The Singapore Media Festival is expanding its scope this year by introducing a dedicated event for the creator economy. The Asia Creator Summit will run alongside the long-running Asia TV Forum & Market from Dec. 1 to 5, forming the two main strands of the festival under the theme “The Heart of the World’s Stories.” The event is hosted by Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).
Asia Creator Summit Launches at Marina Bay Sands
The Asia Creator Summit (ACS) takes place on Dec. 4 and 5 at Marina Bay Sands. Curated by Generation Experience (GenXP), the two-day program operates under the banner “Create. Monetize. Scale.” It features more than 20 sessions, including keynotes, panels, and masterclasses designed to help creators turn their output into sustainable businesses and intellectual property.
Monica Khan, founder and CEO of Creator Revolution, helped shape the summit’s agenda. The lineup includes high-profile international talent such as South Korean creator Kimpro, who has accumulated over 130 million subscribers and 154 billion views. Japanese creator Issei, known for dialogue-free comedy, brings more than 75 million YouTube subscribers to the roster.
Industry executives will also share insights. AJ Eckstein, founder and CEO of Creator Match, will discuss how brands like Anthropic, Fiverr, and Zapier build creator programs. Local leaders including Johnathan Chua of GRVTY Media, Kelvin Tan of DU Media Holdings, and Althea Lim of Gushcloud International will participate in discussions.
Michelle Lim, founder and CEO of GenXP, stated that creators play an increasingly influential role in how audiences discover content. She noted that the summit aims to create a platform for the industry to share experiences and shape future trends. The event also includes practical opportunities, such as the Mandarin Oriental Creator Pitch Challenge and awards from Bloomr.SG’s Creator Lab, which offers up to SGD100,000 for creator-focused ideas.
ATF Adds AI Zone and Microdrama Focus
The Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), organized by RX Global, returns to Marina Bay Sands from Dec. 1 to 4 for its 27th edition. Organizers expect more than 5,000 content players from 60 countries and regions to attend. The opening-day Leaders Dialogue will focus on the “Attention Economy,” with executives from TikTok, YouTube, Unilever, and others discussing how fandom and viewing habits affect content distribution and financing.
A new strand titled “The AI Era | Entertainment Reimagined” will combine a dedicated program with a physical zone. This area will explore how artificial intelligence impacts content creation, intellectual property rights, and regulation. Participants include Huace Group, Moonmax, Studio Meta K, the Motion Picture Association, the Television Academy, and the World Intellectual Property Organization.
ATF will also host the final round of the AI Hackathon 2026, backed by Yoywow Space and Visify. This segment features a live creative contest and screenings of selected entries. Microdrama will receive increased attention this year, with ATF maintaining its drama showcases alongside accelerator and pitching programs that connect producers with development partners.
Canada and Indonesia are introducing new pavilions to the market. Yeow Hui Leng, managing director of RX Global in Singapore, described ATF as a premier platform for strategic announcements and thought leadership. She emphasized that emerging technology, including AI, will be central to conversations about regulation, financing, and content innovation.
Yvonne Tang, assistant chief executive of IMDA’s Media Industry Group, said the program is designed to help Singapore’s media professionals adapt to the evolving landscape. The festival aims to strengthen creative and commercial capabilities through partnerships and business opportunities.
Source: Variety
