16 Dec – Singapore films are taking flight with the support of various MDA funding schemes as well as local companies producing innovative, 360-content that exploit cross-platform development and distribution, new OTT (Over-the-top) services, according to Minister for Communications and Information, Dr. Yaacob Ibrahim. "MDA recognises the potential presented by the generation of compelling 360-content, therefore encouraging Singapore production companies to develop and create such content through its 360-ready Grant Schemes launched last September," he said at the Asia TV Market & Forum and ScreenSingapore held from 3-7 December. Yaacob added that five Grant Schemes have received positive responses from media companies with a total of USD 16 million committed for 632 projects in slightly more than a year.
Amongst those showcased at Asia TV Forum & Market and ScreenSingapore were 13 new and upcoming Singapore films, which included Jack Neo's sequel to this year's "Ah Boys To Men", "Ah Boys To Men II", hair-raising horror films "Ghost Child" directed by Gilbert Chan and "Afterimages", Kelvin Sng's film "Taxi! Taxi!" featuring top comedians Gurmit Singh and Mark Lee, "Red Numbers" starring Edmund Chen, a magical, quirky story about Singaporeans obsession with 4D lottery, as well as Amit Virmani's "Menstrual Man", an inspiring real life story of an unlikely hero who tries to help India's poor and empower women. Some of the films have also been slated for release in Malaysia, such as "The Wedding Diary II" and "Taxi! Taxi!". Here is the full list of films slated for release in 2013: "The Wedding Diary II" "Ah Boys To Men II" "That Girl In Pinafore" "Ghost Child" "Mister John" "Menstrual Man" "Taxi! Taxi!" "Wa Is For Wayang" "3 Peas In A Pod" "Afterimages" "3.50" "Red Numbers" "Pickles!"