The 11th edition of Kre8tif! will see the event, hosted by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) going completely virtual with a focus on inclusivity and globalisation through its “Kre8tif!-vity without Boundaries” theme. The concept provides the event with the opportunity to extend inclusiveness and widen networking opportunities to all participants. For those who missed past Kre8tif! events, they now have that chance to participate.
Running from September 7 to 10, 2020, Kre8tif! 2020 will be the region’s hotspot for all types of digital content that are now trending, taking this sector to greater heights. As an industry-leading event, it will bring together movers-and-shakers in the animation, broadcast, licensing and merchandising, visual effects, digital technology, and content creation space.
Conferences, Workshops, Business Xchange (pitching and business matching) and Xhibition sessions at Kreatif! 2020 will be headlined by international players and Malaysian creative content industry stalwarts. This includes, among others, Octopie Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Weta Digital, Netflix, WarnerMedia Entertainment Network, Animonsta Studios, Primeworks Studio, MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), Muslim Kids TV, YouTube, Licensing international and WildBrain.
Established in 2009, Kre8tif! has become the definitive business networking platform for the digital content industry in Malaysia and across Southeast Asia. Organised under the ambit of MDEC’s Digital Creative Content (DCC) arm, this year’s event kicks off with a conference that will feature over 15 industry experts as event speakers. The conference’s keynote address, titled “How Southeast Asia will create the next animated global hit”, will be presented by 26-year industry veteran Eric Calderon, Senior Vice President, Development (Animation), Octopie Studios.
In line with its aspirations to become the foremost regional avenue for innovation and exploration of major trends across the digital creative sector, Kre8tif! 2020 continues to develop susiainable extended industry partnerships. This year’s network partners include regional and international events, namely, the Bangkok International Digital Content Festival (BIDC 2020), Asosiasi Industri Animasi Indonesia (AINAKI), SIGGRAPH Asia 2020 and View Conference 2020.
Kre8tif! 2020 is expected to attract over 2,000 participants from all over the region and has already connected and attracted a growing list of attendees, including industry leading names, who are keen to tap into the event’s growing credentials and expand their reach within the digital creative content space. The line up of partners and sponsors include Epic Games as a Diamond Partner; Warner Media and Cyberview Sdn Bhd as Platinum Partners; Animasia, Animonsta, Digital Durian, Giggle Garage, Les’ Copaque, Lemonsky Studios, MBits Digital, Blindspot Studios, Quick Que and Lil’ Critter Studio as Gold Sponsors; The R&D Studio as a Silver Sponsor and WebTV Asia and 84 Animation as Bronze Sponsors.
Speaking about the diversity of ideas and potential for innovation and creative development that has now gone completely borderless, given the virtual nature of Kre8tif!, Surina Shukri, CEO, MDEC, enthused, “Malaysia has the right mix of talent and a burgeoning ecosystem for the animation and creative content industry to flourish. As is, we are strategically positioned within the Asia-Pacific to act as industry enablers that open more doors and can help equip creators with the right tools, knowledge and network to make their content marketable for regional and global audiences. This economic opportunity is virtually boundless and is very much the new normal.”
“The impressive line-up of speakers, buyer and exhibitors this year is a testament to the growth we are envisioning – being at par with global players. Some of these sessions are designed to initiate discussions around future trends and forecasts, as well as industry best practices. For aspiring content creators, they will learn tips and tricks on how to make it big in the industry from various industry leaders. With the added value of gaining deep insights from the like-minded peers, the event will be truly attractive to a wide range of creatives, those who are seeking different experience levels, and to all who want to continuously improve and tap into this robust industry,” added Hasnul Hadi Samsudin, Vice President of DCC.
Regional buyers – from the likes of Cartoon Network, Amazon, Disney and regional broadcasing platforms – will be attending the equally as exciting Business Xchange. A business matching session, it provides opportunities for these brands to virtually see and listen in on projects and ideas. This initiative, billed as a value creation platform for all artists and businesses to grow and expand, welcomes those looking to secure funding for their ideas or projects.
As for the Xhibition, it is open to all creative and technology companies who want to showcase their intellectual properties (IPs), current hardware, software, and solutions. Interested exhibitors can opt for the Premium Booth Package that includes additional perks like inbound meetings for exhibitor via video-call with exhibitor leads, highlights of products and services. There is also a recruitment link that directly connects job-seekers to the company’s website. With a strong Kre8tif! branding, this will be a great avenue for companies to reach out to existing and new customers.
A series of workshops are also planned, covering engaging topics that range from an introduction to technical art, creating cinematic game trailers, advanced VFX, and many more. Amongst the workshops that are being planned, there is one that focuses on the topic titled – Fusing Traditional Shadow Puppets with Multimedia by Fusion Wayang Kulit. The the trio is best know for creating “Peperangan Bintang” or better known as the “Star Wars” that uses wayang kulit (shadow puppetry).
Hosting the session is Master Puppeteer “Pak Dain”, and he will be providing insights on how the traditional art form can be fused with new technology and multimedia, such as animation and visual effects. These concepts can be used to change perceptions and maintain their relevance in today’s modern world. He will also discuss the capabilities of a purpose-designed app to enhance the audio effect and how his team approached and overcome challenges in mixing traditional wayang kulit with modern multimedia technology for better “live show” experiences.
More details and the full event schedule and list of speakers at Kre8tif! can be found at www.kre8tif.com.my