Singapore Impresses at Taipei International Film Festival
A slate of Singapore-produced films came under the spotlight at the 12th Taipei International Film Festival this year.
Screened under the Panorama ‘Voices from Asia’ section, the Singapore selection included The Blue Mansion, by director Glen Goei, a quirky murder mystery about a wealthy Asian tycoon who dies suddenly and returns as a ghost to uncover the secret of his death. The film was recently in competition for the Asia New Talent Award at the 13th Shanghai International Film Festival.
Another film in the Singapore selection was The Days, director Boi Kwong’s maiden feature, which was also in competition for the Asia New Talent Award at the 13th Shanghai International Film Festival. Produced in 2008, it is based on a true story set between 1989 and 1990 about two brothers. It chronicles their fight for independence, their relationship, and their fate as gang members.
Wee Li Lin’s first-time feature film effort, Gone Shopping, follows three eccentric urbanites – a wealthy lady of leisure, a feisty eight-year-old girl and an angst-ridden 22-year-old boy – who escape to shopping centres in search of new frontiers. It was screened at overseas festivals such as the LV Hawaii International Film Festival.
Salawati by Marc X Grigoroff tells the story of a 12-year-old Singaporean Malay girl who witnesses the drowning of her older brother. A group of loutish Indian couriers and a troubled Chinese family become possible suspects later on. His death raises issues of faith and forgiveness in this touching drama. The film had participated in the Seattle Film Festival and International Film Festival
of India.
The Taipei International Film Festival, chaired by director Hou Hsiao-hsian, is reputed to be influential in the Mandarin-speaking world with more than 100,000 attendees, 200 films and representatives from 30 countries.
Some filmmakers from Singapore attended the festival with support from the Media Development Authority of Singapore’s Travel Assistance Programme.
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