We’ve always loved the selection that the annual Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) has to offer. This year’s edition will take place on Nov 23-Dec 4, and will feature three prominent local filmmakers. The full line-up will only be released later this month, but we’re already marking our calendars with the screenings that have already been announced.
For the third time, Yuni Hadi, who co-produced the award-winning film Ilo Ilo, takes up the role as executive director for SGIFF. This film producer, author and curator has spent most of her career helping up-and-coming filmmakers with their productions and has a strong belief that film literacy has to begin from a young age. We speak with her to discuss her thoughts on Singaporean cinema, what we can expect at this year’s SGIFF and more.
How has Singaporean cinema evolved in recent years?
Our local film scene has definitely evolved over the years, with more films receiving recognition internationally. For example, Apprentice, a film by the jury head of SGIFF’s Southeast Asian Short Film Competition, Boo Junfeng, premiered at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival this year under the Un Certain Regard section. SGIFF regular K. Rajagopal’s first feature film, A Yellow Bird, was also selected to screen at International Critics’ Week, a parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival. Omnibus 7 Letters recently took home the Kumamoto City Award at the 2016 Focus on Asia-Fukuoka International Film Festival, which was based on audience votes, and last year’s mentor of our Southeast Asian Film Lab, Yong Mun Chee, had her project selected for this year’s Golden Horse Film Project Promotion (FPP).
We’ve also noticed a growth in pride and interest in independent Singapore cinema, with a new, younger generation of audiences looking to discover more. This is something that the festival would like to continue to encourage and tap on by giving local filmmakers a platform to showcase their works to Asia and beyond. To achieve this, we have introduced a new initiative that seeks to nurture and showcase up-and-coming Singapore filmmakers from this year onwards. SGIFF will commission a new short film by a Singapore filmmaker every year that will make its world premiere at the festival. This year, Gladys Ng, winner of SGIFF 2015’s Best Singapore Short Film, will be premiering a short entitled The Pursuit of a Happy Human Life.
What are your five favorite Singaporean films?
Some Singaporean films have become classics, and will always be among my favorites. They include Eating Air by Kelvin Tong and Jasmine Ng; 15,Royston Tan’s first feature film; Forever Fever—I love Adrian Pang’s moves in this; Money No Enough, and the short film Ah Ma by Cannes Caméra d’Or winner Anthony Chen.
What can we expect from this year’s Singapore International Film Festival?
In its 27th edition, SGIFF continues to inspire the discovery of independent cinema by bringing together a rich mix of films from both established and emerging filmmakers that will showcase the region’s story in film. Among the local films that the audience can look forward to is K. Rajagopal’s A Yellow Bird, which is in the Asian Feature Film Competition. We will also be screening a collection of 12 works by the late Abdul Nizam in recognition of his contribution to the local film industry.
Besides film screenings, the festival has also lined up a range of programs aimed to nurture and champion the art and innovation of filmmaking. This includes the Southeast Asian Film Lab which educates emerging screenwriters, writers and directors from Southeast Asia between the ages of 18 and 35 on story development. Likewise, the Youth Jury Programme will continue to groom a new generation of critical writers on cinema from the region.
The highly anticipated Silver Screen Awards will also continue to recognize emerging talents and cast a spotlight on the best films in the region. On top of the existing Asian Feature Film Competition and Southeast Asian Short Film Competition, we will also have the Audience Choice Awards to give the audience a greater say in recognizing their favorite films. Visitors can also participate in masterclasses, talks and workshops with established filmmakers, and industry heavyweights to help facilitate discussions and an exchange of ideas that will bring independent cinema forward.
Tell us about some places film buffs should visit in Singapore.
There are so many art spaces in Singapore that film buffs can visit to enjoy Singapore and regional films—The Substation, Objectifs Centre for Photography & Film, the National Museum of Singapore, The Projector and, of course, SGIFF. Join their mailing lists and you’ll be constantly updated with films to watch all year round! Help to grow our local arts scene by bringing a friend along to the screenings! One can also visit Kinokuniya, Books Actually and Objectifs to purchase DVDs of local films. They could make great gifts and are also a wonderful way to share who we are as Singaporeans.
