2004.
Budding scriptwriters can hone their craft and learn from among the best in the field at the “Film Story and Pitching Seminar &Workshop” held from 22 to 27 November 2004. Conducted by award-winning playwright and screenwriter Ms Cathrine Ann Jones, whose credits include TV series Touched by an Angel, participants will pick up tips on improving their pitching skills, refining their scripts and also learn how to evaluate story proposals more effectively.
In addition, a top award-winning independent film and television producer from Canada, Pat Ferns, will conduct a workshop on successful television pitching in a three-day workshop –“Pitch it to me in 5 minutes –How to pitch your television ideas to commissioning editors” –from 27 –29 November 2004.
AMF Anchor Trade Events
Adding much weight to the Asia Televison Forum (ATF) and Asia Film Market and Conferences (AFMC), anchor trade events of the AMF, is the presence of leading media companies who are participating in the event for the first time. These include Buena Vista International Television, CBS/Paramount International Television, Lions Gate Entertainment, NBC Universal and Sony Pictures. Taking place from 1 to 3 December 2004, the ATF/AFMC is the key business platform where international programme sellers converge to do business with Asian buyers and sellers. The 2004 edition will feature a special showcase on animation, iTV and locations with a comprehensive line-up of conferences, including media financing. This year’s ATF/AFMC has seen a 30% increase in new participants from more than 11 key Asian markets including China and India. Some of the country pavilions present at the event include Australia, Canada, China, France, Spain and Singapore.
Commenting on the AMF, Dr Christopher Chia, Chief Executive Officer of the MDA said, "Through the public events at the Asia Media Festival, we hope to provide members of the public with greater exposure to both the creative and commercial aspects of the media industry. The media industry is not merely about glamour and creativity. This is big business and the media industry is becoming an important industry in the global economy. We hope that the participants at our events would be inspired to join the media industry in one way or another."
"We also want to provide our industry practitioners with additional platforms to showcase their works and create networking opportunities. I am pleased that the Asia Media Festival has grown to become a key event in the media industry in the region, since its inception in 2001. The presence of the world’s top media houses at the anchor trade events is an affirmation of the increasing importance of the Asia Media Festival as a key media marketplace and brings us one step closer to being a vibrant global media city," added Dr Chia.
For more information, please contact:
Ms Yvonne Poh
Asst Manager, Corporate &Marketing Communications
Communications Division
Email: Yvonne_poh@imda.gov.sg
Website: http://www.mda.gov.sg
About the Media Development Authority of Singapore
The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) aims to develop Singapore into a global media city. Its Media 21 strategy seeks to create a vibrant environment for the industry and public via five key thrusts: establish Singapore as a media exchange;export 'Made-by-Singapore' content;internationalise local media companies;nurture local media talents and develop digital media.
About the Asia Media Festival 2004
The Asia Media Festival (AMF) is an annual fiesta that throws the spotlight on the media and entertainment industry. Encompassing both trade and public events, the fortnight-long festival will showcase an impressive line up of events from high profile trade events such as the Asia Television Forum, Asia Film Market &Conference, Promax&BDA Asia Conference and Awards and Asian Television awards to exciting workshops and exhibitions for media enthusiasts. For more information on the Asia Media Festival, please visit the official event website at www.asiamediafestival.com
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