SGIFF Industry Days
Industry Days
27 to 30 Oct 2026 | 10AM – 18:30PM
LASALLE College of the Arts
1 Day Pass + Pitching Forum: $60
4 Day Pass including Pitching Forum: $150
Events will be free seating and on a first come, first served basis. Kindly arrive 10 minutes before your event starts.
Industry Days is SGIFF Pro’s flagship conference event and knowledge-building programme, tailored for and by film professionals from Singapore, Southeast Asia and beyond.
Over four days of panels, talks and curated B2B networking events, Industry Days gathers film professionals and key decision-makers from across disciplines and territories to engage with questions of craft, creative practice and the business of independent cinema.
Programmes
27 October 2026, Tuesday
Time: 10:00-17:30
10:00 – 11:15
Flexible Performance Space
75 mins
Yim Soon-Rye — Craft, Curiousity, Care.
In-depth discussion with Yim Soon-rye, the leading Korean woman film director who this year also heads the SGIFF main competition jury. With a directing career that stretches more than 25 years, Yim has become known for social issues-driven films, an unhurried and unflustered style and a gentle, personal approach. Operating on the indie wing of Korean cinema, Yim has often told female-driven stories and become a pioneer woman filmmaker in a male-dominated and hierarchical Korean industry. The discussion will also illuminate the overseas influences, such as her European education and admiration of Japan’s Mizoguchi Kenzo, that shaped her work.
Why: A respected Korean indie filmmaker sheds light on the highs and lows of a directing career outside the commercial mainstream. A must for young and aspiring filmmakers (and anyone trying to second guess the competition prizes).
Speakers
Yim Soon-Rye
(Speaker)
Born in 1960, Yim Soon-rye studied filmmaking at the University of Paris 8 before becoming …
Yim Soon-Rye
(Speaker)
Born in 1960, Yim Soon-rye studied filmmaking at the University of Paris 8 before becoming one of South Korea’s most prominent female directors. Known for her sympathetic focus on marginalized lives and socially conscious stories, she debuted with Three Friends (1996) and built a acclaimed filmography including Waikiki Brothers (2001), the box-office hit Forever the Moment (2008), The Whistleblower (2014), Little Forest (2018), and The Point Men (2023). Beyond directing, Yim has been a prominent advocate for social causes, serving as president of an animal rights association for 12 years and co-leading the Korean Center for Gender Equality in Film.Born in 1960, Yim Soon-rye studied filmmaking at the University of Paris 8 before becoming one of South Korea’s most prominent female directors. Known for her sympathetic focus on marginalized lives and socially conscious stories, she debuted with Three Friends (1996) and built a acclaimed filmography including Waikiki Brothers (2001), the box-office hit Forever the Moment (2008), The Whistleblower (2014), Little Forest (2018), and The Point Men (2023). Beyond directing, Yim has been a prominent advocate for social causes, serving as president of an animal rights association for 12 years and co-leading the Korean Center for Gender Equality in Film.
Thong Kay Wee
(Moderator)
Thong Kay Wee is a cultural worker specialising in film programming and curation, currently serving …
Thong Kay Wee
(Moderator)
Thong Kay Wee is a cultural worker specialising in film programming and curation, currently serving as the Programme Director of the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) since 2021. He has previously served on film festival juries in Jeonju, Taiwan and Yogyakarta, among others. He was previously the Programmes and Outreach Officer at the Asian Film Archive (AFA) from 2014 to 2021. During his tenure at the AFA, he was responsible for establishing the AFA’s regular programmes and presiding over specialised showcases, including the Singular Screens film series (2018-2021) commissioned by the Singapore International Festival of the Arts and the State of Motion exhibition series (2016-2021) commissioned for the Singapore Art Week.
11:15 – 12:30
Flexible Performance Space
75 mins
Screenwriters Roundtable
Three writer-directors, whose latest features have enjoyed wide international impact this year, discuss their different journeys and varying levels of experience. They include first timer Ang with “Ah Girl”, through self-taught Juyal, who made shorts and documentaries before this year delivering his debut feature “The Ink Stained Hand and the Missing Thumb”, through to the more established Andini with her “Four Seasons in Java”. Andini’s work straddles social issues and accessible genres and in 2023 included the Netflix series “Cigarette Girl”.
The discussion will examine the screenwriting and development processes in Asia, how to give and take notes, and the various requirements that come with trying to make a co-produceable script. It will also look at making the leap from short films and documentaries to fiction features (and narrative series). And tackle the value of participating in labs and workshops and how to get the best out of mentorship.
Why: Dive into the process of screenwriting and doing what it takes to make an award-winning first feature.
Speakers
Ang Geck Geck
(Speaker)
Ang Geck Geck is a Singaporean filmmaker and Busan Asian Film Academy alumna. Her short …
Ang Geck Geck
(Speaker)
Ang Geck Geck is a Singaporean filmmaker and Busan Asian Film Academy alumna. Her short films include Broken Crayon (2012), which won Best Short Film at the Singapore Short Film Awards, and Three Little Pigs (2014), which screened at SGIFF. Ah Girl, her feature debut, was developed at the SGIFF Southeast Asian Film Lab in 2015 and clinched the Youth Jury Award at IFFR.
Kamila Andini
(Speaker)
Kamila Andini is an award-winning Indonesian filmmaker whose work examines gender, marginalisation and environmental issues. …
Kamila Andini
(Speaker)
Kamila Andini is an award-winning Indonesian filmmaker whose work examines gender, marginalisation and environmental issues. Her features include The Seen and Unseen (2017) and Yuni (2021), both of which premiered at Toronto, with the latter winning the festival’s Platform Prize. Both films also competed at SGIFF. Most recently, Before, Now & Then (2022) won the Berlinale’s Best Supporting Performance award.
Yashasvi Juyal
(Speaker)
Yashasvi Juyal (b. 1996, Uttarakhand, India) is a filmmaker whose practice spans fiction and non-fiction …
Yashasvi Juyal
(Speaker)
Yashasvi Juyal (b. 1996, Uttarakhand, India) is a filmmaker whose practice spans fiction and non-fiction cinema, working across writing, directing, and producing.
His debut feature film, THE INK-STAINED HAND AND THE MISSING THUMB, recently premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (2026) in the Proxima Competition.
His short documentary RAINS DON’T MAKE US HAPPY ANYMORE premiered at Visions du Réel (2025) and screened internationally at the Festival Internacional de Documentales de Buenos Aires (FIDBA), Beijing International Short Film Festival (BISFF) and Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival, among others. The film won Best Short Documentary at the Oslo Film Festival (2025).
His short fiction film THE LAST RHODODENDRON (2021), now streaming on MUBI, received the Gender Sensitivity Award at the Dharamshala International Film Festival (2021).
Yashasvi is an alumnus of Doc Producing South and was selected for the Red Sea Lab – Directors Program with Spike Lee. He is a recipient of Visions Sud Est, the Red Sea Fund, and the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity – TakeTen (India).
Kris Ong
(Moderator)
Kris Ong is a Singaporean script consultant and screenwriter whose experience with international studios, as …
Kris Ong
(Moderator)
Kris Ong is a Singaporean script consultant and screenwriter whose experience with international studios, as well as independent and arthouse producers reflects her love for different stories and varied audiences who enjoy them. Recent consulting work includes “9 Temples to Heaven” (2026, Directors’ Fortnight) by Sompot Chidgasornpongse, and the Scandinavia/Singapore/Korean television series “Blueprint of a Crime.” In 2026, she was selected as a Torino Film Lab ScriptLab Story Editor Trainee. Her writing includes the Singapore/Korean feature film “Ajoomma” (2022) directed by He Shuming, for which she was nominated for a Golden Horse Award for Best Original Screenplay.
12:30 – 14:00
Festival Lounge
90 mins
Lunch
14:00 – 15:15
Flexible Performance Space
75 mins
The Adventures of Joao Gonzalez in Music and Animation
Joao Gonzalez won an Oscar nomination for his 2022 animated, short film “Ice Merchants” while he was still studying at the Royal College of Art in London. The film is set in a surreal landscape and depicts a family with an unusual business, but it is also story of loss and healing. Gonzalez says that his story ideas typically come from a single subconscious image that he then builds out as a metaphor about something deeper.
Using his short film “Ice Merchants”, the talk session will illustrate how Gonzalez merges the processes of writing, music and animation to come up with a script. It will also probe his non-linear – and somewhat technical – education and explain how he came to discover the creative possibilities that animation provides.
Why: Discover how animation is so much more than kids’ cartoons.
Speakers
João Gonzalez
(Speaker)
João Gonzalez (Porto, 1996) is an Oscar-Nominated director, animator, illustrator and musician with classical training …
João Gonzalez
(Speaker)
João Gonzalez (Porto, 1996) is an Oscar-Nominated director, animator, illustrator and musician with classical training in piano. In 2022 he premiered his last short film “Ice Merchants” at the Cannes Film Festival, winning Best Short Film in Competition at the Critics Week. It later became the first Portuguese film to ever be nominated for an OSCAR®, and it is currently the most awarded Portuguese film of all time, with more than 150 international awards. João is a member of “COLA Animation” and has a great interest in combining his musical background with his artistic practice in cinema.
Mark Wee
(Moderator)
Mark Wee is an animation filmmaker and producer who loves creating, designing and watching all …
Mark Wee
(Moderator)
Mark Wee is an animation filmmaker and producer who loves creating, designing and watching all forms of animated films; 2D, 3D and Stop-motion – especially Stop-motion. He is a co-founder of Finding Pictures, an award winning Singaporean independent animation studio. Mark has written, directed, and showran the studio’s animated series “Puberteens,” which won Best Animation Programme at the Asian Academy Creative Awards as well as “Zombie Safari,” which competed at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
15:15 – 16:30
Flexible Performance Space
75 mins
The Architecture of Opportunity: Grants, Coproduction, and the Making of a Global Cinema
National film funds built for a twentieth century industry now operate inside a production and distribution environment reshaped by platforms and emerging technologies. Careers across Asia and Europe are increasingly transnational by design.
This roundtable discusses how grants (including those for project or talent development) are infrastructure for coproduction, shaping who travels, who collaborates, and whose work circulates internationally. Commissioners from across Asia and Europe discuss how their funds are built to construct sustainable, global careers rather than isolated opportunities, and how coproduction functions as a form of industry capability building. They will address the risks they anticipate for their industries, how their criteria protect diversity and innovation, and how they are responding to new production technologies while keeping human creativity at the centre.
Speakers
Joierie Ann Pacumio
(Speaker)
Joierie Ann Pacumio is the Executive Director of the Film Philippines Office, under the Film …
Joierie Ann Pacumio
(Speaker)
Joierie Ann Pacumio is the Executive Director of the Film Philippines Office, under the Film Development Council of the Philippines. She oversees operations and programs that provide financial incentives and services for international co- productions and offshore projects.
Roberto Stabile
(Speaker)
After graduating in Political Science and International Affairs he has dedicated the past 30 years to …
Roberto Stabile
(Speaker)
After graduating in Political Science and International Affairs he has dedicated the past
30 years to developing and strengthening relationships with international cinema and tv
institutions.
From 1996 to 2005 he was General Secretary of the National Union of Film Producers
in ANICA (Italian Film Audiovisual and Digital Industries Association) and from 2005
to 2023 he headed the International Department in ANICA.
For the Italian Trade Agency, he has set up a network of information desks on the
Italian film industry funding and location services in the major World Markets.
He also developed the ITALIAN SCREENS project, an initiative supported by the
Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,
which highlights a wide variety of genres and emerging talents—including those films
featured at major international film festivals. Additionally, the project promotes Italy’s
tax incentives, funding programs, and co-production opportunities for filmmakers
looking to shoot in the country.
Since March 2022, he has headed Cinecittà’s International Department. Since September
2026, he has taken on the role of Director, where he oversees international cooperation
and initiatives, fostering relationships and creating new business opportunities between
Italian and international film professionals.
Ayumi Rosa Filippone
(Speaker)
With Italian and Japanese roots, Ayumi has developed her professional career in international film festivals, …
Ayumi Rosa Filippone
(Speaker)
With Italian and Japanese roots, Ayumi has developed her professional career in international film festivals, coproduction markets and cultural organisations. In 2023, she started at the International Film Festival Rotterdam as Coordinator of Hubert Bals Fund, currently serving as Project Manager with special focus on international partnerships and new funding initiatives. In 2022 she coordinated the trainings for emerging producers at ACE Producers, while curating the Industry Talks during International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam. She coordinated the MIA Market film department in 2021. She also manages the platform Match Me! at Locarno Film Festival and is a film consultant for Asian films in development.
IMDA, Singapore
IMDA, Singapore
Jeremy Chua
(Moderator)
Jeremy Chua is the Executive Director of SGIFF. Previously, he was the General Manager from …
Jeremy Chua
(Moderator)
Jeremy Chua is the Executive Director of SGIFF. Previously, he was the General Manager from 2024 to 2025. Since 2014, he founded Singapore-based independent film label.
Potocol to produce the works of distinctive Asian auteurs. His producing credits include Filipinana by Rafael Manuel (Special Jury Prize, Sundance World Dramatic Competition 2026), Some Rain Must Fall by Qiu Yang (Special Jury Prize, Berlinale Encounters 2024), and Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell by Pham Thien An (Cannes Camera d’Or 2023). He is the recipient of the 2023 FIAPF Outstanding Contribution to Asia Pacific Cinema Award and a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters.
28 October 2026, Wednesday
Time: 10:00 to 16:30
10:00 – 11:15
Flexible Performance Space
75 mins
Koji Fukada: Japan’s Master of Understated Chaos
Get close to one of Japan’s major auteurs. Still considered a rising star in his native Japan, director Koji Fukada has achieved plenty. He made a splash with his first films Human Comedy in Tokyo and Hospitalite, in 2008 and 2010, and won the jury prize in Cannes with his 2016 title Harmonium. Just 42 at the time, in 2022, he was awarded the Tokyo IFF’s Akira Kurosawa award, having hailed him as a meticulous and realistic reflector of modern society. “Nagi Notes”, his latest effort, which was his first in main competition at Cannes and plays in the SGIFF’s Horizon strand, continues that approach and depicts a consequential week in the life of two women and two children as they figure out what they need to be happy.
Expect the conversation to dive into Fukada’s self-described obsession with the French New Wave films of Eric Rohmer, to probe other early career influences, including the director’s time working in animation and live theatre, and to ask how festivals affect the filmmakers they showcase.
Speakers
Koji Fukada
(Speaker)
Koji Fukada
(Speaker)
Kong Rithdee
(Moderator)
Kong Rithdee is the executive member of the Thai Film Foundation and former deputy director …
Kong Rithdee
(Moderator)
Kong Rithdee is the executive member of the Thai Film Foundation and former deputy director of the Thai Film Archive. He’s also a writer, translator, and journalist for several Thai and international publications.
11:15 – 12:30
Flexible Performance Space
75 mins
Capsicums, Colour and Craft: Understanding Cinematography With Akiko Ashizawa
Akiko Ashizawa originally wanted to be a director, but for a woman breaking into the sector was no easy task. And, working on commercials as a cinematographer, she soon found that she was able to use light and lenses to tell stories. The prestigious Pierre Angenieux organisation that this year made Ashizawa only its second ever female prize-winner hailed her “mastery of natural light and atmosphere, [and excellence] at capturing complex emotional tones on screen.” Her breakthrough into the movie mainstream and to international acclaim came in 2005 with the beginning of an eight-film partnership with director Kurosawa Kiyoshi. That has made her especially known for shooting atmospheric genre films, but the reality is that she has worked across just about every genre. She also mastered the film-to-digital transition by coming up with many of her own technology solutions. Make sure to also catch the SGIFF screening of “Sleep No More”, which she shot for Indonesia’s Edwin.
Why: Gain insight into the approaches and techniques of one of the world’s best DoPs.
Speakers
Akiko Ashizawa
(Speaker)
Born in Tokyo in 1951, Akiko Ashizawa began shooting 8mm films as a student at …
Akiko Ashizawa
(Speaker)
Born in Tokyo in 1951, Akiko Ashizawa began shooting 8mm films as a student at Aoyama Gakuin University. Her passion for films led her into the world of professional filmmaking. After working on small-scale independent films and moving on to commercial and television productions; she became an independent cinematographer in 1982. Ashizawa worked on films throughout her 40s and, to this day, has been credited on over 70 feature films, including Tokyo Sonata (2008), Chronicle of My Mother (2011), and Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash (2021). In May 2026, Ashizawa became the second woman, and first Japanese cinematographer, to receive the prestigious Pierre Angénieux Tribute at the 79th Cannes Film Festival.
Hideho Urata
(Moderator)
Hideho Urata is an award-winning Director of Photography based in Singapore and a member of …
Hideho Urata
(Moderator)
Hideho Urata is an award-winning Director of Photography based in Singapore and a member of the Singapore Society of Cinematographers (SGSC). He is best known for his work on Yeo Siew Hua’s A Land Imagined, which won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival and earned Urata Best Cinematography at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the Valladolid International Film Festival. His acclaimed filmography also includes Chie Hayakawa’s Plan 75 (Cannes Caméra d’Or Special Mention) and Renoir, as well as Yeo Siew Hua’s Stranger Eyes. Urata also serves as a Senior Lecturer at LASALLE College of the Arts.
12:30 – 14:00
Festival Lounge
90 mins
Lunch Presented by Sony
14:00 – 15:15
Flexible Performance Space
75 mins
Getting Real About Virtual Reality
Sunny Sarnkingthong, producer, director of photography and co-founder of Final Pixel, was part of the recent mega-production Alien: Earth, which was shot in Thailand. Drawing on case studies from his recent projects, he will explore the applications, possibilities, and future potential of virtual production, including insights from his experience working with Sony’s OCELLUS camera tracking system. He will explain how the technology is evolving; where it intersects with AI; how VP changes the dynamics and crewing of a film shoot; and how it can be budget-friendly in an Asian context.
Why: Get to grips with an infinitely expandable production technology.
SPEAKERS
Sunny Sarnkingthong
(Speaker)
Sunny (Rangsi Sarnkingthong) is a pioneering filmmaker and tech executive driving Southeast Asia’s transition into …
Sunny Sarnkingthong
(Speaker)
Sunny (Rangsi Sarnkingthong) is a pioneering filmmaker and tech executive driving Southeast Asia’s transition into advanced virtual production. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Final Pixel Studio, Bangkok’s premier Hollywood-grade LED volume facility, he bridges the gap between traditional storytelling and real-time filmmaking technology.
A Film Production graduate from Mahidol University International College (MUIC) and a former Channel 3 television actor, Sunny brings a unique dual perspective from both in front of and behind the lens. Under his leadership, Final Pixel Studio has become a vital infrastructure partner for major international franchises, recently serving as a virtual production vendor for FX and Hulu’s sci-fi series Alien: Earth. Sunny is dedicated to empowering filmmakers by leveraging cutting-edge in-camera visual effects (ICVFX) and real-time workflows to push the boundaries of modern global cinema.
Patrick Frater
(Moderator)
Based in Hong Kong and Bangkok, Patrick Frater has over 20 years of experience writing …
Patrick Frater
(Moderator)
Based in Hong Kong and Bangkok, Patrick Frater has over 20 years of experience writing about and analysing the international entertainment industry from Asia. He has worked with publications including Screen International, The Hollywood Reporter and Film Business Asia. He was Asia editor of Variety between 2005 and 2009 and between 2013 and November 2024. He is currently the film contributor for ContentAsia. Frater is also a member of the European Film Academy and a 2026 voting member of the Golden Globes.
15:15 – 16:30
Flexible Performance Space
75 mins
Scenes from a Menage: Tom Harari on Making Genre Films With His Brother
Meet one of the defining figures in contemporary French cinema. Best-known as a cinematographer, Tom Harari is a creative powerhouse with additional credits as composer, music performer, screenwriter, director and actor. In Singapore with Cannes competition title L’Inconnue (“The Unknown”), directed by his younger brother Arthur, Tom Harari will analyse how he transposed a scene from a graphic novel into a live-action film. He will also give a technical breakdown of the pair’s work on the Philippines-set, Japanese-themed WWII film Onoda, 10,000 Nights in the Jungle, in which a solo Japanese soldier refuses to end his own WWII battles.
Speakers
Tom Harari
(Speaker)
Tom Harari is a French director of photography living in Paris. He learned his craft …
Tom Harari
(Speaker)
Tom Harari is a French director of photography living in Paris. He learned his craft by himself, practicing still photography and making amateur movies in S8 during his teenage years, then as a cinematographer on short movies directed by his brother Arthur, and by friends he met in the University of cinema. For fifteen years, he has worked on feature movies, mostly with French directors of his own generation : Katell Quillévéré, Arthur Harari, Justine Triet, Guillaume Brac, Virgil Vernier, Judith Davis, Saïd Hamich Benlarbi… As a filmmaker he also directed two short movies, The Said Time and Dahu.
Patrick Frater
(Moderator)
Based in Hong Kong and Bangkok, Patrick Frater has over 20 years of experience writing …
Patrick Frater
(Moderator)
Based in Hong Kong and Bangkok, Patrick Frater has over 20 years of experience writing about and analysing the international entertainment industry from Asia. He has worked with publications including Screen International, The Hollywood Reporter and Film Business Asia. He was Asia editor of Variety between 2005 and 2009 and between 2013 and November 2024. He is currently the film contributor for ContentAsia. Frater is also a member of the European Film Academy and a 2026 voting member of the Golden Globes.
29 October 2026, Thursday
Time: 10:00 to 18:30
10:00 – 11:15
Flexible Performance Space
75 mins
Decision-Makers Roundtable
Real-world decision makers will offer a glimpse into the reality of producing independent film in Asia. Choosing what films to make and how to finance and distribute them while retaining equity and getting the producer paid are all becoming harder as today’s filmmaking landscape becomes more complicated than ever. This session will attempt to help independent producers and filmmakers in Asia navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by streaming, micro dramas, artificial intelligence, soft money and budget inflation.
Speakers
Lachman G Samtani (Lavesh)
(Speaker)
Lavesh Samtani is the Chief Operating Officer of Mandela Pictures, a production house alongside 13 …
Lachman G Samtani (Lavesh)
(Speaker)
Lavesh Samtani is the Chief Operating Officer of Mandela Pictures, a production house alongside 13 Entertainment, a distribution company and home to Indonesia’s largest film library. With over 20 years in the industry and roots in Indonesian film distribution dating back to 1986, Lavesh brings deep expertise in licensing, content development, and production. His recent producer credits include 1 Kakak 7 Ponakan, Rumah Singgah and Bisikan Desa Gringsing (Whispers of Fatimah), a trilateral Indonesia-Singapore-Malaysia co-production. Lavesh is based in Jakarta.
Karam AlMasri
(Speaker)
Karam AlMasri is Fund Manager at MEFIC Capital in Riyadh, where she manages Riviera Content, …
Karam AlMasri
(Speaker)
Karam AlMasri is Fund Manager at MEFIC Capital in Riyadh, where she manages Riviera Content, a CMA-regulated closed-end private equity fund investing in film and television projects. The fund launched in 2025 with the Cultural Development Fund as anchor investor and co-finances Saudi and international productions alongside studios and producers. She leads the fund’s investment process, from sourcing projects through to deployment. From 2017 to 2024, she managed the feature film production and development funding programs at Ontario Creates in Toronto, supporting Canadian and international co-productions. She holds an MBA in Media and Entertainment Management from the Schulich School of Business.
XinYu Zhou
(Speaker)
XinYu Zhou is a film producer and a member of the Artistic and Investment Committee …
XinYu Zhou
(Speaker)
XinYu Zhou is a film producer and a member of the Artistic and Investment Committee at Impact Film, where she contributes to the artistic assessment and financing of film projects. Impact Film is a French investment initiative dedicated to supporting films and series that challenge stereotypes and foster more inclusive representations on screen. Through financing and creative engagement with projects, it promotes diversity, women’s empowerment and major societal issues, with the conviction that cinema can both engage audiences and contribute to meaningful social change.
Patrick Frater
(Moderator)
Based in Hong Kong and Bangkok, Patrick Frater has over 20 years of experience writing …
Patrick Frater
(Moderator)
Based in Hong Kong and Bangkok, Patrick Frater has over 20 years of experience writing about and analysing the international entertainment industry from Asia. He has worked with publications including Screen International, The Hollywood Reporter and Film Business Asia. He was Asia editor of Variety between 2005 and 2009 and between 2013 and November 2024. He is currently the film contributor for ContentAsia. Frater is also a member of the European Film Academy and a 2026 voting member of the Golden Globes.
Fran Borgia
(Moderator)
Fran Borgia is the founder of Akanga Film Asia. He has produced numerous critically acclaimed …
Fran Borgia
(Moderator)
Fran Borgia is the founder of Akanga Film Asia. He has produced numerous critically acclaimed films, including A Land Imagined (2018), which won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival. His producing credits include Yuni (Toronto Platform Prize 2021), Tiger Stripes (Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prize 2023), Stranger Eyes (Venice Main Competition 2024), Village Rockstars 2 (Busan Jiseok Award 2024), Renoir (Cannes Main Competition 2025), Amoeba (Toronto Discovery 2025 / APSA Best Youth Feature Film), and Not a Hero (Berlinale Generation 2026). He is currently pursuing a PhD focused on Poetic Cinema at Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
11:15 – 12:30
Flexible Performance Space
75 mins
Structuring Asian-American Co-Production
Find opportunities for Asia in a globalised content system. With past roles at Warner Bros, HBO, Disney+, MTV, Village Roadshow Pictures, Perfect World Pictures and Banijay Entertainment, as well as distinguished indie and mainland China careers, two of the most experienced film and TV executives in Asia discuss industry relations between Asia and the US.
The session will cover the pair’s track records, in parallel with the evolution of US studios’ holistic and fluid approach to film and TV in the region. It will weigh up the US-China axis and opportunities for trans-Pacific film and TV production.
Speakers
Jessica Kam-Engle
(Speaker)
Jessica Kam-Engle is a seasoned TV and film producer. She is the Founder/Executive Producer of …
Jessica Kam-Engle
(Speaker)
Jessica Kam-Engle is a seasoned TV and film producer. She is the Founder/Executive Producer of the production company Kanvas Creations that focuses on media productions in Greater China. In 2024-26, she set up the pan-regional production house CreAsia Studio for Banijay Asia that produces Asian originals and localized Banijay IP adaptations in Southeast Asia. Notable productions include the original TV series My Chef in Crime with versions in Indonesia and Thailand, as well as MasterChef Asia in Macau. From 2021 to 2023, Jessica was Head of Content and Development for Disney+ Asia Pacific, during which she commissioned more than 60 scripted and non-scripted original series across the region for the streaming platform. Notable commercial hits include Korean dramas Big Bet, Connect, Snowdrop, Moving, Shadow Detective, Big Mouth; Japanese live action Gannibal and various animes; Chinese series Anita (Director’s cut), Taiwan Crime Stories, Delicacies Destiny, Bahasa series Wedding Agreement, Mendua, Call My Agent, Teluh Darah, etc. She also spearheaded a slate of premium K-Pop music content from supergroup BTS, Black Pink, Super Junior and PSY. Jessica joined HBO Asia in 2017 and was Head of Original Production – Entertainment at WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks in Asia Pacific. She oversaw HBO’s original productions including TV series like Dream Raider, Workers, Invisible Stories, Food Lore, The Talwars: Behind Closed Doors, Folklore, Food Lore, Grisse, The Teenage Psychic 2, and feature film The Garden Of Evening Mists. Prior to joining HBO, she was an independent film producer based in Beijing and Hong Kong from 2008-2016 during which she produced 10 feature films including critically acclaimed The Piano in a Factory and blockbuster Just Another Pandora's Box. Previously, she had over 10 years’ experience in regional media including stints at Celestial Pictures, MTV Asia, MGM Gold Network, Dow Jones Newswires and Disney Studios. Jessica holds an MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, as well as a B.A. in Computer Science from U. C. Berkeley.
Ellen R. Eliasoph
(Speaker)
Ellen R. Eliasoph is a veteran executive and producer who has spent her career building …
Ellen R. Eliasoph
(Speaker)
Ellen R. Eliasoph is a veteran executive and producer who has spent her career building bridges among Hollywood, Asia and Australia. Eliasoph served as founder, President and lead production executive of Warner Bros. China for 15 years and Village Roadshow Asia for a decade before establishing her own company, Starry Dome. She has produced films directed by greats Johnnie To, Peter Chan, Stephen Chow and Zhang Yimou, starring actors including Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Keanu Reeves. She is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and is fluent in Chinese and Japanese.
Patrick Frater
(Moderator)
Based in Hong Kong and Bangkok, Patrick Frater has over 20 years of experience writing …
Patrick Frater
(Moderator)
Based in Hong Kong and Bangkok, Patrick Frater has over 20 years of experience writing about and analysing the international entertainment industry from Asia. He has worked with publications including Screen International, The Hollywood Reporter and Film Business Asia. He was Asia editor of Variety between 2005 and 2009 and between 2013 and November 2024. He is currently the film contributor for ContentAsia. Frater is also a member of the European Film Academy and a 2026 voting member of the Golden Globes.
Séverine Tibi
Séverine Tibi works as the Creative Analyst for Sons of Rigor Films in Los Angeles. …
Séverine Tibi
Séverine Tibi works as the Creative Analyst for Sons of Rigor Films in Los Angeles. She scouts and assesses projects, ensuring alignment with the company’s goals and values. Séverine is also a Producer and co-founded the Cannes-based production company Sevana Films, with which she has produced films in several countries. She is a Sundance Producers Summit, Rotterdam Lab and Zurich Film Festival Academy alumna, and has served as a mentor for SXSW and a consultant for the Red Sea Labs. She previously worked in Sponsorship at the BFI in London.
12:30 – 14:00
Festival Lounge
90 mins
Lunch Presented by the French Embassy in Singapore
14:00 – 15:15
Flexible Performance Space
75 mins
Sales and Distribution Roundtable
The marketplace for independent films is continually evolving as theatrical distribution is challenged by streaming, as audiences redefine what they need to see in cinemas and festivals seek expanded roles.
This session will examine the role of sales agents as film financiers and co-producers distributors and festival strategists. While the demise of sales agents has frequently been touted, they continue to be numerous and influential. Through this session, gain the perspective of risk-taking B2B companies and understand the forces of the global distribution system which shape a film’s journey across the festival and commercial circuits.
Speakers
Shao-Yi Chen
(Speaker)
Shao-Yi Chen serves as the General Manager of Screenworks Asia, a joint venture between CATCHPLAY …
Shao-Yi Chen
(Speaker)
Shao-Yi Chen serves as the General Manager of Screenworks Asia, a joint venture between CATCHPLAY and TAICCA. Leveraging over 20 years of expertise in distribution, financing, and OTT platforms, she brings a 360-degree perspective to premium content production. Dedicated to elevating Taiwanese storytelling globally, she has built a diverse portfolio featuring acclaimed series such as The Making of an Ordinary Woman 2, Twisted Strings, Not A Murder Story, and Islanders, as well as the film Lost In Perfection, alongside successful Southeast Asian co-productions like the Indonesian hit Losmen Melati.
Gabor Greiner
(Speaker)
After his studies of Cultural Management in Vienna, Birmingham and Chicago, Gabor Greiner worked as …
Gabor Greiner
(Speaker)
After his studies of Cultural Management in Vienna, Birmingham and Chicago, Gabor Greiner worked as a journalist and film critic. In 2003, he moved to Brussels to take charge of the distribution support department of the MEDIA Program at the European Commission’s Film Fund. In 2009, Gabor became acquisitions executive at the international sales agent, The Match Factory. In August 2010, Gabor moved to Berlin to take over acquisitions of the French-German sales company, Films Boutique, winner of the Golden Bear in 2017 and 2020 and the Golden Lion in 2011 and 2016. Gabor is a member of the European Film Academy.
Boris Pugnet
(Speaker)
Boris Pugnet used to run a one screen cinema when he was a student near …
Boris Pugnet
(Speaker)
Boris Pugnet used to run a one screen cinema when he was a student near Paris. After that he discovered distribution on the French market through booking first ( Memories of murder by Bong Joon Ho for CTV). Then as artistic director for SND distribution (The Hurt Locker, Harvey Milk, Twilight) and as Head of marketing for Le Pacte (Justine Triet, Koreeda, Ken Loach among others) until 2016. He now runs Space Odyssey, in charge of the marketing of Maverick Distribution (The Invite by Olivia Wilde), and also distributes Asian movies in partnership with Heylight: Creation of the gods 1 & 2, The shadow’s edge, Dead to rights, and works with Trinity on the marketing of Dear You and Ne Zah 2, or Godzilla Minus one for Piece of magic.
Patrick Frater
(Moderator)
Based in Hong Kong and Bangkok, Patrick Frater has over 20 years of experience writing …
Patrick Frater
(Moderator)
Based in Hong Kong and Bangkok, Patrick Frater has over 20 years of experience writing about and analysing the international entertainment industry from Asia. He has worked with publications including Screen International, The Hollywood Reporter and Film Business Asia. He was Asia editor of Variety between 2005 and 2009 and between 2013 and November 2024. He is currently the film contributor for ContentAsia. Frater is also a member of the European Film Academy and a 2026 voting member of the Golden Globes.
Fran Borgia
(Moderator)
Fran Borgia is the founder of Akanga Film Asia. He has produced numerous critically acclaimed …
Fran Borgia
(Moderator)
Fran Borgia is the founder of Akanga Film Asia. He has produced numerous critically acclaimed films, including A Land Imagined (2018), which won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival. His producing credits include Yuni (Toronto Platform Prize 2021), Tiger Stripes (Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prize 2023), Stranger Eyes (Venice Main Competition 2024), Village Rockstars 2 (Busan Jiseok Award 2024), Renoir (Cannes Main Competition 2025), Amoeba (Toronto Discovery 2025 / APSA Best Youth Feature Film), and Not a Hero (Berlinale Generation 2026). He is currently pursuing a PhD focused on Poetic Cinema at Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
15:30 – 18:30
Creative Cube
180 mins
Connect Me: 15 Minutes with…
As part of Industry Days, SGIFF is launching an inaugural initiative, Connect Me: 15 Minutes with…, to connect Singapore Industry participants with film commissioners and key international decision-makers.
In this second session, converse with key international decision-makers across multiple disciplines — financiers, producers, commissioners, world sales agents, distributors, and talent scouts.
The 15-minute meetings is structured as a one-to-one interaction with international film professional(s) of your choice, subject to the individual’s availability.
Pre-register here: https://forms.gle/x9XsY6fQ3wR5qMvF8
Financiers
Ayumi Rosa Filippone
With Italian and Japanese roots, Ayumi has developed her professional career in international film festivals, …
Ayumi Rosa Filippone
With Italian and Japanese roots, Ayumi has developed her professional career in international film festivals, coproduction markets and cultural organisations. In 2023, she started at the International Film Festival Rotterdam as Coordinator of Hubert Bals Fund, currently serving as Project Manager with special focus on international partnerships and new funding initiatives. In 2022 she coordinated the trainings for emerging producers at ACE Producers, while curating the Industry Talks during International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam. She coordinated the MIA Market film department in 2021. She also manages the platform Match Me! at Locarno Film Festival and is a film consultant for Asian films in development.
Ryan Ashore
Ryan Ashore is a filmmaker, producer, and creative artist whose passion for cinema began at …
Ryan Ashore
Ryan Ashore is a filmmaker, producer, and creative artist whose passion for cinema began at an early age. After film school and experience on numerous film sets, he began his career with short films before expanding into drama, fashion, and independent film production
across several countries. Through his role as the Director of the Red Sea Labs, Ryan has focused on supporting emerging and established talents from the Arab region, Africa, and Asia, helping develop the next generation of storytellers. He also launched the Music and Sound program, mentoring young composers and connecting them with internationally recognized professionals while expanding opportunities for creatives across film, series, animation, and music.
XinYu Zhou
XinYu Zhou is a film producer and a member of the Artistic and Investment Committee …
XinYu Zhou
XinYu Zhou is a film producer and a member of the Artistic and Investment Committee at Impact Film, where she contributes to the artistic assessment and financing of film projects. Impact Film is a French investment initiative dedicated to supporting films and series that challenge stereotypes and foster more inclusive representations on screen. Through financing and creative engagement with projects, it promotes diversity, women’s empowerment and major societal issues, with the conviction that cinema can both engage audiences and contribute to meaningful social change.
Shelly Yu
Shelly Yu is the Chairwoman of A&C CULTURE GROUP, an Adelaide-based institution investing in international …
Shelly Yu
Shelly Yu is the Chairwoman of A&C CULTURE GROUP, an Adelaide-based institution investing in international films and media projects, as well as events, cross-cultural exchanges, and other programs supporting filmmaking talent in Australia, China, and beyond.
Karam AlMasri
Karam AlMasri is Fund Manager at MEFIC Capital in Riyadh, where she manages Riviera Content, …
Karam AlMasri
Karam AlMasri is Fund Manager at MEFIC Capital in Riyadh, where she manages Riviera Content, a CMA-regulated closed-end private equity fund investing in film and television projects. The fund launched in 2025 with the Cultural Development Fund as anchor investor and co-finances Saudi and international productions alongside studios and producers. She leads the fund’s investment process, from sourcing projects through to deployment. From 2017 to 2024, she managed the feature film production and development funding programs at Ontario Creates in Toronto, supporting Canadian and international co-productions. She holds an MBA in Media and Entertainment Management from the Schulich School of Business.
Joierie Ann Pacumio
Joierie Ann Pacumio is the Executive Director of the Film Philippines Office, under the Film …
Joierie Ann Pacumio
Joierie Ann Pacumio is the Executive Director of the Film Philippines Office, under the Film Development Council of the Philippines. She oversees operations and programs that provide financial incentives and services for international co- productions and offshore projects.
Sales Agents & Distributors
Boris Pugnet
Boris Pugnet used to run a one screen cinema when he was a student near …
Boris Pugnet
Boris Pugnet used to run a one screen cinema when he was a student near Paris. After that he discovered distribution on the French market through booking first ( Memories of murder by Bong Joon Ho for CTV). Then as artistic director for SND distribution (The hurt locker, Harvey Milk, Twilight).and as Head of marketing for Le Pacte (Justine Triet, Kore Eda, Ken Loach etc movies) until 2016. He now runs Space Odyssey, in charge of the marketing of Maverick distribution (The invite by Olivia Wilde), and also distributes Asian movies in partnership with Heylight: Creation of the gods 1 & 2, The shadow’s edge, Dead to rights, and works with Trinity on the marketing of Dear You and Ne Zah 2, or Godzilla Minus one for Piece of magic
Gabor Greiner
After his studies of Cultural Management in Vienna, Birmingham and Chicago, Gabor GREINER worked as …
Gabor Greiner
After his studies of Cultural Management in Vienna, Birmingham and Chicago, Gabor GREINER worked as a journalist and film critic. In 2003, he moved to Brussels to take charge of the distribution support department of the MEDIA Program at the European Commission’s Film Fund. In 2009, Gabor became acquisitions executive at the international sales agent, The Match Factory. In August 2010, Gabor moved to Berlin to take over acquisitions of the French-German sales company, Films Boutique, winner of the Golden Bear in 2017 and 2020 and the Golden Lion in 2011 and 2016. Gabor is a member of the European Film Academy.
Lachman G Samtani (Lavesh)
Lavesh Samtani is the Chief Operating Officer of Mandela Pictures, a production house alongside 13 …
Lachman G Samtani (Lavesh)
Lavesh Samtani is the Chief Operating Officer of Mandela Pictures, a production house alongside 13 Entertainment, a distribution company and home to Indonesia’s largest film library. With over 20 years in the industry and roots in Indonesian film distribution dating back to 1986, Lavesh brings deep expertise in licensing, content development, and production. His recent producer credits include 1 Kakak 7 Ponakan, Rumah Singgah and Bisikan Desa Gringsing (Whispers of Fatimah), a trilateral Indonesia-Singapore-Malaysia co-production. Lavesh is based in Jakarta.
Shao-Yi Chen
Shao-Yi Chen serves as the General Manager of Screenworks Asia, a joint venture between CATCHPLAY …
Shao-Yi Chen
Shao-Yi Chen serves as the General Manager of Screenworks Asia, a joint venture between CATCHPLAY and TAICCA. Leveraging over 20 years of expertise in distribution, financing, and OTT platforms, she brings a 360-degree perspective to premium content production. Dedicated to elevating Taiwanese storytelling globally, she has built a diverse portfolio featuring acclaimed series such as The Making of an Ordinary Woman 2, Twisted Strings, Not A Murder Story, and Islanders, as well as the film Lost In Perfection, alongside successful Southeast Asian co-productions like the Indonesian hit Losmen Melati.
Producers
Ellen R. Eliasoph
Ellen R. Eliasoph is a veteran executive and producer who has spent her career building …
Ellen R. Eliasoph
Ellen R. Eliasoph is a veteran executive and producer who has spent her career building bridges among Hollywood, Asia and Australia. Eliasoph served as founder, President and lead production executive of Warner Bros. China for 15 years and Village Roadshow Asia for a decade before establishing her own company, Starry Dome. She has produced films directed by greats Johnnie To, Peter Chan, Stephen Chow and Zhang Yimou, starring actors including Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Keanu Reeves. She is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and is fluent in Chinese and Japanese.
Jessica Kam-Engle
Jessica Kam-Engle is a seasoned TV and film producer. She is the Founder/Executive Producer of …
Jessica Kam-Engle
Jessica Kam-Engle is a seasoned TV and film producer. She is the Founder/Executive Producer of the production company Kanvas Creations that focuses on media productions in Greater China. In 2024-26, she set up the pan-regional production house CreAsia Studio for Banijay Asia that produces Asian originals and localized Banijay IP adaptations in Southeast Asia. Notable productions include the original TV series My Chef in Crime with versions in Indonesia and Thailand, as well as MasterChef Asia in Macau. From 2021 to 2023, Jessica was Head of Content and Development for Disney+ Asia Pacific, during which she commissioned more than 60 scripted and non-scripted original series across the region for the streaming platform. Notable commercial hits include Korean dramas Big Bet, Connect, Snowdrop, Moving, Shadow Detective, Big Mouth; Japanese live action Gannibal and various animes; Chinese series Anita (Director’s cut), Taiwan Crime Stories, Delicacies Destiny, Bahasa series Wedding Agreement, Mendua, Call My Agent, Teluh Darah, etc. She also spearheaded a slate of premium K-Pop music content from supergroup BTS, Black Pink, Super Junior and PSY. Jessica joined HBO Asia in 2017 and was Head of Original Production – Entertainment at WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks in Asia Pacific. She oversaw HBO’s original productions including TV series like Dream Raider, Workers, Invisible Stories, Food Lore, The Talwars: Behind Closed Doors, Folklore, Food Lore, Grisse, The Teenage Psychic 2, and feature film The Garden Of Evening Mists. Prior to joining HBO, she was an independent film producer based in Beijing and Hong Kong from 2008-2016 during which she produced 10 feature films including critically acclaimed The Piano in a Factory and blockbuster Just Another Pandora's Box. Previously, she had over 10 years’ experience in regional media including stints at Celestial Pictures, MTV Asia, MGM Gold Network, Dow Jones Newswires and Disney Studios. Jessica holds an MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, as well as a B.A. in Computer Science from U. C. Berkeley.
Michèle Marshall
Michèle Marshall is a Singapore based Chinese-Austrian producer, executive producer, writer and co-founder of DESMAR. …
Michèle Marshall
Michèle Marshall is a Singapore based Chinese-Austrian producer, executive producer, writer and co-founder of DESMAR. She produced her first screenplay Unmoored under the Desmar banner, directed by debutante Caroline Ingvarsson which premiered at 67th BFI London Film Festival, winner “Best Feature Debut” at Nordic Filmdays, Lübeck. Projects currently in development include a Singapore set romance, a British adaptation based on a German bestseller and a Japanese set film by Harry Macqueen. Michèle’s executive producer credits include Canada’s Oscar submission The Things You Kill; BAFTA nominated H is for Hawk; multiple award winners Dragonfly, The Good Boy starring Stephen Graham, A Pale View of Hills (2025 Cannes Un Certain Regard), and Gentle Monster (2026 Cannes Main Competition), Mike Leigh’s Tender Loving Care currently premiering in Telluride and Toronto. Upcoming films include Babak Jalali’s A Town in Nova Scotia starring Bill Nighy.
Sarah Mather
Sarah Mather is a New York-based producer and production executive at Pinky Promise Films, with …
Sarah Mather
Sarah Mather is a New York-based producer and production executive at Pinky Promise Films, with credits including Executive Producer on WISHFUL THINKING (SXSW 2026, Sony Pictures Classics) and Associate Producer on THE STARLING GIRL (Sundance 2023, Bleecker Street). She also worked on ELEANOR THE GREAT (Cannes 2025). CORPUS, an erotic thriller directed by Corrin Evans, marks her feature producing debut and premiered at Fantasia Film Festival. She also produced WILD DOG (SXSW Sydney, SKFF) and executive produced THE SEARCH FOR MAGIC as part of the Netflix/Dirty Films Accelerator program.
Kuek Shee Heng
Malaysia-born producer Kuek Shee Heng’s recent credits include The House on the Moon (Locarno), Levitating …
Kuek Shee Heng
Malaysia-born producer Kuek Shee Heng’s recent credits include The House on the Moon (Locarno), Levitating (Sundance), Four Seasons in Java (Toronto), and the Malaysian box-office hit Kong Tao. He founded Aview Images, a Taiwan-based production and financing company, and Chada Entertainment, a Thailand-based company focused on international sales and distribution of Asian genre films.
Talent Scouts
June Kim
June Kim is a film curator and a Korean-to-English translator based in Toronto and Seoul. …
June Kim
June Kim is a film curator and a Korean-to-English translator based in Toronto and Seoul. As the Associate International Programmer of the Toronto International Film Festival, her main focus is on the region of Southeast Asia, and she also serves as the programming associate for East Asia. Aside from TIFF, Kim is currently programming East Asian and Southeast Asian films for the Udine Far East Film Festival in Northern Italy, and is a member of the nomination committee at the Asian Film Awards.
Ming-Jung Kuo
Ming-Jung Kuo has extensive experience in film festival management, programming, and talent support. As Programme …
Ming-Jung Kuo
Ming-Jung Kuo has extensive experience in film festival management, programming, and talent support. As Programme Director for Taipei Film Festival (2014–2018), she balanced showcasing new talent, narrative VR, and cinema heritage, and launched initiatives to support script development and co-production. She joined Singapore International Film Festival in 2019, becoming Artistic Director, and served on Locarno Festival Open Doors’ selection committee. She has also been extensively involved in the selection of projects for Taiwanese and SE Asian script development and regional funding schemes.
Hannah Margetson
Hannah Margetson is an actor, writer, director and founder of Snake Height, a London- and …
Hannah Margetson
30 October 2026, Friday
Pitching Forum
Time: 10:00 to 19:00
10:00 – 11:00
Flexible Performance Space
60 mins
In-Depth Understanding: Asian Audience Behaviour
Experience this rare opportunity to understand what drives Southeast Asian audiences to go to the cinema amid increasing consumption of digital content.
It has never been more complicated for filmmakers and distributors to bring Southeast Asia audiences into cinemas. Hollywood tropes and stars are seen as tired. While local production has scaled up, other Asian content (Japanese anime, Korean blockbusters) can perform even better, and competition for eyeballs and consumer time is fierce. This means that the theatrical experience is only one of many options open to consumers. With one of the most experienced film distribution and exhibition executives in our region, this session will examine the fast-evolving behaviour of consumers in Southeast Asia, offer tips on audience design, and look into why a giant studio like Warner Bros Discovery is getting into local production.
Speakers
Kurt Rieder
(Speaker)
For 35 years, Kurt Rieder has built an extensive career across the global film industry, …
Kurt Rieder
(Speaker)
For 35 years, Kurt Rieder has built an extensive career across the global film industry, spanning theatrical distribution, exhibition, and local-language production. At Warner Bros., Kurt heads up international local-language film greenlighting. As the entertainment industry experiences generational change, local films deliver bespoke, authentic stories audiences demand. Working with in-country production teams, consultants, and finance staff in Burbank, Kurt is overseeing a 17-film slate in 2026, with another 44 films in development or production for release in 2027-2028. The company’s annual investment in these slates is ~$50 million, with projects produced in as many as 8 languages each year. A frequent speaker on regional distribution, exhibition, and local content strategy, Kurt has presented at major industry platforms, including APOS, CineAsia, FILMART, the Beijing International Film Festival, the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, the World IP Day Summit, and the Association of Indonesian Film Producers (APROFI).
Patrick Frater
(Moderator)
Based in Hong Kong and Bangkok, Patrick Frater has over 20 years of experience writing …
Patrick Frater
(Moderator)
Based in Hong Kong and Bangkok, Patrick Frater has over 20 years of experience writing about and analysing the international entertainment industry from Asia. He has worked with publications including Screen International, The Hollywood Reporter and Film Business Asia. He was Asia editor of Variety between 2005 and 2009 and between 2013 and November 2024. He is currently the film contributor for ContentAsia. Frater is also a member of the European Film Academy and a 2026 voting member of the Golden Globes.
11:00-13:00
Flexible Performance Space
120 mins
Session C: Asian Producers Network
The APN+ Pitching Forum is a high-level, curated platform for 8 members of the 2026 APN cohort to pitch their projects in the financing stage. Designed with a producer-centric philosophy, the forum offers participants the opportunity to pitch to a carefully handpicked industry-led panel, alongside targeted feedback and participation in structured meetings and strategic networking to achieve concrete outcomes such as project financing, co-production agreements and distribution pre-sales. Selected projects are eligible for production support prizes awarded by the jury.
Moderator
Fran Borgia
Fran Borgia is the founder of Akanga Film Asia. He has produced numerous critically acclaimed …
Fran Borgia
Fran Borgia is the founder of Akanga Film Asia. He has produced numerous critically acclaimed films, including A Land Imagined (2018), which won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival. His producing credits include Yuni (Toronto Platform Prize 2021), Tiger Stripes (Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prize 2023), Stranger Eyes (Venice Main Competition 2024), Village Rockstars 2 (Busan Jiseok Award 2024), Renoir (Cannes Main Competition 2025), Amoeba (Toronto Discovery 2025 / APSA Best Youth Feature Film), and Not a Hero (Berlinale Generation 2026). He is currently pursuing a PhD focused on Poetic Cinema at Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Participants
Ali Raheem
Ali Raheem
Fadhila Ristianty
Fadhila Ristianty
Lai Junjie
Lai Junjie
Lệ Diễm Hà
Lệ Diễm Hà
Nikhil Chaudhary
Nikhil Chaudhary
Qiuping Han
Qiuping Han
Li Huanwen
Li Huanwen
Zarina Kissikova
Zarina Kissikova
13:00 – 14:00
Festival Lounge
60 mins
Lunch
14:00 – 15:30
Flexible Performance Space
90 mins
Session B: Singapore & Southeast Asia
Pitching Forum Session B is a platform dedicated to 6 Singaporean and Indonesian projects that are seeking international coproduction partners. With a meticulously curated panel of industry professionals from across the world, the forum offers participants a chance to seek industry feedback and deal facilitation opportunities. Selected projects are eligible for travel grants and placements at an international market.
Moderator
Séverine Tibi
Séverine Tibi works as the Creative Analyst for Sons of Rigor Films in Los Angeles. …
Séverine Tibi
Séverine Tibi works as the Creative Analyst for Sons of Rigor Films in Los Angeles. She scouts and assesses projects, ensuring alignment with the company’s goals and values. Séverine is also a Producer and co-founded the Cannes-based production company Sevana Films, with which she has produced films in several countries. She is a Sundance Producers Summit, Rotterdam Lab and Zurich Film Festival Academy alumna, and has served as a mentor for SXSW and a consultant for the Red Sea Labs. She previously worked in Sponsorship at the BFI in London.
Participants
Sam Chua Weishi
Sam Chua Weishi
Kexin Zhou
Kexin Zhou
Alexandra Borza
Alexandra Borza
Jeremy Kieran Ng Rui Wei
Jeremy Kieran Ng Rui Wei
Eliza Cheisa
Eliza Cheisa
Hannan Cinthya
Hannan Cinthya
15:30 – 17:30
Flexible Performance Space
120 mins
Session A: International
8 producers from across the globe take center stage at Pitching Forum Session A, where they will pitch their film projects and its intentions of integrating resources from Singapore or Southeast Asia. Converging distances and bridging borders, the slate of projects presented in Session A will be reviewed by a diverse panel of Singaporeans and international decision-makers, who bring a wealth of industry expertise and perspectives to the table. Selected projects are eligible for production support prizes awarded by the jury.
Moderator
Séverine Tibi
Séverine Tibi works as the Creative Analyst for Sons of Rigor Films in Los Angeles. …
Séverine Tibi
Séverine Tibi works as the Creative Analyst for Sons of Rigor Films in Los Angeles. She scouts and assesses projects, ensuring alignment with the company’s goals and values. Séverine is also a Producer and co-founded the Cannes-based production company Sevana Films, with which she has produced films in several countries. She is a Sundance Producers Summit, Rotterdam Lab and Zurich Film Festival Academy alumna, and has served as a mentor for SXSW and a consultant for the Red Sea Labs. She previously worked in Sponsorship at the BFI in London.
Participants
Muqri Danish Mokhtar
Muqri Danish Mokhtar
Shin Yamaguchi
Shin Yamaguchi
Liza Diño
Liza Diño
Cyriac Sébastien Auriol
Cyriac Sébastien Auriol
Zarrar Kahn
Zarrar Kahn
Marc Goyens
Marc Goyens
Brendan Donoghue
Brendan Donoghue
Angela Cudd
Angela Cudd
17:30 – 19:00
Festival Lounge
Networking and Tea Break