SE Asia fund bears first fruit

MIPCOM: Singapore-based distributor Hub Media Group has begun distributing four productions created out of a co-financing deal with financier Silver Media Group.

Refugee-themed documentary Batoor: A Refugee Journey (1×90’/2×60’), coproduced between Advent Media Group and Silver Media Group, is one of the first fruits of a funding and development initiative agreed by the two parties six month ago.

Other new factual coproductions include The Eco-Warriors (13×30’), a series about a group of young conservationists fighting deforestation in Borneo; and Project Inspire (13×30’), a factual series on the lives of ordinary individuals who radically transform their lives, also from Advent Media Group and Silver Media Group.

Advent Media Group is also producing the US$3m 26×11’ animated series Abbie Rose and the Magic Suitcase, a series of eco-adventures aimed at 2-8s, based on the books by Neil Humphreys.

The partnership has also said it is now looking for more projects to acquire and produce within South-East Asia in 2015, for eventual global distribution.

“Globalisation has increased audience exposure to the wide variety of stories from different parts of the world,” said Hub Media Group’s CEO Kevin Balhetchet. “Audiences’ interests have broadened and they now welcome a more diverse range of products. Coupled with the growing interest in Asia, we feel positive about the appeal of content from this region.”