7 events you shouldn’t miss at this year’s Singapore Media Festival

Singapore Media Festival (SMF) hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) is back! Happening from 24 November to 11 December 2022, the ninth edition is set to excite everyone from film aficionados and pop culture lovers to budding content creators, with a festival line-up power-packed with uniquely Asian stories that transcend borders.

Specially curated by SMF partners — Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), Screen Singapore, Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) and CreatorWorld — attendees can expect an array of programmes, workshops and initiatives across film, television, and digital and immersive media that will inspire and engage.

Here are must-attend events to check out at this year’s SMF:

1. Learn how to build your business like Mr. Beast

From creating amazing content to launching new brands including a hamburger chain, candy and more, the YouTube superstar has built a business worth upwards of S$2 billion.

In this session, Creator Economy expert Jeremiah Su teases out the patterns, strategies and tactics that Mr. Beast has used to build his brand, launch new brands and become the most valuable – and most famous – creator worldwide.

25 November, 11:15AM – 11:30AM, *SCAPE, The Ground Theatre

2. Get the lowdown from top content creators

There are many ways to make what you do more attractive to brands, but it starts with articulating your creator and channel mission and audience, identifying brands that match your vision and then packaging what you do to best align the two. Join this workshop to learn what agencies and brands are looking for, the process of developing your brand, and the tools to present yourself and communicate clearly.

26 November, 11:00AM – 12:00PM, *SCAPE, Tree Top

3. Support Asian filmmaking and fresh local perspectives

This year’s Asian Feature Film Competition has nine new films by directors making their first to third features, of which three films were developed at previous editions of the festival’s Southeast Asian Film Lab (SEA FL). Debut features include Arnold is a Model Student, a light-hearted satire highlighting Thailand’s recent Bad Student movement by Thai filmmaker Sorayos Prapapan and local producer Tan Si En.

Arnold is a Model Student, 30 November, 4:00PM, Oldham Theatre | 3 December, 4:00PM, Golden Village Plaza Singapura, Hall 9

4. Take part in an interactive, gamified forum

Brace yourself for SGIFF’s Singapore Panorama programme, Mildly Offensive Sometimes Accurate. The interactive gameplay, yes gameplay, will feature actors, casting directors and filmmakers pitting their views against one another. Dishing out some of the most controversial statements you’ve heard, you will get to decide if they are mildly offensive, or sometimes accurate. Get ready for some friendly sparring, and see the sparks fly.

Singapore Panorama Programme – Mildly Offensive Sometimes Accurate
29 November, 7:00PM, LASALLE College of the Arts, Creative Cube

5. Get insiders’ perspectives on current trends

If you’re going to ATF, you have to catch the keynotes and panel discussions that provide insight into current trends in the media industry. Looks Like the Beginning of the End explores how Netflix and Disney are bringing back advertising to entertainment, with Tony Gunnarsson, Principal Analyst, TV, Video & Advertising, Omdia lending his insights.

The keynote exclusive is only open to ATF 2022 ticket holders. You must have a valid ATF 2022 ticket in order to join.

Keynote Exclusive: Looks Like the Beginning of the End
7 December, 1:00PM – 1:50PM, Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Level 5, Main Stage

6. Soak up all the pop culture vibes

Join in the fun at SGCC’s big pop culture party this December! Happening from 10 to 11 December, expect a variety of content and exclusives from new and familiar exhibitors, guest creators, gaming tournaments, the W.I.P Programme Gallery and much more.

Two-day tickets to SGCC are also accompanied with exclusive items from Takashii Nations (S$108 to S$138) or an SGCC T-shirt blindbox (S$85). With each ticket purchase, you’ll also enrolled in a lucky draw to win great prizes.

From Mr Kiasu creator Johnny Lau’s exciting new high tech project featuring virtual production at the W.I.P Programme Gallery (it’s about the 18 levels of hell!) to superhero-themed drinks from LiHo TEA, and from exclusive drops from Mighty Jaxx to the all-new Culture Food Zone that will feature pop-up stores from Gopizza, Blanco Court Beef Noodles, Cat and the Fiddle and more, SGCC 2022 is fun for kids, kidults and everyone in between.

Tickets are available from S$30 to S$142 on Klook.

10 to 11 December 2022, 10:00AM – 8:00PM, Sands Expo and Convention Center, Level 1 Hall A & B | Level B2 Hall D & E

7. Get photo ops with superheroes, anime characters and more

The SGCC Cosplay Competition is back in full swing! Open to cosplayers of all levels of experience, cosplayers will stand a chance to win over S$10,000 worth of prizes. P.S. extra points will be awarded to hand crafted costumes during judging on 11 December.

The SGCC 2022 Cosplay Competition is only open to SGCC 2022 ticket holders. You must have a valid SGCC 2022 ticket in order to join.

SGCC Cosplay Competition
11 December, 5:00PM, Sands Expo and Convention Center, Main Stage