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Preview to Asia TV Forum & Market
MUMBAI: The 16th edition of the Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) is scheduled to take place from December 1 to 4 at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands. Running concurrently with the 5th edition of ScreenSingapore, the 2015 edition of ATF is poised to attract more than 5,000 attendees from across 60 countries, according to Yeow Hui Leng, the Senior Project Director of Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) and ScreenSingapore (SS) at Reed Exhibitions.
Divided in two parts – market and conferences – ATF market will provide attendees with plenty of business opportunities to buy, sell, network with producers, broadcasters, over-the-top (OTT) players and cable operators in the region.
With over 850 buying companies attending, Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) brings you closer to Asia’s buying community, facilitating the sale and export of engaging content across all genres and platforms to the Asian buyer. With growing interest from Asian content buyers, this year we will also see more exhibitors from China and Japan and new entrants such as Bloomberg, Studio Canal, Fox International Channels, Raya Group, Rainbow, MNC Contents who will be participating in ATF for the first time, the market is likely to expect an even more robust performance.
Hui Leng says that the overall ATF line-up this year presents a greater variety of the Asian countries covered, “giving ATF 2015 a more holistic view of the industry in Asia”. Participants can expect to gather a great deal of information from the panel of speakers and thought leaders that will be present at ATF.
Kicking off ATF’s pre-market conference as the keynote speaker for Into the Future of Television: Asia’s Move Forward is TV industry’s well-known business leader CJ E&M Media Content Business (Korea), president DJ Lee. This will be one of the most exclusive and progressive insights into one of Asia’s most significant media empires. Another keynote speaker is Maker Studios (USA), International head René Rechtman, who will be elaborating on the Development and Expansion in Asia’s Digital Marketplace.
Buyers and producers will also be presented with the latest know-how and trends for kids’ content at Junior@ATF, alongside the deployment of a dragnet on narratives for new formats and ideas that can travel across borders at Formats@ATF. Its is an initiative that was developed with producers in mind as a forum to create, develop and market ideas with format experts through a conference setting, as well as masterclasses conducted by renowned creative talents such as Danny Stack, Writer and Director (UK) of Thunderbirds Are GO, Octonauts, Who Killed Nelson Nutmeg? and Melodie L. Shaw, Member Representative and Organizer of the Writers Guild of America (USA).
Highlighting the current business landscape that traditional players face with disrupters and shifts in content consumption, Steve Macallister, CEO of All3Media International (UK), will share how they stay on top of the United Kingdom and foreign markets.
Some of Asia’s top buyers like Maggie Xiong, Senior Director of International Acquisitions of Youku Tudou (China) and Charlene Lai, Senior Director, Content Acquisition and Licensing, APAC, Le Corporation Limited (Hong Kong) will discuss more on the evolving role of international acquisitions and the type of new ideas and shows channels that they are looking for among content providers.
Last year’s edition hosted more than 71 speakers and 658 exhibitors, and Leng acknowledges that 2015’s ATF attendees can expect to be a part of the mechanics within the heart of Asian television. From the dynamically curated market and conference, where they can tap into the growth potential of Asia’s market, to experiencing the robust character of Asia’s entertainment content industry by connecting with international content sellers and Asian buyers, participants will be able to mesh together and be allied to the constantly evolving Asian television landscape.
Held in conjunction with ATF, the 2015’s edition of ScreenSingapore (SS) will launch a brand new feature, the Southeast Asian Film Financing (SAFF) Project Market. The first of its kind, SAFF seeks to connect promising producers and their projects with commissioners, investors, and co-production partners.
For more information on ATF’s exciting programme, conference line-up and speakers, please visit www.asiatvforum.com
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
