Evening update: Wednesday, 3 December 2025

Our third and final dispatch from Day One of the Singapore Media Festival’s ATF market…

By lunchtime, the market floor was bubbling with enthusiasm for the approx US$150 million that Singapore’s government is promising to pour into the media industry – including co-funding film and TV productions – over the next three years. At the same time, Mediacorp has unveiled a slew of creative partnerships that will take the national media platform to China, Japan, Thailand and Taiwan as it builds out an ambitious cross-border production footprint. More below 👇

Elsewhere in Asia, this year’s Miss Universe’s fiasco continues to run on at least three tracks – lots of screaming and new flare-ups between, by and over queens and country hosts/management; hard-core corporate and legal activity as investors attempt to recoup almost US$100 million from JKN Global Group, one-time Thai media company turned Miss Universe Organisation majority owner; and the personal allegations being made against Miss Universe Organisation owners, Anne Jakrajutatip (who is said to have fled Thailand, reportedly for Mexico) and Mexican partner, Raul Rocha Cantu. Thailand’s Central Bankruptcy Court on Tuesday (2 Dec) officially appointed Grant Thornton Specialist Advisory Services to lead the business rehab process for JKN Global Group. Grant Thornton has 45 days (plus two extensions of 15 days each) to come up with a plan. So there should be some answers by early 2026.

Meanwhile…

Singapore rolls out S$200-million talent accelerator programme; producers prick up their ears at promises of funding for cross-border co-productions

Singapore government agency, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), is rolling out a S$200-million/US$148-million three-year talent accelerator programme (TAP) to support Singapore’s media ecosystem. This includes co-funding for regional and global co-productions, including films and TV series as well as IP adaptations for screen. IMDA said this will “establish Singapore as a co-production hub in the region”. Application process details will be released in the first quarter of 2026. The announcement was made by Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information & Ministry of Health (MOH), Tan Kiat How, during the opening of the ATF Market this morning (3 Dec).

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Singapore’s Mediacorp joins China’s Linmon Media on "Only Thirty Five", sequel to hit series; five new MoUs signed boost ties with Japan, Thailand and Taiwan

Singapore’s Mediacorp has joined forces with China’s Linmon Media to produce new drama series, “Only Thirty Five” (三十五而已). Linmon also showcased its 2026 slate during the ATF market, including a survival thriller, fantasy, medical themes and contemporary romance. In additional announcements at ATF this afternoon, Mediacorp unveiled five new co-production partnerships – one each in Japan and Thailand and three in Taiwan.

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FEATURES

Acquired tastes: Thai director Pen-Ek Ratanaruang on “Morte Cucina”, working with Japan’s Miike Takashi, and why broken English is the best language

“These days in places like Bangkok, you hear more Japanese or English on the streets than Thai. It’s actually very good. Your world expands…,” Thai director Pen-ek Ratanaruang says. “Borders don’t matter any more. Language doesn’t matter any more. We all communicate by the most common language in the world – broken English. Broken English is the best language.”

Japan’s superpower: manga x anime x gaming

Serial entrepreneur Fujimura Tetsu argues that the width and depth of Japanese IP resources make the country an entertainment industry leader. Laying out a detailed economic case for this shift, he hailed Japanese IP as a “treasure chest” that has a “remarkable future” ahead of it.

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