SINGAPORE--(Marketwire - Mar 15, 2012) - The National Book Development Council of Singapore and The Arts House present ASIAN FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN'S CONTENT 2012 from May 26 to 29.

The sky's the limit when it comes to creating content for Asian children. This year's Asian Festival of Children's Content 2012 brings together writers, illustrators, content makers, publishers, distributors and retailers, international buyers and other professionals related to children's content.

Organised by the National Book Development Council of Singapore and The Arts House, this year's festival is bigger, better and bolder than before. The Arts House will be the heart of the festival as the building will be transformed into a marketplace for illustration, ideas and initiatives.

Succeeding from last year's feat, this four day festival aims to congregate content makers, international buyers, and readers looking for related materials with Asian content in a plethora of formats such as comics, books, e-books, graphic novels, videos, films, educational games, etc.

Catch some of the world's top minds and talents in action over four captivating days at these events:

• Celebrating Our Stars, Pre Festival Event (25^th May 2012)
• Primary and Preschool Teachers Congress (26^th May 2012)
• Parents' Forum (27^th May 2012)
• Asian Children's Writers and Illustrators Congress (28^th & 29^th May 2012)
• Media Summit (29^th May 2012)
• Specialised Workshops (26t^h & 27^th May 2012)
• Masterclasses (30^th May 2012)
• Media Mart and Rights Fair (26^th - 29^th May 2012)
• Book Illustrators' Gallery (26^th - 29^th May 2012)

There will be three new initiatives this year. The first event for the Festival is a warm up, called "Celebrating Our Stars." It brings together authors, illustrators and publishers of Singapore's children books. This evening session will provide a great opportunity for aspiring authors, illustrators and other content creators to network with publishers.

The second event will be a panel discussion on "Trajectories and Themes in Children's Literature from the Philippines." Led by Russell Molina and Jomike Tejido, two of the most popular and respected Filipino author/illustrators. This event aims to highlight Asian authors and illustrators from regional countries. They will also be joined by Candy Gourlay and Isabel Roxas, overseas-based Filipinas who will share their international perspectives, as well as personal narratives, on multicultural children's literature.

Lastly, the launch of the Rights Fair aims to draw together publishers, literary agents and rights agents at the festival. It will be an excellent place to link up with distributors to promote quality Asian children's content to the rest of Asia and the world.

R. Ramachandran, Festival Director of AFCC commented, "Our objective is to develop children's materials with Asian content for information, education and entertainment. Through this festival, we hope to continue to be a catalyst to the creation, production, publication and distribution of children's materials with Asian content to children worldwide.

86 speakers and experts, including writers, illustrators, digital artists, producers and designers, from around the world will engage, educate and empower the audience at Asia's gateway to the international children's content market. These speakers and experts include:

• Leonard Marcus - a renowned historian and children's book critic and one of the children's book world's liveliest writers and speakers
• Sarah Odedina - former Bloomsbury's group Editor-in-Chief of children's fiction, where she oversaw publication of the entire Harry Potter series
• Rukhsana Khan - winner of 2011 Golden Kite Award for best picture book text for Big Red Lollipop
• Uma Krishnaswami - winner of Scholastic Asian Book Award 2011
• Suzy Lee - world famous Korean author/illustrator
• Margarita Engle - recipient of the Newberry Honor for The Surrender Tree
• Marjorie Van Heerden - written and/or illustrated more than a hundred children's books and has been published in 33 languages
• Alvina Ling - Fiction Editorial Director, Little Brown
• Wolfgang Bylsma - Editor-in-Chief Gestalt Publishing, graphic novel publisher
• Vatsala Kaul-Banerjee - Publishing Director, Hachette who is responsible for bringing Adeline Foo's Amos Lee books to India
• Avery Fischer Udagawa - Translator
• Margaret Kerrison - Award-winning edutainment and animation writer, producer and content developer
• Helen McAleer - Managing Director at Walker Books
• Candy Gourlay - Author of Tall Story, winner of SCBWI's Crystal Kite Award for Europe in 2011
• Cecilia de la Campa - Director of Children's Subsidiary Rights at Writers House Literary Agency
• Yusof Gajah - Artist and children's book illustrator and author
• Dr. Murti Bunanta - Author of 50 children's book and is President and Founder of Society for the Advancement of Children's Literature

Event Logo
http://release.media-outreach.com/i/Download/368

About Asian Festival of Children's Content

Over a billion children in Asia lack good resources, both for their education and entertainment. Those who have the means and the access, benefit from a wide selection of edutainment material available from the West. Asian material, even those available, is seldom promoted and is therefore left unexplored. Bringing quality Asian content to children is paramount as it would make children aware of Asia's unique environment and cultural values, promote understanding of, and love for, the literary and visual arts. It will thereby lay the foundation for a good and all-round education.

For more information, please visit www.afcc.com.sg.