| MUMBAI:
Ten months before the trade event Amazia, 200 companies from around the world
have confirmed that they will be in attendance. The
event is positioning itself as the first Asian-based business-to-business exhibition
and conference event devoted to the creation and distribution of international
entertainment content across all delivery platforms. The
inaugural Amazia, which will take place from 17-20 November 2008 at the Hong Kong
Convention and Exhibition Centre, aims to reflect the development of the market,
especially in Asia, where the number of distribution platforms has significantly
increased. It is being organised by Reed Midem which also organises the trade
show MipTV and Mipcom in Cannes, France. UK
based Association of Independent Music (AIM) CEO Alison Wenham says, “A new
event focussing on Asia is timely. We welcome the organisation of Amazia to attract
new business to this huge, relatively undeveloped music market.”
“China,
and Asia in general, are great potential markets for digital content. In such
a context, AMAZIA is a unique opportunity for leaders from the industry to meet
key Asian players,” adds the French Export Music Office that will be in Hong
Kong next November with a delegation of French music professionals. Several
multi-content pavilions, namely Korean, Taiwanese, but also Spanish, and Italian,
are expected to attend AMAZIA, which promises to be highly international and diversified.
The event has indeed won strong support from China, Japan, Hong Kong and India
as well as from non-Asian territories such as the UK, the Netherlands, the US,
Australia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Mexico and Sweden.
Amazia director
Franz Caduc says, “The positive response to Amazia reflects the importance
that key Asian players and their international counterparts from the entertainment
industry give to this international forum in Asia. “The
evolution of the market towards the convergence of all content genres on digital
platforms is clearly illustrated by the astonishing rate at which the exhibition
area is filling.” Alongside
the exhibition, two complementary events will be held at Amazia providing the
ideas, tools and case experiences for delegates to use whilst building their Pan-Asian
and international business. From
17-18 November, the event will host the Amazia Entertainment Summit, a strategic
two-day think-tank bringing together the movers and shakers of the entertainment
industries from throughout Asia and the world to discuss the future of media and
entertainment with a special focus on the Asia Pacific Region. The Summit will
provide a mix of high profile keynotes, visionary sessions, exclusive cutting
edge demos, roundtables and VIP networking events. The
Amazia market seminars (18-20 November) will go deeper into the business of each
content genre, and provide unparalleled networking opportunities for delegates,
both cross content and cross platform. The programme is set to focus on specific
Asian territories and will feature innovative business matchmaking through small
group workshops, prearranged one-on-one meetings, listening sessions or pitching
for co-production. Delegates
will also have access to innovation zones showcasing new talent, the latest content-centric
devices and technologies, and game screenings. The aim of the Amazia market seminars
is to foster deal making for music, games and television as well as nobile and
cross platform content. | 
