ScreenSingapore wraps with Larry Crowne, attracts 700 trade attendees

The inaugural ScreenSingapore saw the Asia Pacific premiere of Tom Hanks’ Larry Crowne as the red carpet gala screening Closing Night on Saturday (June 11).

ScreenSingapore officially closed Sunday with public preview screenings and the host Media Development Authority (MDA) and organiser Experia Events announcing the event would be back in 2012.

Director, star and co-writer of Larry Crowne Tom Hanks was on the red carpet with Zhang Ziyi and Lee Byung Hun for the Asia Pacific premiere of his film.

Organisers report almost 6,000 people attended the 11 red carpet and gala premieres and 14 Previews@ScreenSingapore films which included the Chinese film Treasure Inn, the Hollywood film Super 8, and Korean film Haunters.

ScreenSingapore signed up more than 700 trade attendees from 26 countries to participate in workshops, seminars and presentations. Attendees ran the gamut from filmmakers, distributors, exhibitors and academics which included 20^th Century Fox, Hyde Park, Eros Entertainment, Imax, Bona, and CJ CGV.

The three-day sales market Expo@ScreenSingapore, held next to the main seminar event hall in the Capella Hotel, saw some foot traffic on the first day which dropped off by the second.

Emphasizing time and again that the event is “not a festival” or in competition with markets such as Cannes, Hong Kong Filmart or Pusan’s Asian Film Market, organizers identify ScreeenSingapore as “a hybrid cinema event” which so far seems to lean towards film launches and seminars as its strengths.

Aubeck Kam, Chief Executive Officer of MDA, said: “We are very encouraged by the business opportunities facilitated by ScreenSingapore and look forward to promoting more of such opportunities at the next edition of ScreenSingapore.”

Michael J. Werner, Fortissimo Film chairman and a member of the ScreenSingapore board, said: “Singapore is reaching out to the rest of the world and it can be a potential hub in Southeast Asia.” He denoted the benefits of doing business in the city-state with its banking and legal structures, insurance and transparency.