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Organised by Centre Pompidou and jointly presented by Cathay Organisation and Shaw Organisation along with the Singapore Film Commission, the event opened to warm response with Eric Khoo’s Mee Pok Man as well as a post-screening dialogue session with the director.
In all, 45 films spanning 55 years of filmmaking history in Singapore and Malaysia are being shown. They include those from pre-independence Singapore as well as contemporary and award-winning works such as Invisible City by Tan Pin Pin and I Not Stupid by Jack Neo.
Said Dr Christopher Chia, Chief Executive Officer of the Media Development Authority of Singapore: “From Malay classics which played to packed houses in the 1960s to more recent award-winning titles which have travelled the international film festival circuit, the films are a lens to the journey of a young country and its people experiencing tremendous change and progress over the years. That these films are being showcased in France also underscores a renewed interest in Asian stories, themes and history.”
In other international outings, Singapore producers Fran Borgia (of HERE by Ho Tzu Nyen, Director’s Fortnight, Cannes Film Festival 2009) and James Leong (of Homeless FC, Hong Kong International Film Festival 2007) were among the 67 producers from all over the world that participated in CineMart at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Singapore directors also took part at the festival itself from 27 January to 7 February, with the screening of 11 Singapore short and feature films by festival circuit veterans like Ho Tzu Nyen, Royston Tan, Sherman Ong and Kirsten Tan, as well as up-and-coming filmmakers Daniel Hui, Ng Wai Ha, Vladimir Todorovic and Wesley Leon Aroozoo.
Over at the Berlinale (Berlin International Film Festival), Michael Kam’s Masala Mama competed for the Crystal Bear award for Best Short Film. |