The Cross-Platform Summit provides a crossover networking opportunity for media and literary professionals from Asia and around the world. The conference presents a line-up of sessions and workshop centering on multi-platform storytelling, pitching, interactive narrative and digital marketing to address the current trends and issues in the content market.

Delegates from Writers and Illustrators Conference Day 3 can also attend the sessions for Cross-Platform Summit.

18 May 2017 (Thu)


2:00pm - 4:15pm
L1, Visitors Briefing Room

Pitch Perfect. The Ultimate Pitch-Ready Workshop! (2 sessions in duration)

Marc Checkley (Founder, Creative Director IO CREATIVE)

Do you have an amazing idea or series concept but no clue how to bring it together and pitch it to the right people? Never fear, this fun pitch workshop provides all the necessary tools, skills, feedback and info to make you a pitch-pro! There will be no stopping you! 

Note: Please note that this workshop spans across 2 sessions, and is mandatory for all Speed Pitching (Media) participants. To apply for Speed Pitching (Media), please click this link.

19 May 2017 (Fri)


9:00am – 10:00am
L5, Possibility Room

[PANEL] Cross-Platform Summit Keynote and Meet the Commissioners

Justin Deimen (Group Managing Partner, Aurora Media Holdings Inc.), Leslie Lee (Executive Director of Programming, Operations and Character Voices, Media Networks Group at The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia)), Syahrizan Mansor (Vice President, Nickelodeon, Asia at Viacom International Media Networks), Sanoop Luke (Lead, YouTube Kids & Learning, SEA + ANZ), Marc Checkley (Founder, Creative Director IO CREATIVE), Ryo Leong (Senior Director, Programming, Youth Segment, MediaCorp Pte Ltd)

What are you looking for? We pose this question to the commissioners, and get an inside scoop on the latest trends in commissioning and learn how creators can convince commissioners that their idea is a worthy investment.

10:00am – 10:30am

Tea Break

10:30am – 11:30am
B1, Multi-Purpose Room Country of Focus

Indonesian Digital Books: Mizan Publishing

Irfan Amalee (CEO, Mizan Application Publisher)

The book industry is now facing a big challenge. In the digital world, the book industry is required to adapt to the changes. It is easier for consumers to change reading habits from print to digital, but it is not as easy for publishers to change the business model. Join Irfan as he elaborates on the future of digital books and app books in Indonesia.

L1, Visitors Briefing Room

Story-Hacking: A Journey of Narrative Creation

Marco Sparmberg (Founder/organizer, StoryCode Singapore )

Do not miss this hands-on story-hacking workshop. Participants will embark on a unique narrative journey. Passing through various stations, each “story-hacker” will use various methods and (physical) tools to create multiple narrative layers. Final results will be documented, presented and discussed among the groups.

Note: Please note there are only 25 slots for this session. Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.

L5, Possibility Room

The Importance of Being Earnestly Collaborative

Suzanne Ryan (Founder, CEO and Executive Producer , SLR Productions)

Collaboration is key in today’s competitive and ever changing content world. But how to best do it? What are the potential hurdles to be aware of? The secrets will be revealed in this open and honest discussion with award winning producer Suzanne Ryan LIVE via Skype from Australia.

L5, Imagination Room

[PANEL] New Horizons for Intellectual Property

Christel Meijer (Foreign Rights Manager, Ambo|Anthos), Jyotirmoy Saha (Founder and CEO, August Media Holdings), Trina Ha (Director, Legal, Intellectual Property Office of Singapore)

Thanks to new technologies and storytelling avenues, the many ways to exploit intellectual property have multiplied even more. Learn about the different forms beyond print that your IP could take from experienced individuals in the buying, selling, and legal sectors.

11:45am – 12:45pm
L5, Imagination Room

Why Puppets?

Motti Aviram (TV Director & Children’s Content Developer)

The advantages and disadvantages of casting puppets in children's TV shows. The essential knowledge needed in the field of incorporation puppets into children's TV shows or movies.

L5, Possibility Room

Storytelling Across Platforms

Jyotirmoy Saha (Founder and CEO, August Media Holdings)

Cross-platform storytelling involves creating content that engages an audience using various techniques that permeate their daily lives. This session tracks the creation and production of Barangay 143, an upcoming action drama title by August Media, and all its forays on digital, mobile, TV and licensed products.

L1, Visitors Briefing Room

Story-Hacking: A Journey of Narrative Creation

Marco Sparmberg (Founder/organizer, StoryCode Singapore )

Do not miss this hands-on story-hacking workshop. Participants will embark on a unique narrative journey. Passing through various stations, each “story-hacker” will use various methods and (physical) tools to create multiple narrative layers. Final results will be documented, presented and discussed among the groups.

Note: Please note there are only 25 slots for this session. Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.

2:00pm – 3:00pm
L16, The Pod

Speed Pitching (Media)

Justin Deimen (Group Managing Partner, Aurora Media Holdings Inc.), Jyotirmoy Saha (Founder and CEO, August Media Holdings), Leslie Lee (Executive Director of Programming, Operations and Character Voices, Media Networks Group at The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia)), Karen Tang (Senior Manager, Content & Multiplatform Programming, Nickelodeon, Southeast Asia, Viacom International Media Networks), Ryo Leong (Senior Director, Programming, Youth Segment, MediaCorp Pte Ltd), Sanoop Luke (Lead, YouTube Kids & Learning, SEA + ANZ)

Speed Pitching (Media) gives conference delegates a chance to pitch their ideas to any one of our panellists for a chance to get their ideas commissioned. Whether it is an idea for a television series, web series, transmedia project or an interactive app, delegates can sign up for a pitching slot and have 5-10 minutes to sell their ideas! Find out more about submissions.

L5, Imagination Room Comics

How to Create a Graphic Novel the Advertising Way

Paolo Fabregas (Comic Artist and Executive Creative Director of Publicis Manila, Inc.)

Nothing is more daunting or challenging. If only there was an efficient way we could create our original story faster. Paolo Fabregas will introduce the Advertising Way of Creating a Graphic Novel. Creative advertising agencies have mastered the art of churning out effective ideas in limited time. Paolo discovered that this same creative procedure can be used to create a graphic novel. You can use it too to write stories.

L1, Visitors Briefing Room

Bringing Stories to Life Using AR and VR

Gerald Cai (Managing Director & Co-Founder, SnapLearn by MXRi)

The rapidly growing fields of AR and VR open up exciting new avenues for storytelling. The SnapLearn publishing tool allows creators of children’s content to turn their existing physical books into digital content platforms, as well as create new cross-platform stories that bridge the physical and digital realms!

L5, Possibility Room

20 Years of Hi-5 and its Continued Relevance

Julie Greene (Executive Creative Director & Executive Producer, Hi-5 )

Hi-5 is a world-renowned pre-school show that has adapted to stay relevant, while still keeping to its core values and message. Join Executive Creative Director & Executive Producer of Hi-5 Julie Greene as she discusses the show’s core values and educational foundations. She will explain how this makes Hi-5 relatable and relevant to an international audience and how it’s managed to do so since its creation in 1998.

3:15pm – 4:15pm
L16, The Pod

Speed Pitching (Media)

Justin Deimen (Group Managing Partner, Aurora Media Holdings Inc.), Jyotirmoy Saha (Founder and CEO, August Media Holdings), Leslie Lee (Executive Director of Programming, Operations and Character Voices, Media Networks Group at The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia)), Karen Tang (Senior Manager, Content & Multiplatform Programming, Nickelodeon, Southeast Asia, Viacom International Media Networks), Ryo Leong (Senior Director, Programming, Youth Segment, MediaCorp Pte Ltd), Sanoop Luke (Lead, YouTube Kids & Learning, SEA + ANZ)

Speed Pitching (Media) gives conference delegates a chance to pitch their ideas to any one of our panellists for a chance to get their ideas commissioned. Whether it is an idea for a television series, web series, transmedia project or an interactive app, delegates can sign up for a pitching slot and have 5-10 minutes to sell their ideas! Find out more about submissions.

L5, Possibility Room

Writing Screenplays for Children’s Film & Television

Motti Aviram (TV Director & Children’s Content Developer)

The three basic principles of writing for children. An essential toolbox for people who want get to know their target audience better.

L1, Visitors Briefing Room

[PANEL] Writing for Video Games

Ian Gregory Tan (Co-Founder & Creative Director, Witching Hour Studios), Andre Pong (Designer, Gattai Games)

Modern-day video games now have some of the best stories of any form of media. However, unlike non-interactive media, stories don’t always come first. Learn how technology and gameplay interacts with video game scripting, and both informs it and is informed by it from three (four?) video game writers.

4:45pm – 6:00pm
L5, Imagination Room

Refresh Your Futures: New Horizons from Soft Robotics

Kari Love (Creative Technologist & Soft Roboticist)

Science fact and fiction intermingle, with real innovations inspiring storytelling, and artistic visions inspiring researchers. Infuse your potential creative present and futures by exploring soft robotics, bio-inspired robotics, and space.

L1, Visitors Briefing Room

[PANEL] Freelance Does Not Mean Free

Darren Tan (Freelance Digital Artist), JC Wong (Senior Storyboard Artist, Ubisoft Singapore), Gary Choo (Senior Concept Artist, Illustrator)

Being a freelancer essentially means running your own small business, and freelance artists have to effectively navigate and balance between the creative and business side of their freelancing. Join successful freelancing visual artists Darren Tan, JC Wong, and Gary Choo as they discuss the trials and tribulations of freelancing for video games, movies, comic books, and more.

L5, Possibility Room

Writing for Teens and Tweens

Noel Price (Writer, Director and Producer)

What characterises a ‘teen/tween’ audience and what challenges do writers face in catering to them? Noel Price, a writer- producer who achieved global success in this area addresses these questions.

What Past Speakers Say

Amy Ng

AFCC is a great place for writers, illustrators, students and just about anyone who is interested in story-telling. I love how there’s always new ideas, technologies and subject matters to be explored within the context of Asian creators and I'm always inspired by how we can push the envelope to make our voices heard around the world.

Amy Ng from AFCC 2015
Educator, Writer, Illustrator, Pikaland Media (Malaysia)
Rilla Melati

Mini Monsters Ltd has been a part of AFCC for the last 4 years and we are thrilled to be a part of this festival again in 2016 to take Singapore’s Malay children’s content to the world’s children!

Rilla Melati from AFCC 2015
Director, Mini Monsters (Singapore)