The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA), together with event organizer Singapore Airshow & Events Pte Ltd (SAe), today confirmed that the inaugural ScreenSingapore event will be held from June 5th to June 12th 2011 with the Trade Exhibition section scheduled to run from June 7th to June 9th.

To be held in Singapore, a thriving cosmopolitan city with a vibrant calendar of world-class events, ScreenSingapore will debut an international cinema event offering industry buyers, sellers, producers and creative talent from all over the world a platform to exchange ideas, business opportunities and showcase their product. Leveraging on the growing interest in Asian content, the very strong theatrical marketplace and Singapore’s position as a globally connected regional gateway, ScreenSingapore will reinforce Singapore’s position as the global media capital serving the vast emerging region.

The international cinema event will spotlight creative and technical innovations through:
• A film and entertainment trade/ technology market
• Asia Pacific and regional premieres of upcoming Asian and US Studio releases
• Conferences, workshops, financing seminars and producer forums

Positioned between the Cannes Film Festival and the lucrative box office season of the Northern Hemisphere summer, ScreenSingapore will tap synergies in providing a launch-pad for the US Studios wishing to promote their blockbuster movies in Asia as well as providing a platform for showcasing Asian content to the world.

Commenting on the announcement, Dr Christopher Chia, Chief Executive Officer of MDA said, "With support from the major studios and international industry players, ScreenSingapore is set to become one of the most exciting platforms for greater collaboration between East and West, uncovering upcoming talents and contributing to the dynamism of the global cinema industry".

Managing Director of SAe, Mr. Jimmy Lau added “ScreenSingapore will be a neutral gateway bridging the best of East and West. It will provide an annual platform for global talents, filmmakers and industry players to network and conduct business. The Expo@ScreenSingapore is a unique marketplace spotlighting on Asian content, as well as a mega showcase covering a spectrum of products and services relating to cinematic technologies including 3D and animation as well as home entertainment.”

Backing the MDA in the establishment of the ScreenSingapore is the Singapore
Tourism Board (STB). Ms Melissa Ow, Assistant Chief Executive, Business Travel
and MICE Group, Singapore Tourism Board, said “Singapore is well regarded as a
leading business capital and a destination with a diverse and exciting range of
entertainment and lifestyle experiences. Hosting ScreenSingapore enhances our
standing as a choice location for business events, helping visitors and companies to
connect to new markets, ideas and talent. It will also contribute to our vibrant events
calendar by creating even more entertainment options for visitors.”

Helping to provide strategic insights are members of the Board of ScreenSingapore , chaired by Greg Coote, Chairman and CEO of Dune Entertainment. Including Dr Christopher Chia, other board members are Paul Hanneman, co-president Fox International; Ashok Amritraj, Chairman and CEO of Hyde Park Entertainment; Dennis Davidson, Chairman of DDA Consulting & DDA Public Relations; Wayne Duband of WD Consulting; filmmaker Shekhar Kapur; and Michael J. Werner, Chairman of Fortissimo Films.

Additionally, Richard Fox (Warner Bros); Roger Pollock (Paramount), Chris Thomas (BBDO Asia), Raja Sharif (Alnoor Holdings), Robert Kirby (Village Roadshow), Kishore Lulla (Eros International) have already been appointed as Ambassadors of ScreenSingapore by the MDA. Several other Ambassadors will shortly be appointed.

Speaking on behalf of the Board, Mr Coote said: “The growth of the US filmed entertainment sector is all outside of the US and the real focus is Asia. ScreenSingapore aims to become the launch pad for the tentpole features that will dominate the worldwide screens the following summer. With the support of the Hollywood studios and the fusion of stunning pan-Asian filmmakers, this event will dominate the industry landscape in the years to come.”