Board of ScreenSingapore to feature six new Asian members

New board members will strengthen​​ and contribute to Asian focus of ScreenSingapore

Six new Asian faces will be appointed to the current Board of ScreenSingapore. This brings the lineup of the Board of ScreenSingapore to 14 members with the inclusion of indu​stry players from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

Asia is a key player in the global film landscape, and one of the fastest-growing demand drivers for entertainment in the world. The growth of the film industry in China and India with the buoyant outlook spending on movies and home entertainment in Asia Pacific which is projected to reach US$23.9 billion by 2014​¹ , increases the relevance of ScreenSingapore as a key international market in Asia for industry professionals and film-makers to engage in collaborations to contribute to this growth.

Mr Greg Coote, Chairman of the Board of ScreenSingapore said: “The growing demand for Asian films and the massive emerging market is making the world turn its attention to the film production and distribution business in Asia. Our new board members bring with them many years of experience in the pan-Asian film industry, and I believe their contributions would be instrumental in strengthening the Asian focus in which ScreenSingapore has set out to achieve. I look forward to having them on board to make ScreenSingapore 2012 a success.”

These individuals will join the Board of ScreenSingapore as board members for the two upcoming editions of ScreenSingapore:

• Yu Dong, Chairman &Chief Executive Officer, Bona Film Group (China)
• Nansun Shi, Chairman, Distribution Workshop (Hong Kong)
• Shanty Harmayn, Chief Executive Officer, Salto Film Company (Indonesia)
• Norman Abdul Halim, Executive President, KRU Studios (Malaysia)
• Melvin Ang, Executive Director, mm2 Entertainment (Singapore)
• Lim Teck, Managing Director, Clover Films (Singapore)

Th​e Board of ScreenSingapore provides strategic counsel on the direction and scope of the event. The Board, which includes two new Singaporean representatives, also assists in identifying and securing potential collaborations as well as partnerships to encourage key industry participation.

Other members of the existing eight-strong Board of ScreenSingapore ² include Golden Globe-winning Director, Shekhar Kapur;Ashok Amritraj, Chairman &CEO of Hyde Park;Michael J. Werner, Chairman of Fortissimo Films;Wayne Duband of Wayne Duband Consulting;DDA Public Relations Founder and DDA Public Relations Executive Chairman Dennis Davidson;Aubeck Kam, CEO of MDA and Calvin Cheng, Founding Director, Lumina-Looque International.

Commenting on her new appointment, Ms Nansun Shi, Chairman, Distribution Workshop, said: “Singapore serves as a gateway between the East and West and this makes ScreenSingapore well-positioned to grow into Asia’s leading content market in the coming years. I am proud to support this exciting international event.” Distribution Workshop is backed by the Bona Film Group, the largest independent distributor in China. Based in Hong Kong, Distribution Workshop represents and produces quality Asian films for worldwide distribution.

Said Mr Melvin Ang, Executive Director, mm2 Entertainment: “With the growing trend of cross-platform content spanning the online, TV and film sectors, an integrated marketplace like ScreenSingapore and Asia Television Forum will create more opportunities for the local media industry to capitalise on this area of growth. As a board member, I hope to be able to suggest ideas that can help local media players in this area.”

Mr Lim Teck, Managing Director, Clover Films, added: “Singapore has many interesting stories to share with the world. We must continue to learn and evolve through interaction with film industry players from across the world in order to do better. ScreenSingapore is certainly a good platform to network, and help local film-makers showcase their talent, products and services and that’s why I accepted the invitation to be on the board. I hope to bring ideas and suggestions to make ScreenSingapore more relevant for local film-makers.”

To be organised by Reed Exhibitions and held at the Sands Expo &Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands from 4 to 7 December 2012, ScreenSingapore is a key marketing platform for the global film and entertainment communities to tap the vast potential in the fast-growing markets of Asia. ScreenSingapore will be co-located with Asia Television Forum (ATF), Asia’s foremost stage for international and regional media companies to meet, network and trade. This year’s ScreenSingapore will have an added television component as a result of this co-location. This will strengthen opportunities for cross collaboration in both the film and television sectors. ScreenSingapore comprises a trade market, conferences, premieres, screenings and networking events.

Said Ms Michelle Lim, Managing Director, Reed Exhibitions, Singapore: “The inclusion of new members to the ScreenSingapore board reflects the growing importance and interest in the Asia film industry. We (at Reed Exhibitions) are excited to have their support as we leverage key strengths, explore new ideas and forge new partnerships to build ScreenSingapore to become Asia’s leading platform for film content.”

ScreenSingapore is supported by the Media Development Authority of Singapore, an agency which promotes the growth of globally competitive Animation, Broadcast, Film, Games, Interactive Media, Music and Publishing industries.

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About ScreenSingapore

ScreenSingapore is a key marketing platform for the global film and entertainment communities to tap the vast potential in the fast-growing markets of Asia. Supported by the Media Development Authority of Singapore, it will see film premieres in Asia and showcase Asian content to the world.

The inaugural ScreenSingapore 2011 drew over 800 participants from 26 countries. Besides independent producers and distributors, major Hollywood Studios graced the event as well. Fox Chairman Jim Gianopulos was the keynote speaker at the Film Financing Forum. Avatar producer Jon Landau held a production masterclass and Tom Hanks was present for the world premiere of Larry Crowne at ScreenSingapore. This is in addition to film premieres from India, China, Singapore and France.

For more information, visit www.screensingapore.com.sg

About Asia Tel​evision Forum

Asia Television Forum (ATF) is Asia’s entertainment content market, a must-attend international market in Asia for the financing, co-producing, buying and selling of entertainment content across all platforms. Bringing together international sellers and Asia Pacific buyers, ATF is the gateway to Asia’s entertainment content business.

Last year, ATF partnered uniFrance for the inaugural French film festival “Societe Generale Private Banking 1st Rendezvous With French Cinema”, a prestigious festival that showcased the best of contemporary French Cinema. The French film festival opened with multiple award-winning feature film, The Artist, a film directed by Michel Hazanavicius. The festival also saw a star-studded attendance which included leading French actress Catherine Deneuve and film directors Stéphane Rybojad, Rémi Bezançon, Fred Cavayé, Rithy Panh, Ismaël Ferroukhi, Gilles Paquet-Brenner, actor-director Mathieu Demy and actor Pio Marmaï.

For more information on Asia Television Forum, visit the official website at www.asiatvforum.com.

¹Source: Latest Global Entertainment &Media Outlook 2010.

²Mr Greg Coote, Chairman of China Lion serves as Chairman of the Board of ScreenSingapore