Get ready, Singapore. From 26 November to 7 December 2025, the city is set to become a buzzing creative playground as the 12th Singapore Media Festival (SMF) returns in full force. This year promises a vibrant celebration of Asian storytelling, fan culture, and the creator economy, bringing together more than 55,000 filmmakers, creators, industry changemakers, and fans for 12 days of pure inspiration.

What makes SMF magical is how it connects worlds that don’t always meet — from cinema to comics, TV to tabletop gaming, and viral creators to brand-new innovators. It’s where stories come alive, where passions collide, and where the next big thing might be discovered over coffee in a bustling convention hall.

The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) sets the tone with over 120 films from more than 45 countries, and a special spotlight on homegrown voices. The red carpet rolls out with Girl, the feature directorial debut of celebrated actress Shu Qi, who will be gracing the opening gala alongside SGIFF ambassador Rebecca Lim. Local films shine bright this year with the premieres of Sandbox, At Home with Work, and Cendol, plus striking works like Amoeba, capturing youth in Singapore’s rule-bound world, and A Useful Ghost, a Singapore–Thailand co-production that already picked up a Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prix.

Meanwhile, pop culture devotees will find their happy place at Singapore Comic Con (SGCC), which is gearing up for its biggest edition ever. Expect the energy of toy hunts and cosplay parades amplified by the largest tabletop gaming showcase the festival has seen, packed with Pokémon battles, Bandai card tournaments, and even a live MONOPOLY Singapore Championship. Fans can meet their heroes too — think Power Rangers legends Erin Cahill and Jason Faunt, iconic illustrators like Artgerm and Simon Bisley, and Transformers and Pokémon artists who bring imagination to life. With expanded gaming zones and Singapore-made titles showcased by the Singapore Games Association, fans get to play, collect, and create like never before.

Behind the scenes, another kind of excitement is brewing at the Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), where the entertainment industry’s top players gather to shape what the world will watch next. This year, the spotlight lands on fast-rising micro-dramas, short, addictive series redefining binge culture. With global media giants sharing insights, and co-production pitches connecting Singapore creators with international partners and platforms, it’s a powerhouse hub for turning fresh ideas into global hits.

Social media stars and entrepreneurial dreamers won’t want to miss Nas Summit, where global creators like magician Julius Dein and Singapore’s own Jeanette Aw will join Nas Daily for lively, candid conversations. New SME-focused sessions will help hustling creators and small businesses tap into the power of AI, proving that digital storytelling can go from passion to pathway to growth and opportunity.

SGCC will also introduce Industry Day Zero, a new initiative by SGCC and IMDA that brings together creators, studios, and industry professionals to share insights, spark innovation, and build bridges across comics, animation, games, film, and digital storytelling. SGGA will also join SGCC and IMDA in the Day Zero Industry Panel to discuss how the industry can elevate their IP and monetisation models. Separately, SGCC’s Work-In-Progress (W.I.P.) Programme, a platform designed to nurture and empower the next generation of comic storytellers, will now expand to support game developers with a Games Pitch segment, allowing aspiring indie studios and students to present their projects to publishers, mentors, and investors.

Across every corner of SMF, there’s an unmistakable pulse of creativity, with new voices being nurtured, new ideas being sparked, and new cultural icons being made. From work-in-progress showcases for comics and game developers to filmmaker pitching forums designed to launch Asian stories onto international screens, the festival is building future careers as much as celebrating current talent.

Says Ms Yvonne Tang, Assistant Chief Executive, Media Industry Group, IMDA: “Asia’s media landscape and creative economy is entering a new chapter: one where creators are storytellers, and entrepreneurs and innovators are shaping how stories are made, shared and experienced. The Singapore Media Festival brings these communities together, from film and television to pop culture, gaming, and the creator economy – to turn creative ideas into intellectual property, and intellectual property into opportunity. As new technology and formats transform the way we create, Singapore continues to nurture new voices, strengthen collaboration across borders and disciplines, and provide the launchpad for stories that empower, inspire, and connect.”

Over twelve unforgettable days, Singapore becomes the heart of Asian creativity, a place where film buds into fandom, where creators become entrepreneurs, and where communities gather to feel the joy of stories shared. Whether you’re a diehard cinephile, a superfan hunting autographs, a content creator hungry to skill up, or simply someone who loves discovering exciting new things, the Singapore Media Festival 2025 promises something to ignite your imagination.

Photo Credit: Infocomm Media Development Authority

Singapore Media Festival 2025 takes place from 26th November to 7th December 2025. More information available here