ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH FILM AWARDS 2017 NOMINEES

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The 3rd edition of the National Youth Film Awards (NYFA) announced its nominees for 2017 today, following an open call conducted in February. Co-presented by *SCAPE and the National Youth Council (NYC), the annual marquee short film competition is open to youth filmmakers from local Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), and saw over 200 films vying for 23 awards, including the top prizes for Best Picture and Best Overall School.

NYFA sets out to discover and recognise the best of emerging talent for technical film crafts in Singapore, and is one of the anchor events of July’s Youth Month, a month long showcase to celebrate youths’ aspirations, resilience and positive contributions to the community. This year’s submissions were critically assessed by a 19-member jury panel consisting of distinguished industry stalwarts from diverse backgrounds. They include Singapore International Film Festival executive director Yuni Hadi; writer and producer Tan Fong Cheng; filmmakers Sufyan Sam’an and Daniel Yam, as well as other heavyweights with expertise across various technical skills such as veteran Director of Photography Alan Yap, sound designer Rennie Gomes and the panel’s first-ever colourist, Azman Mohamed.

Mr Christopher Pragasam, Executive Director at *SCAPE, said, “With Singapore films and talent being increasingly recognised and celebrated on an international stage, it has become all the more crucial that opportunities are provided to cultivate our youth storytellers for a wider audience back here at home. Since its inception in 2015, the National Youth Film Awards have proven to be a timely platform to encourage youth interest and development in this field, and a springboard elevating their voices to a national level.”

Mr Nicholas Chee, Awards Director for NYFA, added, “The awards connect emerging talent with industry professionals, helping to raise and groom the next generation of film auteurs in Singapore. This year, the stories we have seen reflect topics that are close to the hearts of youth in Singapore today, and more importantly, showcase an authenticity in using film as a medium to represent their voices.”

NYFA primarily focuses on the multi-faceted technical film crafts that contribute towards making a film, with categories such as Best Camera Work, Best Sound Mixing, Best Colour Grading, Best Editing in a Documentary Film, and Best Character Design in an Animated Film, as well as three new awards under the newly-introduced non-media student category, which recognises short films presented by non-media trained students. Winners of NYFA 2017 will be announced during the Awards Ceremony next month on 22 July 2017, which will be officiated by Minister of Culture, Community and Youth, Ms Grace Fu. The winning films will receive trophies, cash prizes of up to S$2,000, and various industry-related prizes.

Beyond the awards, NYFA also hopes to reach out and cultivate interest and excitement for the art of filmmaking among a new generation of youths in Singapore, providing increased access to learning opportunities and platforms to hone their craft. A two-day NYFA Weekend will take place over 30 June and 1 July in conjunction with SHINE Festival, bringing together youths and key film and media industry players to exchange ideas and engage in dialogue through talks, workshops and screenings. Members of the public can also participate and support the nominees by casting votes for their favourite non-media student category films before 10 July; or visit a pop-up film set at *SCAPE, shining a spotlight on the art of production design. The latter is an initiative presented by local production designer and NYFA 2016 alumni, Julie Heather Liew, and is the first of an annual series by NYFA to introduce lesser known film crafts to the public.

The NYFA 2017 team would also like to take this opportunity to thank the sponsors for coming in with such attractive prizes:

Best Picture Award:
– Trophy and S$2,000 cash
– URSA Mini Pro worth S$8,525 presented by Blackmagic Design
– One-year complimentary subscription of Adobe® Creative Cloudâ„¢ worth S$792
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

Best Animated Film Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– Cintiq 13 Pro worth S$1,499 presented by Wacom Singapore Pte Ltd
– One-year complimentary subscription of Adobe® Creative Cloudâ„¢ worth S$792
– MAGES courses* worth S$4,800
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

FUJINON Best Documentary Film Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– FUJINON MK18-55mm T2.9 worth S$5,999 presented by FUJIFILM Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
– S$500 Cathay Photo Voucher presented by Cathay Photo
– One-year complimentary subscription of Adobe® Creative Cloudâ„¢ worth S$792

HYUNDAI Best Direction Award:
– Trophy and S$4,000 cash presented by HYUNDAI
– 1 Commissioned film project* with HYUNDAI
– Complimentary usage* of the HYUNDAI Santa Fe 7 Seater SUV presented by HYUNDAI
– 8 Weeks Haque Centre of Acting and Creativity Workshops worth S$600
– S$500 Cathay Photo Voucher presented by Cathay Photo
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

Best Performance Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– Management Contract presented by Beam Artistes Pte Ltd
– 8 Weeks Haque Centre of Acting and Creativity Workshops worth S$600
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

Best Screenplay Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– 8 Weeks Haque Centre of Acting and Creativity Workshops worth S$600
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

SONY Best Camera Work Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash presented by Sony Electronic (Singapore) Pte Ltd
– Sony Î±7S II worth S$4,299 presented by Sony Electronic (Singapore) Pte Ltd
– 1 Commissioned film project* with Sony Singapore presented by Sony Electronic (Singapore) Pte Ltd
– S$300 Syrp Voucher presented by Cathay Photo
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

Best Lighting Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– Rotolight Creative Colour Kit V2 worth S$310 presented by Cathay Photo
– Aputure LS COB120D light, Aputure 672 Lighting Set, Aputure Light Dome and Aputure VS-1 Fine HD monitor total worth S$2,500 presented by Aputure Imaging Industries Co. Ltd
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

Blackmagic Design Best Colour Grading Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– DaVinci Resolve Studio worth S$429 presented by Blackmagic Design
– DaVinci Resolve Mini Panel worth S$4255 presented by Blackmagic Design
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

Best Editing Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– DaVinci Resolve Studio worth S$429 presented by Blackmagic Design
– One-year complimentary subscription of Adobe® Creative Cloudâ„¢ worth S$792
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

Best Visual Effects Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– RED Giant Magic Bullet Suite 12 worth US$899 and one year’s subscription of Universe worth US$99
– Fusion 8 Studio S$1425 presented by Blackmagic Design
– One-year complimentary subscription of Adobe® Creative Cloudâ„¢ worth S$792
– MAGES courses* worth S$4,800
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

Best Sound Editing Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– DaVinci Resolve Studio worth S$429 presented by Blackmagic Design
– Zoom F4 Professional Field Recorder worth S$1,055 presented by City Music Co Pte Ltd
– Zoom PCF-4 Carrying Case worth S$100 presented by City Music Co Pte Ltd
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

Best Sound Mixing Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

Best Original Music Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– Korg Monologue Monophonic Analogue Synthesizer worth S$420 presented by City Music Co Pte Ltd
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

Best Production Design Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– 3D printing vouchers worth $500 presented by 3D-Printing-Hub.Asia
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

Best Character Design in Animated Film Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– 3D printing vouchers worth $500 presented by 3D-Printing-Hub.Asia
– Intuos Pro Paper Edition Medium worth S$579 presented by Wacom Singapore Pte Ltd
– One-year complimentary subscription of Adobe® Creative Cloudâ„¢ worth S$792
– MAGES courses* worth S$2,000
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

Best Camera Work in Documentary Film Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– S$400 Manfrotto Voucher presented by Cathay Photo
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

Best Editing in Documentary Film Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– DaVinci Resolve Studio worth S$429 presented by Blackmagic Design
– One-year complimentary subscription of Adobe® Creative Cloudâ„¢ worth S$792
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

Best Writing in Animated Film Award:
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– Intuos Art Small worth S$155 presented by Wacom Singapore Pte Ltd
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

Best Overall School Award:
– Trophy

Non Media Student Categories:

DBS Gold Award
– Trophy and S$1,500 cash
– S$500 Cathay Photo Voucher presented by Cathay Photo
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

DBS Silver Award
– Trophy and S$1,000 cash
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

DBS Bronze Award
– Trophy and S$500 cash
– One-year complimentary membership for *SCAPEmedia Hub

*Subject to Terms and Conditions.
**Sponsored prizes are subject to changes.
***Information correct as of 23 June 2017.

For more information on NYFA 2017, visit www.scape.sg/nyfa

ABOUT *SCAPE
*SCAPE Co. Ltd is a non-profit organisation with its mission and vision rooted in support of youth, talent and leadership development. The organisation aims to facilitate youth-oriented programmes and support within various communities of youth interest. Look out for a series of exciting initiatives for media enthusiasts, music lovers, dancers and development programmes for your mind and soul! Be inspired and empowered to Dream it. Live it. At *SCAPE!

For more information, visit www.scape.sg

ABOUT NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL
At NYC, we believe in a world where young people are respected and heard, and have the ability to influence and make a difference to the world. Together with our partners, we develop a dynamic and engaging environment where young people can realise their aspirations and play a part in making Singapore an endearing home for all.

For more information, visit www.nyc.gov.sg