3rd South Asian Film Market (SAFM) Moves To UAE

3^rd South Asian Film Market (SAFM) moves to UAE after completing two successful editions in Singapore. The entries for the same to open on 7^th February 2021.

SAFM is designed as a unique platform for selected filmmakers to connect with certain high net worth individuals (HNIs) and raise funding for their projects. It is the only such platform, since its inaugural year in 2018 which has witnessed great success for South Asian films outside South Asia. 2021 will see SAFM getting bigger and wider as we plan to fly down around fifteen film makers and pitch their project to an eminent jury panel. The last edition’s jury panel consisted of Abhay Deol (Actor / Producer), Kilian Kerwin (Ivanhoe Pictures), Saugata Mukherjee (Head – Original Content, Sony LIV), Saurabh Gupta (M! Capital Ventures) and Shariq Patel (Zee Studios).  

Commenting on SAFM, Saugata Mukherjee (Head – Original Content, Sony LIV), mentioned “SAFM is a great platform for storytellers of different mediums to come together. It is a platform for discovery and collaboration in equal measure. More such platforms are the need for the day in the ever changing world of content. I wish the team all the success!”

“After receiving an immense response to the first two editions we are humbled to move to UAE with the third edition. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between creativity and finance and introduce fresh capital to films. UAE as a market is witnessing a current boom in this space and it is the best time for investors to explore such investment.” said Piiyush Singh, Co-Chairman, SAFM.

In the first year 2018, there were two projects chosen for funding, off which one was released worldwide on Sony Liv (Web Series titled ‘JL50’) and the second  (film titled Maadathy) is touring film festivals across the globe. In the second year 2019, two more projects were chosen for funding and they are currently in pre-production stages.  SAFM had introduced “Book to Screen” section in 2019 where the publishers and authors get the opportunity to directly present their books to HNIs and producers at the Film Market and this year it is introducing a new section wherein filmmakers can pitch their Bibles for Web Series. For details and submission forms, please visit the official website: www.safm.sg