India‘s Film Bazaar, the Singapore-based Asia TV Forum & Market’s (ATF) IP Accelerator Project Market (AIPA) and the Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA) have formed a project market partnership.
Film Bazaar, South Asia’s largest film market is operated by India’s National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and runs concurrently with the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The project market partnership signed with SAAVA and NFDC arranges for an exchange of projects in development and/or work-in-progress between them.
The exchanges start this year, with “Becoming”, a feature-length India-South Korea production from the documentary section of Film Bazaar’s co-production market going to AIPA 2023. Next year, one or more of AIPA’s projects in the current edition will be given an automatic entry into 2024’s edition of the Film Bazaar’s co-production market.
In addition, on the back of the increased Indian film incentive schemes, the partnership between the two content financing platforms aims to herald a deeper drive to accelerate South Asian co-productions and co-financing across the Asia Pacific region, and in particular with Southeast Asia via the strategic involvement of Singapore as a gateway to the region.
Justin Deimen, executive director of SAAVA which co-organises AIPA, and who is a mentor at Film Bazaar’s producing workshop, said: “India shares a deep cultural bond with the rest of the world by having the most exportable global content base. It is also surprisingly one of the last frontiers of active global co-productions hubs to be fully set up, with their government now committing to raising the profiles of their producers’ financing and creative collaborations internationally. I’m confident the partnership with NFDC will pay dividends for producers in the rest of the Asia-Pacific, and I’m excited to have the Film Bazaar’s projects with AIPA in the coming years, as we aim to scale up the already impressive quality of our market in Singapore.”
Prithul Kumar, managing director of NFDC, added: “Uniting cultures through the language of cinema, our collaboration with SAAVA and AIPA signifies a transformative journey in Asian co-productions. ‘Becoming’ sets the stage for an inspiring exchange between India and the broader Asian market. This partnership not only accelerates creative ventures but also harnesses India’s burgeoning film incentives, leveraging Singapore’s strategic position to amplify diverse voices and narratives across the Asia-Pacific. Together, we embark on an exciting chapter, shaping the global landscape of storytelling.”
“Becoming” and 14 other multi-platform projects will pitch at AIPA. This year, in addition to the Film Bazaar prize, AIPA is presenting two prizes from RED Digital Cinema and AV8 Media worth up to $25,000 each, as well as the 108 Media’s Development Award, worth up to S$15,000 ($11,200).
The 15 projects are:
“Aripuen” (“The Servant”)
Philippines
Director – Christopher Gozum
Sine Caboloan Co. Ltd.
“Becoming”
India, South Korea
Producer – Rohan K. Mehta (White Horse)
Director – Vineeth Menon
“Disability To Be Brave”
Singapore
Producer, director – Ng Kai Yuan
Unfold Asia
“Love Letter To Laos”
Laos, Canada
Producer, director, writer – Isabel Dréan
Executive producer – lan Mainville
Kopnoi
“Madame Tarot”
South Korea
Producer, director – Lee Sua
“My Chef in Crime”
Thailand
Producer – Bo Rattanavich
Director – Cheewatun Pusitsuksa
My Shot, Co., Ltd.
“Pushkar”
Singapore
Producer director – Colin Wee
Two Lefthands
“Sesame Has Its Soul”
Vietnam
Producer – Hang Trinh
Director, writer – Oscar Duong
Silver Moonlight Entertainment
“Seven Years Later”
Indonesia
Producer, director – Dinda Unaroma
Unaroma Entertainment Indonesia
“Special Delivery”
Singapore, Taiwan
Producers – Nicholas Wang, Lynn Hsin-yi Lin
Director – Luin Lam Choon Fui
Juo Studios/Maplesslab
“The Ghost In The Library”
Singapore
Producer – Nareshkumar J
Guru Productions Pte Ltd
“The Goldfish”
Singapore
Producer, director – Kehinde Fadipe
“The Passport”
Malaysia
Producer – Choo Mun Bel
Director – Ananth Subramaniam
Sixtymac Production
“The Vampire Of Sheung Shui”
Hong Kong
Producers – Peter Yam (Yin Cheung), Michael J. Werner, Shreyom Ghosh
Director – Shreyom Ghosh
Tasia Films Limited
“What Do Moms Cook In… Asia?
Thailand
Producer – Marith Zindel
MZP Asia
