Media Fiesta 2009

LOCAL movies, music and games will be given a big stage during Singapore’s first annual Media Fiesta, which kicks off on Sunday. The month-long festival, organised by the Media Development Authority, aims to create a buzz for Made-in-Singapore content.

The Fiesta will feature content from local companies and groups, ranging from The Straits Times RazorTV – Singapore’s first Internet TV platform – to home-grown independent cinema organisation Sinema Old School. MDA wants more people to give Singapore companies a fillip during the recession by buying local products – from movies to Internet applications such as electronic books.

‘We hope to foster pride in Made-by-Singapore media content. Stimulating local consumers to start using local content… would be good for the economy,’ said MDA’s chief executive officer Christopher Chia.

On its part, MDA has opened its coffers to help struggling first-time filmmakers and others in the digital media industry. For example, the Singapore Film Commission’s New Feature Film Fund, started last year, pumps in up to $250,000 per film.

The authority also matchmakes local companies with global investors in the interactive digital media sector.

Dr Chia said that despite the slump, the media industry is likely to stay strong, and expects to add 10,000 jobs over the next few years to its current 50,000.

‘We anticipate that for 2009, the number of projects and work will still sustain itself,’ he said. The main event of the Media Fiesta will be from March 5 to 8 at the Marina Square atrium.

For more information about Media Fiesta 2009, check out thier website.

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