This year's 15th Singapore International Film Festival launches the First Asian Digital Film Awards . Everyone's invited to be a movie critic at this year's Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF). Jointly organized by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) ...
This year's 15th Singapore International Film Festival launches the First Asian Digital Film Awards.
Everyone's invited to be a movie critic at this year's Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF). Jointly organized by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and SIFF, the first-ever Asian Digital Film Awards is part of this year's festival highlights. Two talented film directors out of the eight finalists in the digital category will walk away with either the "Audience Award" or the "Critics Award" at the Silver Screen Awards Gala in end-April.
Audience Award
Want to be a movie critic? The Audience Award will be based on the public's votes for the competition entries, which will be uploaded on to the Singapore ONE WebTop for online polling. Those with broadband access can conveniently watch 18 short films via web streaming and cast their votes from 4 to 22 April for the best digital film entry through http://s-one.net.sg/8arts. The movies will also be screened, in digital format, through specially imported projectors at the Alliance Francaise Auditorium on 14 April.
Critics Award
The Critics Award will be presented to digital movies that have achieved a high standard of professional excellence as judged by a distinguished panel of international film critics. The President of the Critics jury is none other than Mr Kim Dong Ho, Director of the Pusan International Film Festival.
The awards, which offer a trophy and cash prize of up to S$3000, will be presented at the SIFF Silver Screen Awards Gala on 25 April 2002. Entries have been submitted by emerging film directors from India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Singapore.
The Awards are the first in the region to recognise budding talent in the Asian digital filmmaking industry. Its introduction stems from the IDA recognising that the media industry has been forward-looking and innovative, incorporating and reinventing their work through the use of digital and Infocomm technologies.
The activities supported by IDA in conjunction with the 15th SIFF include:
- Public screening of about 40 digital films at the Alliance Francaise Auditorium from April 12 to 26;
- A half-day panel discussion on April 21 chaired by leading regional film directors Evans Chan (Hong Kong/USA) and James Lee (Malaysia) on the topic "The Digital Revolution Will Not Be Televised";
- A private digital film screening for award-winning school students of Ministry of Education's School Video Awards on April 27 at Prince Cinema 2;
- Making the content of 8arts.com, which promoted the development of Internet films and animation across Asia, available online via the Singapore ONE WebTop.
IDA's Deputy Director for Content Development, Daneel Pang, said, "We are witnessing a radical change in the way films are being made and distributed, by a process of digitisation for multiple platforms. New and high quality, yet affordable filmmaking tools for the masses have made the world of filmmaking more democratic. Streaming via the Internet now allows filmmakers to bypass traditional channels in distribution by reaching their audiences directly. The Internet has opened the door to non-mainstream cinema and experimental work, allowing non-professional filmmakers new access to filmmaking technology. Film audiences benefit from more choice."
He added, "Our support for the Asian Digital Film awards is a further development from our efforts to create a vibrant and dynamic broadband multimedia industry, and we are pleased that many industry players are already taking hold of the new opportunities in a time when telecommunications, IT and traditional media are converging."
ISSUED BY CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIVISION
INFOCOMM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
About Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) is a dynamic organisation with an integrated perspective to developing, promoting and regulating info-communications in Singapore. In the fast-changing and converging spheres of telecommunications, information and media technologies, IDA will be the catalyst for change and growth in Singapore's evolution into a vibrant global info-communications technology centre. For more information, please visit https://www.imda.gov.sg/.
For further information, please contact:
Kelvin Lee
Manager, Corporate Communications
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
Tel: +65 6211 1726
Fax: +65 6211 2227
Email: Kelvin_Lee@imda.gov.sg
Elliza Rahim
Edelman Public Relations
Tel: +65 6733 1110 ext. 221
Fax: +65 6733 5550
Email: erahim@edelman.com.sg
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