Dated: 5 April 2005
A contingent of 27 Singapore media companies with a record turnout of 67 participants will be at the world’s leading media marketplace, pitching Singapore-made content to overseas distributors and broadcasters. Some of these programmes have already secured international distribution and are set to reach international audiences.
Led by the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA), these media companies will be showcasing and marketing a range of programmes, from TV dramas to documentaries and animation at MIPTV 2005. The event takes place between 11 and 15 April in Cannes, France.
The MDA and the Singapore media industry have been attending MIPTV, and its sister event MIPCOM, since the year 2001. These trade shows have served as a key platform for Singapore TV producers, film-makers and animation studios to market their programmes world-wide and to explore collaborative opportunities with the global media players.
Last year, more than 11,000 industry professionals attended the event and created business worth more than 500 million euros.
Summing up the importance of Singapore’s participation at MIPTV, the MDA’s Director of Industry Development, Mr Seto Lok Yin said, “MIPTV is one of the world’s largest trade shows for TV and media content. Therefore, it is very important for our local TV producers and film-makers to be there to meet international buyers, distributors, broadcasters and investors. It is also important to let the world know that Singapore has produced many high quality TV dramas, documentaries and animation shows. And many of these TV programmes were done in collaboration with international partners.”
“We are at MIPTV to ‘sell, sell, sell’ Singapore’s media content, production capability, post production and animation services, talents and filming location. We will network, establish contacts and look out for co-production opportunities. One good example was a deal we signed with the Shanghai Media Group at MIPCOM in October last year in Cannes, which resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the co-production of high-definition telemovies for the international audience,” Mr Seto added.
Animated adventures, romance dramas, culinary documentaries
Examples of Singapore-made programmes to be showcased at MIPTV 2005 include:
Nanoboy is a 2D animated series about a microscopic superhero, targetting kids 6 to 9 years old. Nanoboy, the brainchild of Scrawl Studios, is set to inject a dose of action and infectious fun at MIPTV. Both entertaining and educational, the tiny hero leads the fight against contaminants and germs out to wreck havoc in his metropolis, and at the same time, while teaching his youthful audiences a thing or two about how to keep these micro pests away.
Originating as an AI game for mobile platforms, the concept and characters for Nanoboy were developed over 18 months before it was finalised as an animated TV series. A US network has already expressed interest in this new animation series and Scrawl Studios has secured Agogo International Limited to handle distribution for the Asian market and Village Productions for the European market.
Also making its first appearance is Chase, a romantic drama starring two of Asia’s hottest celebrities, MTV VJ Utt and Taiwan star Linda Liao. With a snappy pace, the 13-parter challenges the perceptions of what makes the perfect relationship. Produced by Film Formations and directed by one of Singapore’s award-winning directors in Singapore, Lee Thean-jeen, Chase is currently being shown on one of the main channels in Singapore and is expected to debut in other Asian countries this year.
Edible Histories, another of director Thean-jeen’s work, is a documentary that tracks and brings to life the past, present and future of Chinese cuisine. Edible Histories takes viewers to the different provinces of Shandong, Guangdong, Sichuan and other parts of China to uncover the various cultural, geographical and mythological “ingredients” that add to the authentic flavours of distinct Chinese cuisines. This documentary is the Singaporean director’s work when he held the inaugural Documentary Director’s Chair in 2004 –a joint initiative by Discovery Asia and the MDA to identify and nurture documentary directors from the Asean region. This one-hour special is scheduled to air on Discovery Asia in the second quarter of 2005.
Since its debut at MIPCOM 2004, House of Harmony, a multi-million dollar co-production by Germany’s ZDF and FFP Media GmbH, Singapore’s Oak3 Films and the MDA, has generated interest in both the Asian and Western markets with its east-meets-west cast and storyline. Starring Singapore’s Fann Wong of Shanghai Knight’s fame as well as Hong Kong’s Maggie Q and Daniel Morgenroth and Philippe Brenninkmeyer from Germany, this two-parter TV mini-series will be distributed by Germany’s well-known distributor, Beta Films. Already, the TV series is slated for prime-time broadcast in the third quarter of 2005 on ZDF television to an estimated 15 million viewers.
These new programmes and more will be launched at the Singapore Networking Cocktail Party to be held on the second day of MIPTV on 12 April 2005. Hosted by the MDA, this event will also provide an opportunity for the industry to network with international media players.
Fann Wong will be making a special appearance in Cannes at the Beta Films networking party to launch the TV series. She will also grace the Singapore Networking Party held at the Singapore Pavilion. The actress will be in Cannes from 10 to 15 April.
The Singapore Pavilion is located at stand 16.17 of Cannes' Palais des Festivals.
Media contact:
Sharanjit Kaur (Ms)
Manager
Corporate &Marketing Communications
Media Development Authority
Tel : 65 6837 9365
Fax : 65 6336 4142
Email : Sharanjit_KAUR@imda.gov.sg
Casey Chang (Ms)
Assistant Director
Corporate &Marketing Communications
Media Development Authority
Tel : 65 6837 9344
Email : Casey_CHANG@imda.gov.sg
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