IMDA Launches Talent Accelerator Programme to Develop Singapore’s Media Industry Talent, Grow Original IPs and Expand Global Partnerships

Programme focuses on film and television content and creates a structured pathway for local talent to progress across the entire media value chain from ideation to global distribution.

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 3 December 2025 - The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has launched a new development programme, the Talent Accelerator Programme (TAP), to support Singapore's media industry. This is an approximately S$200 million programme that will run for three years and is a major commitment to develop our creative talent, strengthen co-production partnerships, and build a more resilient media industry. Through TAP, IMDA aims to bring a sharper focus on global distribution as well as genre-driven Intellectual Property (IP) development in the industry. To support this, structured pathways have been designed for Singapore's talent to progress in the film and television industry.

Diagram 1: IMDA's support in media value chain

2. The announcement on TAP was made today by Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information (MDDI) & Ministry of Health (MOH), Mr Tan Kiat How, at the opening of the Asia TV Forum and Market (ATF) 2025, part of the Singapore Media Festival (SMF), hosted by IMDA. "In a fast-changing media landscape where audiences have more choices and AI is disrupting how content is produced, the Government is committed to support our sector and professionals adapt and remain relevant and competitive. The $200 million Talent Accelerator Programme is a major investment to ensure that Made-with-Singapore content stands out on the international stage. We aim to build a stronger pipeline of stories with global appeal, strengthen Singapore's position as a co-production hub, and reinforce our role as a trusted creative partner in the region," said SMS Tan Kiat How.

IMDA's New Talent Accelerator Programme (TAP)
3. TAP supports the full media value chain, from development, to production and distribution, so that promising ideas from Singapore can reach global audiences. Since film and television industries have different creative and commercial realities, TAP is designed to help both industries capture the most value from the demand available in today's competitive backdrop.

4. Under TAP, IMDA introduces structured pathways to grow talent in Singapore's media industry. This will facilitate a laser-sharp focus on the vertical expertise development that our talents require at each stage of the media value chain – giving them a clear roadmap to grow their craft as well as commercial skills to advance in their careers.

a) Development stage: IMDA will matchmake media professionals and companies to what the commissioners/buyers are looking for and provide access to:

• Mentorships and masterclasses in areas such as story development (originals, or adaptations), pitching skills and deal negotiation, to finesse their stories and proposals. This allows our companies to strengthen not just their creative concepts but also the commercial foundations of their projects, including financing models, distribution planning, and IP ownership structures, all of which are all essential to the sustainability of the industry.
• Global streamers and platforms, commissioners, international production houses and showrunners to allow local talent to gain needful exposure to the global market and increase their chances of penetration.

b) Production stage: IMDA will co-fund co-productions, covering the full spectrum of regional and global co-productions, and films and TV (scripted and unscripted) as well as IPs adaptations for screen. This will establish Singapore as a co-production hub in the region.

c) Distribution stage: IMDA will elevate the profile of Made-with-Singapore content, talent and production companies with a dedicated in-house marketing team. In addition, a marketing fund will be structured for select projects to increase visibility.

5. IMDA's support in the media value chain for Singapore media professionals and companies is summarised in the diagram below.

6. Interested companies and professionals can apply for initiatives under TAP through IMDA's industry calls. More details on the application process will be released in Q1 2026.

Bringing Made-with-Singapore Stories to the Global Stage
7. Singapore is demonstrating how strategic international partnerships, such as the recent unscripted partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), can amplify local storytelling on the global stage, with filmmakers collaborating with renowned international partners to bring authentic Singapore narratives to prestigious worldwide platforms.

8. Ms Yvonne Tang, Assistant Chief Executive, Media Industry Group, IMDA, said, "IMDA is building a robust ecosystem where international partners see Singapore not just as a location, but as an essential creative collaborator. We believe that Singapore talent can hold their own alongside the world's best. TAP signals a fresh chapter in our endeavour to support and develop our film and television talent through world-class mentorships and masterclasses, strategic global partnerships, and a new wave of co-production opportunities. We hope to usher in a new era of Made-With-Singapore stories, that are made for the world."

9. For more details on SMF and its partner events, please see Annex A or visit www.imda.gov.sg/smf.
Hashtag: #IMDA #SGMediaFest

https://www.imda.gov.sg/smf
https://www.linkedin.com/company/imdasg/
https://www.facebook.com/IMDAsg/
https://www.instagram.com/imdasg

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About the Singapore Media Festival

The Singapore Media Festival, hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), is Asia's premier international media industry platform. Held annually in Singapore, it is the focal point for Asia's media community, showcasing diverse media innovations, forging industry deals, and presenting Singapore's world-class content. The event brings together media professionals, industry leaders, creators, and consumers through the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), Singapore Comic Con (SGCC), and Nas Summit (NAS).

For more information, please visit: www.imda.gov.sg/smf.

About Infocomm Media Development Authority

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) leads Singapore's digital transformation by developing a vibrant digital economy and an inclusive digital society. As Architects of Singapore's Digital Future, we foster growth in Infocomm Technology and Media sectors in concert with progressive regulations, harnessing frontier technologies, and developing local talent and digital infrastructure ecosystems to establish Singapore as a digital metropolis.

For more news and information, visit or follow IMDA on LinkedIn (IMDAsg), Facebook (IMDAsg), and Instagram (@imdasg).

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 3 December 2025 - The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has launched a new development programme, the Talent Accelerator Programme (TAP), to support Singapore's media industry. This is an approximately S$200 million programme that will run for three years and is a major commitment to develop our creative talent, strengthen co-production partnerships, and build a more resilient media industry. Through TAP, IMDA aims to bring a sharper focus on global distribution as well as genre-driven Intellectual Property (IP) development in the industry. To support this, structured pathways have been designed for Singapore's talent to progress in the film and television industry.

Diagram 1: IMDA's support in media value chain

2. The announcement on TAP was made today by Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information (MDDI) & Ministry of Health (MOH), Mr Tan Kiat How, at the opening of the Asia TV Forum and Market (ATF) 2025, part of the Singapore Media Festival (SMF), hosted by IMDA. "In a fast-changing media landscape where audiences have more choices and AI is disrupting how content is produced, the Government is committed to support our sector and professionals adapt and remain relevant and competitive. The $200 million Talent Accelerator Programme is a major investment to ensure that Made-with-Singapore content stands out on the international stage. We aim to build a stronger pipeline of stories with global appeal, strengthen Singapore's position as a co-production hub, and reinforce our role as a trusted creative partner in the region," said SMS Tan Kiat How.

IMDA's New Talent Accelerator Programme (TAP)
3. TAP supports the full media value chain, from development, to production and distribution, so that promising ideas from Singapore can reach global audiences. Since film and television industries have different creative and commercial realities, TAP is designed to help both industries capture the most value from the demand available in today's competitive backdrop.

4. Under TAP, IMDA introduces structured pathways to grow talent in Singapore's media industry. This will facilitate a laser-sharp focus on the vertical expertise development that our talents require at each stage of the media value chain – giving them a clear roadmap to grow their craft as well as commercial skills to advance in their careers.

a) Development stage: IMDA will matchmake media professionals and companies to what the commissioners/buyers are looking for and provide access to:

• Mentorships and masterclasses in areas such as story development (originals, or adaptations), pitching skills and deal negotiation, to finesse their stories and proposals. This allows our companies to strengthen not just their creative concepts but also the commercial foundations of their projects, including financing models, distribution planning, and IP ownership structures, all of which are all essential to the sustainability of the industry.
• Global streamers and platforms, commissioners, international production houses and showrunners to allow local talent to gain needful exposure to the global market and increase their chances of penetration.

b) Production stage: IMDA will co-fund co-productions, covering the full spectrum of regional and global co-productions, and films and TV (scripted and unscripted) as well as IPs adaptations for screen. This will establish Singapore as a co-production hub in the region.

c) Distribution stage: IMDA will elevate the profile of Made-with-Singapore content, talent and production companies with a dedicated in-house marketing team. In addition, a marketing fund will be structured for select projects to increase visibility.

5. IMDA's support in the media value chain for Singapore media professionals and companies is summarised in the diagram below.

6. Interested companies and professionals can apply for initiatives under TAP through IMDA's industry calls. More details on the application process will be released in Q1 2026.

Bringing Made-with-Singapore Stories to the Global Stage
7. Singapore is demonstrating how strategic international partnerships, such as the recent unscripted partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), can amplify local storytelling on the global stage, with filmmakers collaborating with renowned international partners to bring authentic Singapore narratives to prestigious worldwide platforms.

8. Ms Yvonne Tang, Assistant Chief Executive, Media Industry Group, IMDA, said, "IMDA is building a robust ecosystem where international partners see Singapore not just as a location, but as an essential creative collaborator. We believe that Singapore talent can hold their own alongside the world's best. TAP signals a fresh chapter in our endeavour to support and develop our film and television talent through world-class mentorships and masterclasses, strategic global partnerships, and a new wave of co-production opportunities. We hope to usher in a new era of Made-With-Singapore stories, that are made for the world."

9. For more details on SMF and its partner events, please see Annex A or visit www.imda.gov.sg/smf.
Hashtag: #IMDA #SGMediaFest

https://www.imda.gov.sg/smf
https://www.linkedin.com/company/imdasg/
https://www.facebook.com/IMDAsg/
https://www.instagram.com/imdasg

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About the Singapore Media Festival

The Singapore Media Festival, hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), is Asia's premier international media industry platform. Held annually in Singapore, it is the focal point for Asia's media community, showcasing diverse media innovations, forging industry deals, and presenting Singapore's world-class content. The event brings together media professionals, industry leaders, creators, and consumers through the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), Singapore Comic Con (SGCC), and Nas Summit (NAS).

For more information, please visit: www.imda.gov.sg/smf.

About Infocomm Media Development Authority

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) leads Singapore's digital transformation by developing a vibrant digital economy and an inclusive digital society. As Architects of Singapore's Digital Future, we foster growth in Infocomm Technology and Media sectors in concert with progressive regulations, harnessing frontier technologies, and developing local talent and digital infrastructure ecosystems to establish Singapore as a digital metropolis.

For more news and information, visit or follow IMDA on LinkedIn (IMDAsg), Facebook (IMDAsg), and Instagram (@imdasg).

** The press release content is from Media OutReach Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

MUMBAI, INDIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 May 2026 - Vinpearl Joint Stock Company has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Thomas Cook India, SOTC Travel, and MakeMyTrip, three of India's leading travel and tourism companies. The strategic partnerships are aimed at directly and comprehensively reaching all customer segments, helping position Vietnam as a "preferred destination" in the world's most populous country.

The agreements were signed at the Vietnam–India Business Forum, held as part of the State visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to India, in the presence of General Secretary and President To Lam and Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis.

The partnerships are expected to open direct access channels to all customer segments, stimulate travel demand and experiential tourism, and ultimately position Vietnam as a "preferred destination" for India's 1.47 billion people.

Representing India are three of the country's most influential and trusted travel distribution channels: Thomas Cook India, SOTC Travel, and MakeMyTrip. Thomas Cook India has strong expertise in group travel, corporate travel, and large-scale MICE tourism. SOTC Travel is well known for family vacations, group tours, and mid- to high-end leisure travel. Meanwhile, MakeMyTrip, India's leading online travel platform, has a strong advantage in reaching younger travelers, independent tourists, and digitally-driven booking behaviors.

Representing Vietnam is Vinpearl, the country's leading hospitality, tourism, and entertainment brand, operating nearly 60 properties nationwide. Its diverse five-star "all-in-one" ecosystem offers accommodation, shopping, dining, entertainment, golf, and MICE services, making it particularly well-suited to the travel preferences of Indian visitors, including large group travel, multi-generational family vacations, and experience-rich holidays.

Through these partnerships, the parties aim to maximize each other's strengths, enhance tourism development capabilities, and shape tailored travel products, gradually positioning Vietnam as a "preferred destination" for Indian travelers in the near future.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Ngo Thi Huong, CEO of Vinpearl, said: "India is one of the key markets in Vinpearl's international expansion strategy. Through partnerships with leading industry players, we are not only broadening our market reach but also proactively developing products tailored to each customer segment. Vinpearl aims to strengthen its presence in the Indian market while contributing to positioning Vietnam as an attractive and distinctive destination on the global tourism map."

Mr. Anubhav Bansal, Vice President of MakeMyTrip and representative of the three Indian partners, added: "Vinpearl operates one of the region's leading integrated tourism and hospitality ecosystems, with a scale, product diversity, and destination experience portfolio that increasingly align with the preferences of Indian travelers. We believe Vinpearl is playing an important role in positioning Vietnam as an attractive destination for this market. Combined with the extensive distribution strengths of both sides, this partnership is expected to significantly boost Indian tourist arrivals to Vietnam in the coming years."

India is currently the world's most populous country, with 1.47 billion people. The country's rapidly expanding middle class is driving a strong surge in demand for international travel.

Recognizing the strategic importance of the Indian market, Vinpearl has not only leveraged its scale and integrated "all-in-one" ecosystem but has also continuously developed specialized offerings for Indian travelers, including luxury wedding tourism, MICE travel, multi-generational family holidays, group trips, and couple getaways. In 2025, the number of Indian guests staying within the Vinpearl system surged by a record 402% year-on-year, followed by a further 335% increase during the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year.

The signing of MoUs with these three major market access partners marks the next step in Vinpearl's strategy to sustainably grow its visitor base from the 1.47 billion-population Indian market, while also helping position Vietnam as a "preferred destination" for Indian travelers.

Hashtag: #Vinpearl

https://vinpearl.com/en

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Vinpearl

Vinpearl is Vietnam's leading hospitality, tourism, and entertainment brand, currently operating 60 properties across 20 provinces and cities nationwide. Its ecosystem includes a network of five-star hotels and resorts in 35 provinces and cities with more than 17,300 rooms; 15 VinWonders theme parks offering attractions for all age groups; six world-class golf courses; and three international-standard convention centers and theaters under the VinPalace brand. The ecosystem also features two semi-wildlife conservation and care parks, an equestrian academy, and spectacular multi-million-dollar live performance shows in destinations such as Nha Trang and Phu Quoc, attracting millions of visitors each year.

About Thomas Cook India

Founded in 1881, Thomas Cook (India) Limited (TCIL) is one of India's leading omnichannel travel and tourism groups, operating across foreign exchange, corporate travel, MICE, leisure travel, and value-added services.

TCIL owns and operates several major B2C and B2B brands, including Thomas Cook, SOTC, TCI, SITA, Sterling Holiday Resorts, Asian Trails, and Desert Adventures. The group has a presence in 28 countries across five continents and is one of the largest travel service networks headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region.

About SOTC Travel

Established in 1949, SOTC Travel is one of India's oldest and most reputable travel and tourism brands. The company is part of Fairfax Financial Holdings through Thomas Cook (India) Limited (TCIL).

Operating through an omnichannel model, SOTC offers a wide range of services across leisure travel, incentive travel, and corporate travel. With more than 75 years of experience, SOTC has served millions of travelers across destinations worldwide and is recognized for its deep understanding of Indian travelers' preferences and behaviors.

About MakeMyTrip

MakeMyTrip is India's leading online travel booking platform, holding a dominant position in flight bookings, hotel reservations, and travel packages. With tens of millions of users and a strong digital ecosystem, MakeMyTrip covers the entire customer journey while maintaining a strong advantage in reaching younger travelers and independent tourists.

** This press release is distributed by Media OutReach Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

Vinpearl Partners With Three Leading Indian Travel Companies, Unlocking Access To A 1.47 Billion-Person Market