Singapore's IMDA and STB launch $7m fund to support international productions

Singapore is launching a S$10m ($7.5m) fund for international productions to work with local filmmakers, and support homegrown talent.

Jointly managed by Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the ‘Singapore On-screen Fund’ will provide support for international media and entertainment companies in “producing TV and film projects that reach global audiences, and shine the spotlight on destination Singapore”. 

The initiative follows the global success of Jon M. Chu's Crazy Rich Asians in 2018, which boosted the city-state as a tourism destination and also the careers of local talent across the production industry. 

The fund will be available to international media and entertainment companies that produce global content featuring the city-state. To qualify, projects must be set in Singapore and launched before the first quarter of 2027. Each project that applies will be evaluated based on its distribution plan, market reach, content concept, creative merits, opportunities to showcase Singapore and the number of local talents involved in credited roles.

Eligible projects will receive funding of up to 30% related to featuring Singapore, including production and marketing costs.

In a statement, Justin Ang, assistant chief executive at IMDA, said: “The Singapore On-screen Fund provides more opportunities for our home-grown media enterprises and talent to collaborate with their international counterparts to hone their skills and gain valuable experience on projects that target the global audience. This exchange of capabilities through direct involvement in such projects will boost the credentials of our local media industry. We hope that such collaborations will showcase to the world Singapore’s capabilities to take on large-scale productions on the global stage.”

Chang Chee Pey, assistant chief executive of the STB’s marketing group added: “To keep pace with the changing digital landscape and increased demand for authentic and entertaining content, branded entertainment is a key focus of STB’s marketing strategy. The Singapore On-screen Fund allows us to tap the deep storytelling expertise of global media and entertainment players in a more purposeful way, showcasing Singapore through a fresh lens as travel demand recovers.”

The Singapore unit of Crazy Rich Asians was produced by local studio Infinite Frameworks alongside Warner Bros Discovery. Other productions to shoot on Singapore's shores include 2022's K-drama Little Women and HBO’s Westworld Season 3.