ATF market introduces MIP-branded sessions

There will be a ‘MIPAcademy’ strand at this year’s ATF market in Singapore.

ATF is organised by Reed Exhibitions and MIPTV and MIPCOM by Reed Midem. The MIPAcademy sessions will take place on December 6, the last day of the ATF event and will give participants strategic knowledge with sessions on viewing trends and pitching among others.

“This year, apart from our usual conference line-up, we will be launching MIPAcademy, a joint collaboration between two Reed offices, created to support the Asia entertainment content industry in a more significant way and drive meaningful hands-on learning experiences and provide insights for the Asia region,” Yeow Hui Leng, senior poject director at Reed Exhibitions told TBI. “MIPAcademy will comprise of a full day suite of Master-classes on non-scripted formats and factual programming dedicated to TV producers and executives.”

Speakers will include Virginia Mouseler, CEO, The WIT; Michel Rodrigue, CEO, The Format People; Ann Christin Siljan, director, international sales, Nordic World; and Beryl Yan, head of programme strategy, Hunan Satellite TV.

Ben Hall, managing director, Chalkboard TV, will run a session on The Art of Pitching. He said: “The MIPAcademy offers a brilliant opportunity to come and listen, question and challenge some of the TV industry’s major figures. It’s informative but informal and, deliberately, very interactive.”

Another new initiative at ATF will be an Animation Lab, a three-day matchmaking to help Asian animation producers that want to get involved in international projects and coproduction. Yeow Hui Leng said: “International financiers, commissioning editors and broadcasters such as BBC Worldwide Channels, ZDF Enterprises will engage with producers in closed-door pitches of their ideas and programmes.”

Last year there were 3,917 attendees at ATF. In 2008, Reed Midem said it was setting up a new regional Asian market, Amazia, but it failed to generate sufficient interest to proceed.