FME joins Singapore animation fund

MIPTV: Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) has hooked up with FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) to launch a global fund to put millions of dollars into new animation productions.

The International Animation Fund (IAF) will see the MDA offer international producers up to S$5m (US$3.5m) for their projects. FME will act as global distributor for shows developed through the initiative.

Pitches for the fund are now being considered, with an MDA/FME panel vetting the projects. There is a cut-off date of June 30 and all projects must have a Singaporean partner, to keep production localised.

FME entered the animation market at Mipcom last year, and global CEO David Ellender said the partnership with the MDA showed animation has become an important factor in the company’s future growth.

The news comes as the MDA announced the first fruits from a similar partnership with South West Screen, a UK-based production initiative.

The shows are Eco Gone Mad, a factual entertainment series by Apostrophe Films (Singapore) and Junction K (UK); and iLand, an animation series from Scrawl Studios (Singapore) and Wonky Films (UK). Both projects will receive up to £50,000 (US$77,000) towards production costs.