Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) 2025

The leading entertainment content market and conference in the region is returning to Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, with Asia continuing to spearhead advancements in entertainment content. As Asia’s best Co-Production & Entertainment Content Market showcase, the Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) welcomes the ecosystem of the Media & Entertainment industry to Singapore with an ATF Leaders Dialogue on 2 Dec 2025, followed by a Market & Conference from 3 & 4 Dec 2025.

This event gathers industry leaders and visionaries, including DreamWorks, GDH 559 (creators of Netflix’s popular Thai drama series “Mad Unicorn”), COL Group, Crazy Maple Studio (ReelShort), acclaimed animation director Momo Wang, and award-winning producer Matiss Kaza (2025 Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature Film “Flow”), among others.

The event opens with The ATF Leaders Dialogue on Day 1 — a meeting of content leaders, bringing together industry pioneers and experts to discuss strategies, challenges, and successes in response to the changing industry landscape. Highlights include:

• GDH 559—The Next Milestone, where GDH 559 CEO Jina Osothsilp examines Thailand’s transition from service excellence to an IP powerhouse

• Telcos Acing Non-Connectivity Revenues—Content Remains King, a debut ATF session focusing on ASEAN telcos’ strategic shift into content

• Mastering the Management of Global Audiences for Micro Dramas, which explores how creators can navigate and expand within the thriving short-form content market.

  
  

The market began its activities on Day 2, offering an opportunity to discover the latest trending content in the region’s entertainment sector. Simultaneously, ATF will hold a series of conferences where business leaders and decision-makers gather for high-level discussions on crucial topics in the entertainment content industry.

Starting from Day 2, several pitch sessions will also commence under the ATF In-Development Club. These sessions are designed for producers to gain a deeper insight into today’s business aspects, along with tips for pitch preparation.

Main Issues/Challenges and Tasks Ahead

The main theme on “Re‑Framing the Narrative – New Pillars of Success Across Screens,” explored the rapid transformation of Asia’s entertainment sector across linear TV, streaming, social platforms, and new media. and the Leaders Dialogue sessions gathered content leaders, financiers, and platform executives to discuss strategies, challenges, and success stories in the current evolving environment.​

On Technology and AI, a key focus is the role of generative AI in development and production, featuring showcases of AI‑created films and an “AI Pitch Jam” where teams craft trailers using AI for script, visuals, sound, and editing., and these sessions aim to enhance efficiency and creative decision-making while equipping Asian creators to remain competitive on a global scale.​

On the topics of Financing, Co‑Production, and IP, panels and initiatives emphasized cross-border financing, co‑production frameworks, and risk-sharing, supported by programs from agencies like Singapore’s IMDA to co‑fund regional and international projects.​ The ATF x Mediacorp Co‑Production Pitch, IP Accelerator, and other development labs focus on creating exportable Asian IP and sustainable franchises.​

New Formats, Platforms, and Audiences held sessions which addressed FAST channels, microdramas/short‑form (which is a hot topic adopted by a few countries following the success in China), telecom companies entering content, and managing global audiences for short-form video.​ Industry experts provided data-driven insights on audience behavior and discuss programming and marketing content across various screens and platforms.​

In the arena of Regional Collaboration and Asian Storytelling, ATF 2025 serves as a center for new partnerships, including Mediacorp’s MOUs with companies in Japan, Thailand, and Taiwan and its first Korean drama co‑production, highlighting increased regional integration.​ A consistent theme converging amongst many sessions is that “Asian stories with a global appeal,” have a staying power as they usually emphasize cultural authenticity, cross-border casts/locations, and position Asia as a creative source and co‑production hub.​

IMDA • Talent Accelerator Programme

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has launched the Talent Accelerator Programme (TAP) to strengthen Singapore’s media industry. With a budget of S$200 million, this three-year initiative focuses on developing creative talent, enhancing co-production collaborations, and reinforcing the media sector. TAP aims to prioritize global distribution and genre-specific Intellectual Property (IP) development. To support this, structured pathways have been created for Singapore’s talent to progress in the film and television industries.

The announcement of TAP was made today by Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information (MDDI) & Ministry of Health (MOH), Mr. Tan Kiat How, during the opening of the Asia TV Forum and Market (ATF) 2025, part of the Singapore Media Festival (SMF) hosted by IMDA. “In a rapidly changing media landscape where audiences have more options and AI is transforming content production, the Government is committed to helping our sector and professionals adapt to remain relevant and competitive,” stated Mr. Tan Kiat How.

The $200 million Talent Accelerator Programme is a major investment to ensure that Made-with-Singapore content gains global recognition. Our goal is to build a strong pipeline of stories with international appeal, enhance Singapore’s status as a co-production hub, and solidify our role as a trusted creative partner in the region,” Mr. Tan Kiat How added.

TAP supports the entire media value chain, from development to production and distribution, allowing promising Singaporean concepts to reach global audiences. Recognizing the unique creative and commercial realities of the film and television sectors, TAP is designed to help both industries capitalize on existing demand in today’s competitive environment.

Under TAP, IMDA introduces structured pathways to nurture talent within Singapore’s media industry. This strategy focuses on developing the specific expertise our talents require at each stage of the media value chain, providing them with a clear roadmap to enhance their craft and business skills for career growth.

Development stage: IMDA will connect media professionals and companies with what commissioners/buyers seek and offer access to:

• Mentorships and masterclasses in areas such as story development (originals or adaptations), pitching skills, and deal negotiation, to refine their stories and proposals. This helps companies strengthen not only their creative concepts but also the commercial aspects of their projects, including financing models, distribution planning, and IP ownership structures, all crucial for industry sustainability.

• Global streamers and platforms, commissioners, international production houses, and showrunners to provide local talent with the exposure needed to penetrate the global market.

Production stage: IMDA will co-fund co-productions, including a variety of regional and global co-productions, films, and TV (scripted and unscripted) as well as IP adaptations for the screen. This aims to position Singapore as a regional co-production hub.

Distribution stage: IMDA will elevate the profile of Made-with-Singapore content, talent, and production companies through a dedicated in-house marketing team. Additionally, a marketing fund will be structured for select projects to enhance visibility.

Singapore is showcasing how strategic international partnerships, such as the recent unscripted partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), can amplify local storytelling on the global stage, with filmmakers collaborating with renowned international partners to bring authentic Singapore narratives to prestigious worldwide platforms. 

Ms Yvonne Tang, Assistant Chief Executive, Media Industry Group, IMDA, said, “IMDA is building a robust ecosystem where international partners see Singapore not just as a location, but as an essential creative collaborator. We believe that Singapore talent can hold their own alongside the world's best. TAP signals a fresh chapter in our endeavour to support and develop our film and television talent through world-class mentorships and masterclasses, strategic global partnerships, and a new wave of co-production opportunities. We hope to usher in a new era of Made-With-Singapore stories, that are made for the world.” 

Mediacorp and Linmon Media

Mediacorp has announced a collaboration with the renowned Chinese production company Linmon Media on "Only Thirty-Five" 《三十五而已》, the sequel to the highly acclaimed Chinese drama "Nothing But Thirty" 《三十而已》. Supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), this partnership was formalized at the Asia TV Forum (ATF) today, signifying a new chapter in Mediacorp’s expansion into high-quality international storytelling and showcasing its growing creative impact across Asia.

The Chinese drama series, set in both China and Singapore, will feature artists from both nations and will begin filming in these locations in 2026. By merging Linmon Media’s storytelling expertise with Mediacorp’s creative skills, the production will highlight top Asian talent and landscapes in a narrative celebrating ambition, independence, and reinvention in today’s fast-changing world.

Su Xiao, Chairman and Founder of Linmon Media, commented: “Expanding into overseas markets is a long-term strategic priority for Linmon Media, and we are committed to growing alongside local markets and partners. The 'co-creation' concept transforms the traditional one-way nature of cultural output: we export China's established creative concepts and industry standards to Singapore and other regions to enhance their film and television industry capabilities, while simultaneously drawing creative inspiration from overseas remakes to inform our domestic IP development.

In Linmon Media's international journey, Singapore has become one of our most valued markets due to its central position and advantages in Southeast Asia and the broader international market. We are excited to work with Mediacorp, a high-quality and innovative international production and broadcasting institution, and we look forward to further strengthening the connection between Chinese IP and Singaporean audiences and promoting cultural exchanges between us.”

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