Sinema Showoff! “The Fortune Cookie Collection”6 min read
Reading Time: 5 minutesThe debut session for Sinema Showoff! Season 11 is here!
Kicking-off the season is “Sinema Showoff! The Fortune Cookie Collection” a selection of short films that reflect the history, character, hopes and distinct identity of the Chinese community in Singapore. Curated by Singapore Polytechnic.
This month’s Sinema Showoff! will be on the 31 May, 7.30pm at Sinema Old School (11B Mount Sophia, B1-12, Singapore 228466). Admission is free!
All directors will be in attendance for a Q&A session following the screening, moderated by TV Director & Filmmaker Abbas Akbar.
The programme is hosted by Sinema Old School and curated by academic staff and students from Singapore Polytechnic, School of Architecture and the Built Environment (Diploma in Integrated Events & Project Management).
Tickets are available for booking on-line at tix.sinema.sg
THE FORTUNE COOKIE COLLECTION
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
1. TENTH OF MAY
Ruyi Wong | English & Chinese Dialect (Cantonese) | 14mins | PG
Meng Juan, a divorced mother imposes a traditional Chinese wedding to the dismay of her daughter who wishes for a modern ceremony. Their conflict on the wedding day results in the revelation of a dark secret and the intense situation is complicated by the arrival of the father of the bride.
Festival
Official Selection, Singapore Short Film Awards 2011
Director’s Bio ““ Ruyi Wong
Ruyi Wong graduated from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) in Digital Filmmaking.
Ruyi is currently an artist in residence (new media) at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve with the support of Singapore Nature Society.
2. LIVING IT
David Lee | Mandarin | 14mins | PG
A young man has to care for his father who has lost a leg in an accident. Having to give up his social life the young man vents his anger on his father.
However, through a series of unnatural circumstances, the son is put into his father’s shoes and goes through his father’s amputation, the trauma and, finally, the depression, where he experiences firsthand the feeling of being trapped in a room, unable to get out no matter what.
Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2hW-eEnB48
Awards & Festivals
Nominee, Asian Short Film Competition – Pusan International Film Festival 2010, South Korea Official Selection – International Family Film Festival 2011, USA Official Selection – Grenoble International Short Film Festival 2011, France
Director’s Bio – David Lee
David Lee holds a Diploma in Visual Communication from NAFA and recently graduated with a BFA in Digital Filmmaking from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) School of Art, Design & Media.
David is currently working as Research Assistant (Media) at Earth Observatory of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University doing documentries and video productions.
Official site:
http://www.livingitfilm.com/
3. SWIMMING POOL (CURATOR’S PICK)
Kat Goh | Mandarin | 12 mins | PG
A traditional Chinese household is sending their only child to study overseas for the first time. The mother is doting, but annonyingly naggy towards the daughter and the “PC addicted” husband to get all things right before going to the airport.
Amongst the chaos, the lady’s father, an avid swimming fan, brings with him a sense of calmness that forms the climax of the story.
Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utNLmV3zc0c
Awards & Festivals
Best Film, Singapore International Film Festival 2009 Best Director, Singapore International Film Festival 2009 Special Mention – Jury Award, Vladivostok International Film Festival “Pacific Meridian” Official Selection, The Worldwide Short Film Festival 2010, USA Official Selection, Toronto Singapore Film Festival 2010, Canada
Director’s Bio – Kat Goh
Kat Goh is a full-time Producer & Director with Boku Films, working on both local and regional productions.
She holds a Electrical and Electronic degree from Nanyang Technological University (NTU). And most recently she was a member of the Pre-Selection Committee for Singapore Short Film Awards 2011.
4. THE REUNION DINNER (CURATOR’S PICK)
Anthony Chen | Mandarin | 16 mins | G
The evolution of the traditional Reunion Dinner (held on the eve of Chinese New Year where family members come together) is seen through the perspective of a closely-knit family against the backdrop of Singapore’s progress from 60s to the present.
Commissioned Specially for River Hongbao 2011.
Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS4CG3OR_PE
Director’s Bio – Anthony Chen
Anthony Chen is a receipient of the highly acclaimed National Arts Council’s Young Artist Award (2009).
His sophomore short, AH MA (GRANDMA), was nominated for the Palme d’Or for Short Film at the 60th Cannes Film Festival (2007), and secured a Special Mention, the first time a Singaporean was awarded in Cannes. HAZE, his third short film, was nominated for the Golden Bear for Short Film at Berlin (2008). In between all his short films have travelled to numerous films festivals.
Anthony recently completed his Masters at National Film & Television School, London with a scholarship from Media Development Authority (MDA). He also holds a Diploma in Film & Media Studies from Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Anthony is married and hopes to pursue a career in the UK while developing projects in Asia.
5. THE GANG (CURATOR’S PICK)
Kelvin Sng | Mandarin | 32 mins | M18
The year is 1974. The police are focused on the extermination of secret societies.
After his father’s murder, 18-year-old Hao Nan is emotionally torn. As he copes with his loss, his desire to seek out the murderer also deepens.
Driven by naivety and his shallow understanding of secret societies, Hao Nan’s chance encounter with Ming a member of Red Luck Gang brings an introduction to Hei Ge, leader of THE GANG.
Impressed by ethics and philosophy of the gang, Hao Nan secretly hopes to join it in order to use its influence to avenge his father’s death. However, Hei Ge is reluctant to accept Hao Nan as yet, at least not until he can first prove himself worthy of the gang.
As Hao Nan gets closer to Red Luck Gang, the young man soon discovers that beneath the façade lies brutal violence and betrayal that are contrary to the glorious and dignified image of THE GANG.
Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1stP3742qBI
Director’s Bio – Kelvin Sng
Kelvin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the National University of Singapore (NUS). He trained as a teacher with the National Institute of Education (NIE) and taught for three (3) years. After leaving the teaching profession he went on to do an Advanced Diploma in Film Production (Directing) from Ngee Ann Polytechnic with a scholarship from Media Development Authority (MDA).
Kelvin is Managing Director for Kelvin Sng Productions Pte Ltd which also does artiste management and other productions such as music videos and commercials. Apart from that Kelvin is also Programme Director for both Mastereign Media Arts Pte Ltd and Epitomedia Pte Ltd, which run media- related education programmes for primary / secondary and junior colleges in Singapore.
Besides filmmaking, Kelvin also has keen interest in writing poetry. His works are featured in several poetry websites and he has collaborated with Little Bali, Gone Fishing Café and The Substation to organize poetry readings which invited both published and unpublished writers to read their works together.
Kelvin is married with two young boys, aged five and two.
Official site:
http://thegang.ksp.sg/
Total Running Time: 88mins
Moderator’s Bio – Abbas Akbar
Abbas Akbar started out as camera crew for local Tamil ““ language TV productions soon after completing his National Service. He made his directorial and acting debut with his independent short film ‘Certain Chapters (Film)’ which was nominated ‘Best Short Film’ at the Asian Festival of First Films and screened at several international film festivals.
Abbas is currently working on directing a current affairs series and another long-form drama for MediaCorp’s Vasantham TV channel. Abbas learnt and honed most his skills “on the sets” or as he puts it “School of Hard Knocks”.
