The organizers of the Singapore International Film Festival announced the recipients of their Documentary (SeaDoc) and the Short Film Grant (Sea-Short).

The Singapore International Film Festival announced the list of projects that will receive short film and documentary funds. These projects from from Singapore, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam. The SGIFF Film Fund is part of the SGIFF Film Academy (SFA) umbrella, the region’s first holistic training initiative to support Southeast Asian film talents and nurture film appreciation among the audience.

Yuni Haid, Executive Director of the SGIFF said ““SGIFF has always been a firm advocate of Southeast Asian cinema, and the SGIFF Film Academy will enable us to holistically look at the support extended to the ecosystem and identify potential gaps and areas of synergy. We hope that this will bolster the development and growth of the industry in the long run. We would also like to congratulate our recipients of the inaugural SGIFF Film Fund and look forward to seeing these productions come to fruition.”

Tan Ean Kiam Foundation – SGIFF Southeast Asian Documentary Grant (SEADOC)

Some Women by Quenyee Wong (Singapore)
What does it mean to be transgender in Singapore in 2019? From the glorious past of Bugis Street to the country’s seemingly progressive present, some trans women – including the director herself – tell their own stories of hope, fear and inspiration.

68 by Tan Biyun (Singapore)
The last street vendor in Singapore struggles with the sudden loss of livelihood after being evicted. He seeks help from the state but runs into a wall of bureaucracy, regulations and language barrier.

Aswang by Alyx Ayn Arumpac (Philippines)
When men turn up dead, the old folks whisper of the Aswang, a shape shifting beast from folklore. In Manila, bodies pile up and lives entwine as the state wages a brutal war against drugs and crime.

Ploy by Prapat Jiwarangsan (Thailand) A story of Ploy, who’s an entry point to real stories of Thai migrant workers in Singapore. It is also a story about an artist searching for ways to represent Ploy.

SGIFF Southeast Asian-Short Film Grant (SEA-SHORTS)

Judy Free by Che Tagyamon (Philippines)
A father who has been abroad for work for eight years intrudes upon his young daughter Judy when he comes home to the Philippines as an animated doodle figure.

Binh by Ostin Fam (Vietnam)
Lost in the heart of a half built temple, a young boy, Binh, looks for his father who works there as an electrical engineer. A local self-proclaimed fortune-teller shows him the way.

*Nursery Rhymes by Michael Kam (Singapore)
Set during different times before its independence, when Singapore belonged to Britain and Japan, two different children each struggle to conform in two different yet similarly oppressive environments.

*Special Mention Prize awarded by White Light Studio Co.,Ltd

We remind readers that the 30th Singapore International Film Festival will take place from November 21st – December 1st (2019) in Singapore.

We also want to remind filmmakers that the festival is accepting feature & short films, Projects for their Southeast Asian Film Lab; and people for the Youth Jury & Critics Programme. The general Deadline is August 19th (2019). Here you can find more information about their call for entry. SEE CALL FOR ENTRY

About the SGIFF:
Founded in 1987, the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is the largest and longest-running film event in Singapore. It has become an iconic event in the local arts calendar that is widely attended by international film critics; and known for its dynamic programming and focus on ground-breaking Asian cinema for Singapore and the region. Committed to nurturing and championing local and regional talent, its competition component, the Silver Screen Awards, brings together emerging filmmakers from Asia and Southeast Asia while paying tribute to acclaimed cinema legends.