Ottawa Animation Fest to Spotlight Singapore
The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) focus on Singapore at the 2nd annual Television Animation Conference (TAC), which takes place Sept. 21-22, 2005. Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) is sending production and policy executives from Singapore's animation industry to the conference and meet with Canadian counterparts at a roundtable to establish business contacts explore co-production possibilities.
The roundtable, "Growing Markets: Focus on Singapore", will gather key Canadian production and distribution execs with Singaporean delegates who will showcase their capabilities, discuss their needs and explore ways in which the two countries can advance co-production and trade. The delegation consists of senior execs from Asia Pacific Research & Positioning, Illuminations Media, Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Oak3 Films, Singapore Animators Connection and Singapore Polytechnic. The roundtable will be held September 22 at the Château Laurier.
Lok Yin Seto, the MDA's director of industry development and leader of the Singapore delegation to Canada and OIAF said, "Singapore and Canada signed an Audio Visual Co-production agreement in 1998. This agreement established the framework for co-operation between audio-visual production companies in Singapore and Canada. In 2003, the MDA initiated a Media 21 blueprint aimed at encouraging international co-productions and transforming Singapore into a vibrant global media city. Singapore-produced animation has since garnered the attention of international buyers. Singapore is poised to explore international partnerships in animation co-production and we are looking to Canada as a first-rate partner. We are very excited about this visit and look forward to future collaborations with Canadian animation companies," Seto added.
The Television Animation Conference was launched by the Ottawa International Animation Festival in 2004. TAC sold out in its inaugural year, drawing more than 200 professionals from across Canada, Australia, China, France, India, Italy, South Africa, South Korea and the U.S. The only trade event in Canada tailored specifically to the needs of the animation industry, TAC gathers leading animation production and distribution companies, which this year include Canada's Bardel Ent., Cookie Jar Ent., Corus Ent., Cuppa Coffee Animation, DECODE Ent., Family Channel, Nelvana, Studio B Prods. and TELETOON, as well as international companies Aardman Animation, Cartoon Network, Curious Pictures, Mondo Media, Nickelodeon and PBS.
The OIAF is the largest festival of its kind in North America and one of the most respected animation festivals in the world. Bringing art and industry together, the festival attracts industry professionals, established and emerging artists, students and animation fans from across Canada and around the world. The 2005 festival runs September 21-25. For further information regarding TAC, the Festival, and full pass options, please visit: www.animationfestival.ca or call (613)-232-8769.