ATF 2022: ‘Content is Still King’

Yeow Hui Leng, Group Project Director, ATF describes to Prensario: ‘Our Operations Team is now busy collaborating with event partners to ensure a safe comeback edition for all our attendees. Though the wearing of face mask is currently optional (as of September 23) in Singapore (except for public transport and healthcare facilities) and life is back to almost pre-COVID times with international tradeshows and conferences opening every other week, we will nonetheless take every precaution to make sure everyone is well taken care of’. 

According to the executive there is a ‘positive outlook’ that travel restrictions will be eased further for many Asian territories as the region approaches the end of 2022. ‘As this is also the first time ATF is returning in-person after 2 years, we expect to see attendees having more one-on-one sessions during the 3-days event, to jumpstart projects that have been discussed online over the past 2 years, to bring deals to fruition and projects into reality’, she indicated. 

‘We are encouraged by the overwhelming responses for the market. Though there are currently still some travel restrictions in a few Asian territories, majority of the 2019 buyers have already committed to attend ATF as of now. ATF is one of the few content markets to happen physically in Asia this year, so our attendees are eager to resume business as usual. Moreover, people, businesses, and dynamics have evolved over the last few years, making it extremely important to now meet as many people as possible on the ground come December. This is so the industry can start 2023 with new perspectives and renewed confidence’. 

This year, the theme is ‘Content is Still King’ and revolves around the notion that good quality content transcends boundaries – and this includes the pandemic – remaining the driving force behind any successful studio and/or platform. ‘In line with this, we have curated a 3-day conference, including discussions and content showcases that will focus on exclusive insights and strategic visions for 2023 – what this means in the evolution of the industry today; its creative challenges and the ingenuity of business models. With the rise of Asian content globally, we hope to facilitate conversations amongst participants for collaborating, acquiring, co-producing, and financing opportunities for future projects’. 

‘ATF have launched a new Pitch with Indonesia’s streaming platform – Vidio, where creators are welcomed to submit their projects based on set of relevant criteria deemed apt for entry into the Indonesian market. This is similar to the ATF Chinese Pitch, which ATF has been running in partnership with GHY since 2018’, indicated Hui Leng.

And she concluded: ‘We are also going to continue to provide ATF Online+ to complement ATF’s in-person event. This online extension will serve as a platform to extend digital presence for sellers to showcase programmes that they offer, as well as to facilitate scheduling of meetings with prospective partners’.