ARTICLE
Singapore Media Festival launches VidCon Asia Summit and a new festival village
By Flora / 07 Oct 2019 (Monday)
Image Courtesy: 30th SGIFF
This year’s Singapore Media Festival (SMF) returns with an expanded line-up which consists of the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) and ScreenSingapore (SS), Asian Academy Creative Awards (AAA) and a new addition, the Singapore Comic Con (SGCC). In addition, there will be a two-day VidCon Asia Summit from 3-4 December, as well as a new Festival Village where the public will be able to partake in complementary programmes.
The new festival village will be held at Armenian Street where film buffs or pop culture enthusiasts are able to look forward to a slew of film screenings under the stars, including Japanese filmmaker Naoko Ogigami’s Rent-A-Cat, insightful talks and masterclasses, entertaining workshops, immersive VR showcases and family-fun events over two weekends.
Nine local film and media personalities including Fiona Xie, Oon Shu Ann and Kirsten Tan, to share their self-portraits inspired by nature at a mixed-media exhibition held at Gardens by the Bay as it celebrates 30 editions of championing local storytellers and their creative narratives.
VidCon
The world’s largest online video convention, VidCon, will bring its Asian debut to Singapore this December 3-4 where it explores the future of online video in Asia. Featuring the platforms, creators and brands leading innovation and creativity in the online video ecosystem, the line-up includes keynotes and panel discussion by storytellers, social media stars, marketers and more.
Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF)
The annual film festival, Singapore International Film Festival, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, from 21st November - 1st December 2019. Golden Horse-nominated film, Wet Season, directed by Anthony Chen, will the opening film for the festival. SGIFF has also commissioned three short films that will centre on the theme of celebration by Southeast Asia directors Yeo Siew Hua (Singapore), Mouly Surya (Indonesia) and Anucha Boonyawatana (Thailand). These films will make their world premiere at the festival’s opening night on 21st November.
Image courtesy of Lucky 7 Film Company
“Lucky 7” (2008), local omnibus film directed by seven local filmmakers (Sun Koh, K Rajagopal, Boo Junfeng, Brian Gothan Tan, Chew Tze Chuan, Ho Tzu Nyen and Tania Sng) will be screening at SGIFF as one of the four feature films in the ‘Stories We Tell: Myth, Dreamscape and Memory in Southeast Asian Cinema’ segment.
Singapore Comic-Con
Previously known as Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention (STGCC), this is the first year where Singapore Comic Con joins the Singapore Media Festival, injecting the festival with a boost of pop culture.
On 7 and 8 December, the Marina Bay Sands Expo transforms into a pop culture haven for an expected 55,000 comic buffs, superhero fans and consumers. Get your hands on exclusive collectible products and mingle with some of the biggest stars in the comic industry with panel discussions and fan zones.
Image Courtesy: Singapore Comic Con
For the first time, the Singapore Comic Con will be introducing a new initiative, the Work in Progress Programme, to support the discovery of local and regional talent. It offers aspiring comic writers a platform to bring fresh and original content ideas to life, and the chance to be matched to Singapore and regional publishing houses.