SINGAPORE – 09 JUN 2008
Dated: 9 June 2008
Six Singapore feature films to be screened under Singapore Film Panorama
Following last October’s successful staging of the inaugural Singapore Film Festival in Shanghai and Beijing under the Singapore Season in China initiative, Singapore’s silver screen creations will be entertaining Chinese audiences once again at the upcoming 11th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) with a dedicated country showcase. Singapore is one of three countries, alongside Germany and Italy, accorded this honour by SIFF this year.
Under the Singapore Film Panorama, six feature films will be screened at cinemas over the duration of the SIFF, which runs from 14 to 22 June. Put together by the Singapore Film Commission (SFC) under the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA), as well as SIFF, the Singapore Film Panorama selection offers a snapshot of Singapore’s dynamic film industry and highlights the potential of a new generation of film directors exploring a variety of genres, ranging from musicals to dark comedies, romance to drama.
The six films featured in the showcase are: 881 (Royston Tan), 18 Grams of Love (Han Yew Kwang), Gone Shopping (Wee Li Lin), The Leap Years (Jean Yeo), Truth be Told (Teo Eng Tiong) and Dance of the Dragon (John Radel). Supported by the SFC’s Overseas Travel Grant, the directors of these films will be flying to Shanghai to meet the Chinese audiences and media. More information on these films can be found in the Annex.
Bolstering Singapore’s presence at SIFF are the award nominations scored by Wee Li Lin’s Gone Shopping and Han Yew Kwang’s 18 Grams of Love. Both films are competing for the Asia New Talent Award, a special section complementing the main competition that is aimed at uncovering promising film talents who have had one or two films under their belts.
Mr Kenneth Tan, Chief Operating Officer, MDA and Director, SFC said: “The opportunity to present the Singapore Film Panorama at SIFF comes at a time when our local films are steadily extending their global reach, with the recent milestone of Eric Khoo’s My Magic being the first Singaporean feature film selected for the main competition in Cannes, and now the two Asia New Talent Award nominations at SIFF. It is a privilege to share our film culture with the rest of the world at a well-recognised film platform like SIFF, and our Singapore filmmakers look forward to leveraging this opportunity to deepen ties with our Chinese counterparts and the international film fraternity present at the event. We also wish to express our appreciation to the SIFF organisers for their support in staging the Singapore Film Panorama.”
China and Singapore have been stepping up media collaborations on several fronts over the past year. In late 2007, the two countries forged 17 Memoranda of Understanding covering governmental, industry and academic exchanges and collaborations, as part of Singapore Season in China, a cultural initiative by the Singapore Government. One of the agreements set the stage for China and Singapore to co-host each country’s film festivals, starting with the first-ever Singapore Film Festival in Beijing and Shanghai held during Singapore Season. On the new media front, the China-Singapore Institute of Digital Media, the first overseas R&D lab of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has been set up in Singapore. Earlier this year, MDA and China’s Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality embarked on a joint initiative to trial and prototype emerging interactive new media services and technology.
More information on SIFF, as well as the screening schedule of the Singapore Film Panorama, can be found on the Festival’s website at www.siff.com. Please see the Annex for the list of feature films participating in the SIFF Singapore Film Panorama.
Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA)
Formed in 2003, the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) plays a vital role in transforming Singapore into a Global Media City and positioning it at the forefront of the digital media age. MDA spearheads initiatives that promote developments in film, video, television, radio, publishing, music, games, animation, media services and Interactive Digital Media. At the same time, in ensuring clear and consistent regulatory policies and guidelines, MDA helps to foster a pro-business environment for industry players and increase media choices for consumers. For more information, visit www.mda.gov.sg and www.smf.sg.
Singapore Film Commission (SFC)
The Singapore Film Commission (SFC) is an agency under the Media Development Authority (MDA) that facilitates and assists film development for Singapore. The SFC’s key areas of focus are: Funding, Facilitation and Promotion. Its mission is to nurture, support, and promote Singapore talent in film-making, the production of Singapore films, and a film industry in Singapore. For more information please visit www.sfc.org.sg.
Under the Singapore Film Panorama, six feature films will be screened at cinemas over the duration of the SIFF, which runs from 14 to 22 June. Put together by the Singapore Film Commission (SFC) under the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA), as well as SIFF, the Singapore Film Panorama selection offers a snapshot of Singapore’s dynamic film industry and highlights the potential of a new generation of film directors exploring a variety of genres, ranging from musicals to dark comedies, romance to drama.
The six films featured in the showcase are: 881 (Royston Tan), 18 Grams of Love (Han Yew Kwang), Gone Shopping (Wee Li Lin), The Leap Years (Jean Yeo), Truth be Told (Teo Eng Tiong) and Dance of the Dragon (John Radel). Supported by the SFC’s Overseas Travel Grant, the directors of these films will be flying to Shanghai to meet the Chinese audiences and media. More information on these films can be found in the Annex.
Bolstering Singapore’s presence at SIFF are the award nominations scored by Wee Li Lin’s Gone Shopping and Han Yew Kwang’s 18 Grams of Love. Both films are competing for the Asia New Talent Award, a special section complementing the main competition that is aimed at uncovering promising film talents who have had one or two films under their belts.
Mr Kenneth Tan, Chief Operating Officer, MDA and Director, SFC said: “The opportunity to present the Singapore Film Panorama at SIFF comes at a time when our local films are steadily extending their global reach, with the recent milestone of Eric Khoo’s My Magic being the first Singaporean feature film selected for the main competition in Cannes, and now the two Asia New Talent Award nominations at SIFF. It is a privilege to share our film culture with the rest of the world at a well-recognised film platform like SIFF, and our Singapore filmmakers look forward to leveraging this opportunity to deepen ties with our Chinese counterparts and the international film fraternity present at the event. We also wish to express our appreciation to the SIFF organisers for their support in staging the Singapore Film Panorama.”
China and Singapore have been stepping up media collaborations on several fronts over the past year. In late 2007, the two countries forged 17 Memoranda of Understanding covering governmental, industry and academic exchanges and collaborations, as part of Singapore Season in China, a cultural initiative by the Singapore Government. One of the agreements set the stage for China and Singapore to co-host each country’s film festivals, starting with the first-ever Singapore Film Festival in Beijing and Shanghai held during Singapore Season. On the new media front, the China-Singapore Institute of Digital Media, the first overseas R&D lab of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has been set up in Singapore. Earlier this year, MDA and China’s Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality embarked on a joint initiative to trial and prototype emerging interactive new media services and technology.
More information on SIFF, as well as the screening schedule of the Singapore Film Panorama, can be found on the Festival’s website at www.siff.com. Please see the Annex for the list of feature films participating in the SIFF Singapore Film Panorama.
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Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA)
Formed in 2003, the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) plays a vital role in transforming Singapore into a Global Media City and positioning it at the forefront of the digital media age. MDA spearheads initiatives that promote developments in film, video, television, radio, publishing, music, games, animation, media services and Interactive Digital Media. At the same time, in ensuring clear and consistent regulatory policies and guidelines, MDA helps to foster a pro-business environment for industry players and increase media choices for consumers. For more information, visit www.mda.gov.sg and www.smf.sg.
Singapore Film Commission (SFC)
The Singapore Film Commission (SFC) is an agency under the Media Development Authority (MDA) that facilitates and assists film development for Singapore. The SFC’s key areas of focus are: Funding, Facilitation and Promotion. Its mission is to nurture, support, and promote Singapore talent in film-making, the production of Singapore films, and a film industry in Singapore. For more information please visit www.sfc.org.sg.
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