ATF’s 25th edition broke attendance records

Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), Asia’s Co-Production & Entertainment Content Market, celebrated its Silver Jubilee with a congregation of 4,628 trade professionals from 59 countries and regions, including a 10% increase in buyer attendance of 1,004 buyers, cementing ATF’s position in the global markets calendar. A total of 16 pavilions led by various content agencies from around the world were presented at the market, in addition to the strong presence of studios such as Fremantle, IMAX, Jio Studios, LG U+, Yuewen, Youku and many more.

Yeow Hui Leng, Group Project Director of ATF, said: "As the curtains close on ATF 2024, we are heartened by the unwavering commitment of industry players who continue to view Asia as a key hub for growth and innovation. This year’s vibrant exchange of ideas, strategic partnerships, and groundbreaking content showcases underscore ATF’s pivotal role as the bridge between global markets and Asia’s dynamic entertainment ecosystem."

Celebrities from around the region also made appearances to promote their latest content. These included the debut of Daylight Entertainment’s new coming-of-age drama series, “Our Generation,” with special appearance by Chinese artistes Zhang Linghe, Shen Jiayu & Wu Sheng; actor & singer, Wang Yilun, made an appearance at the Linmon Media content showcase session to promote the upcoming costume drama he stars in, “A Dream Within A Dream”; artistes Vic Chou, Hsieh Hsin-Ying & Hsueh Shih-Ling took to the stage to discuss Taiwan’s most anticipated sequel “The World Between Us II”; and Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actor winner Ian Veneracion, joined Rein Entertainment in its launch of its newest Filipino action-drama series, “Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence.”

Playing a key role in content development, ATF 2024 saw an unprecedented six in-development programs, of which four were brand new pitches. Focused on new areas of attention, including a push to invest in IPs that revolutionises business models, a total of 38 ideas/companies/people found the opportunity to present their concepts and ideas to 50 commissioners/producers/etc.

A wave of announcements has highlighted new partnerships, projects, and innovations that promise to reshape the landscape of television, film, and production. Among the key developments, ABS-CBN unveiled ABS-CBN Studios, a comprehensive production hub offering services tailored for TV and film, solidifying its role as a major player in content creation.

Central TV has secured the rights to two international formats, "The Wishing Tree" and "The Job Interview," with both set to premiere in Mongolia in the spring of 2025. Meanwhile, Colossul Studios and Robot Playground Media have joined forces for a co-production of "Gabriel and the Guardians," an anime-inspired series poised to captivate fans worldwide.

In Singapore, a collaboration among FLY Entertainment, IAmCasting, Synagie, Hoods Inc. Productions, and Aux Infinite Studios has given rise to "SuperStreamer Asia." This TV competition pits live streamers against each other in a battle for the ultimate title of streaming supremacy, blending entertainment with digital innovation. Simultaneously, Linmon Media and Mediacorp have entered a strategic partnership to drive closer collaborations in production and facilitate creative talent exchanges between China and Singapore.

Mediacorp has reached a significant milestone with its first pre-sale deal in Chinese drama. The much-anticipated series "Emerald Hill" is set to debut on Netflix and meWatch simultaneously, expanding its audience to both global and regional markets. Oceanus Media Global has also made waves by partnering with Curtin University to develop a curriculum for virtual production and enhance co-production capabilities. Additionally, Oceanus Media Global and Filmforce Studio Malaysia have announced the co-production of "Bandit," an ambitious action film with a budget exceeding S$5 million, marking a significant achievement for Southeast Asian cinema.

Rounding out these announcements, StudioCanal, Beach House Pictures, and Momo Films have collaborated on "Red Butterfly," a stylish and explosive crime drama series. This partnership exemplifies the creative potential of cross-border collaboration. Together, these developments underscore a vibrant and innovative period in the entertainment industry, promising a wealth of compelling content for audiences across the globe.

Anna Yim, Head of Global Marketing, Gyeonggi Content Agency (GCA), commented: "ATF is one of the best & biggest markets in Asia where I was able to connect with new buyers, sellers & partners. Although this was my first time at ATF, I was very surprised by the turnout at the pitching session we held, where it also allowed me to find out the interest towards K content from attendees from all over the world."

Bennett Pozil, Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Banking, East West Bank, added: "ATF in all candour, is one of the favourite events that I go to each year. It brings together a great cross-section of media professionals, not just from Southeast Asia, but also from all over the world. If I can only pick 1 event to attend each year, I’d say ’ATF’."

Christian Vesper, CEO, Global Drama and Film, Fremantle, stated: "Asia is a very important part of our global strategy. A lot of content trends come from Asia these days, so I think that there are a lot of opportunities in terms of production resources and locations. With Asia being such a big market, and a new market for me, it is very helpful that ATF is where everyone is in one place and a great platform to understand what this part of the world is looking for in terms of entertainment and series."

Jaymar Castro, Writer, ABS-CBN Studios – Hysteria – Winner of ATF x EST N8 Horror Pitch 2024, mentioned: "Attending ATF allowed me to be exposed to content from not only in Asia, but also from all over the world. ATF serves as an important platform to connect industry professionals for us to share our culture, stories and unique perspectives."

Maria Kivinen, Sales Manager, Yle, the Finnish Broadcasting Company, added: "Other than being the place for buying & selling content, ATF serves as a platform to find unique co production opportunities. I have met with many new partners, especially from Korea & Taiwan, where we have already made business deals with. I believe that after ATF we will have even more unique collaborations and co-financing opportunities. ATF is definitely a must-attend event if you are looking to work partners in Asia."

Uttam Pal Singh, Head, Kids Business, South Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery, commented after the event: "ATF is a very important event for buyers like myself – I was able to meet studios, IP owners, content producer & creators, from not just in Southeast Asia, but from all over world in one place and that is what makes ATF a must-attend event. On top of meeting some of our existing business partners face-to-face, I also managed to identify new IPs where we will likely bring the discussion further."

The next edition of ATF is slated to return from December 2 to 5, 2025, at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.