Singapore at Cannes 20082 min read

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The 2008 Cannes Film Festival is set experience a strong taste of Singapore led by the Media Development Authority in a record line-up of 20 film projects.

The pack features a wide variety of films, including the just-wrapped The Days (pictured left), a film by Silver Screen award winner Boi Kwong. Co-produced by Originasian Pictures and Company X, the film is in the aid of the Yellow Ribbon Project and is slated to be released in Golden Village theaters this September.

See the previously unreleased stills from the movie, plus exclusive behind-the-scenes photographs at The Days’ Ning community site!

Also travelling to France is Michael Wang’s Carrot Cake Conversations (left), a film surrounding four strangers who bond over the local delicacy. Produced by The Vintage Film Company, the film is currently in post-production and will be released in the latter half of 2008. Check out the film’s official website for more details.

The 20 films will be presented by a delegation of six local companies comprising of animation, CG, documentary and independent filmmakers, producers and marketers. This marks the fifth time MDA has led Singaporean filmmakers to the leading international film market, also known as the Marche du Film, which will also present a key networking session for Singapore producers.

The Producers Network is a programme dedicated to bringing together producers in Cannes to facilitate opportunities for international co-productions. MDA will host the Singapore Spotlight session on 21 May, which will comprise 200 producers participating in the breakfast meeting, which is part of a series of daily events. The sessions will provide an opportunity for round-table thematic discussions with special guests-of-honour, and attended by high profile distributors, sellers, financiers and talent agents.

Continuing Singapore filmmakers’ strong showing at international film festivals is My Magic, which has been nominated for the highest accolade at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the Palme d’Or (Golden Palm). Eric Khoo’s latest film, which was supported by the Singapore Film Commission, is about a down-and-out magician seeking to mend ties with his estranged teenage son. It is also only one of two Asian films in the main competition.

Last year, Ah Ma (Grandma) by Anthony Chen had the distinction of being one of only 11 short films chosen from a pool of over 3,000 entries for the Palm d’Or Short Film award. The film went on to receive the Special Mention.

The MDA Singapore pavilion is located at C9, Riviera Hall.