Singapore is gearing up to launch an international cinema event, ScreenSingapore, to showcase Hollywood and Asian cinema, starting in June 2011.

Singapore is gearing up to launch an international cinema event, ScreenSingapore, to showcase Hollywood and Asian cinema, starting in June 2011.
 
Taking place after Cannes and before the summer box office season kicks off, the event aims to act as a launchpad for US studio tentpoles in Asia via screenings and junkets. It will also showcase non-studio international product and host a market for entertainment technology and Asian content.
 
Government agencies involved in the event include the Media Development Authority (MDA), Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Economic Development Board (EDB).
 
“Growth in the future will come from foreign markets, and foreign means Asia,” said Dune Entertainment CEO Greg Coote, who is heading the event’s advisory board. “The US studios want to focus on Asia and this is the way to do it.”
 
The ScreenSingapore board also includes Hyde Park CEO Ashok Amritraj, DDA chairman Dennis Davidson, consultant Wayne Duband, Fox co-president, international distribution, Paul Hanneman, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and Fortissimo chairman Michael Werner.
 
Werner said the content market would grow organically but would initially focus on product from the ASEAN (South-East Asian) markets. “It will be a platform for countries that produce films but haven’t had an opportunity to take them to the world stage,” Werner said.
 
Event organisers said ScreenSingapore would be run separately from the Singapore International Film Festival, which takes place in April. Although exact dates were not announced, event spokesmen said it would not clash with Cine Expo in Amsterdam, which this year runs June 21-24.
 

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