Asian Festival of 1st Films

2006-12-09T13:46:00.001+08:00

Dreams do come true... you just have to keep working at them.

-Sanjoy Roy, Festival Director for the Asian Festival of First Films

2006-12-09T13:43:00.000+08:00

Words from our resident film reviewer Jini

The first time is always memorable. It was my first time being a part of the Asian Festival of 1^st Films and so the incandescent memories will be forever emblazoned in my mind.

The festival is a wonderful tribute to first-time filmmakers and the exceptional films they create. It is also a bridge that narrows the schism between countries and cultures.

As words fail us, we rely on images to communicate. And so films speak to us in that universal language we comprehend.

With each first film, it is only the beginning. May there be more to come.

2006-12-07T19:53:00.000+08:00

All that starts well... ends well

It's over.
Countless hours spent in front of the computer arranging logistical nightmares with precise efficiency; wrangled nerves almost numb from fixing blog bugs(hee hee), buckets of blood, sweat and tears - all went into making this BIG KAHOONA of a festival work not only for themselves, but also to the budding potentials biding to the world for their voices to be heard on the silver screen.

And they did, with a fantastic response too! What an experience for them; from the arduous task of conceptualising the storyboard, to arranging logistics, to actually produce the film with the actors and finally, to win the greatest prize of all: to have their films appreciated by the arts community in various countries. It is not the awards which really matter; it is instead the lessons learned and the momentous experiences gained in the production process which are deemed invaluable. To these first-time filmmakers, you have my utmost respect and deep admiration. Kudos to everyone of you and I wish you the best in all your endeavours! Keep those films coming in!

After 7 days of agonising difficulty selecting the deserving winners for the Festival(hey, every one of them were excellent!), the Jury have finally come to a conclusion and the results were out! But before that announcement can be officially made, here are some of photographs of some very important people, and some REALLY REALLY BIG STARS!!!!

Jesselyn and the big little star of Jonathan!

Jini, Eunice Olsen and Jesselyn. Happy faces there! =D

Erman brimming with excitement next to Gina McKee!

Erman and Angela of Kaiiten.

Kaiiten crew getting jiggy with Cecilia Yip!

Photographer Surya Dhama with the 2 beautiful twins Choy and May! Lucky guy!

Erman and Jesselyn definitely not missing out the fun either! =D

GASP GASP GASP! ahh.. he's not looking my way...

Kaiiten and Anthony Wong!

More Kaiiten and Anthony Wong!

OH YEAH!!! I officially took a photo with Anthony Wong! With his hand on my shoulder!!! weeee!!!!!!

Hey hey! Desmond and Angela getting up close and personal with Cecilia Yip! =)

Shweta and Erman

Sanjoy requesting a toast. Yeah man!

It now gives me the greatest pleasure to thank the people who have made this entire event such a fantastic experience for me.

Teamwork Productions; thanks to Sanjoy, Kartik, Shweta and the rest of the team for showing me the ropes and guiding me along the way. You are the best in what you do and this is what you get: a great team and a very successful event that they can carry proudly on their shoulders wherever they go. Sanjoy, I love your hair. Kartik, don't worry, you still don't look like a Mongolian. Shweta, take a short break; you're working too hard! =)

Kaiiten; thank you Angela, Desmond, Chuifun and the entire dedicated team for making this event an extra-special one. Logistics are a nightmare to me and it still baffles me how you guys can accomplish such a mighty task like this! Just like Teamwork, you guys are made for the job and no one else can do it better than you can! Oh yes... about that group photo with Anthony Wong, I'm going to photoshop my face on everyone of you... highest bidder gets their face revealed. HAHAHA! Just kidding. =p Special thanks to Angela, you have been keeping track of the blog(although you hardly make you presence felt 'cos you didn't tag =p) and keeping me updated on my little errors every now and then. =)

Thanks to everyone else for making this a complete success! Cheerios for now; till next year when we meet again for the 3rd Asian Festival of First Films!

2006-12-07T18:35:00.000+08:00

2006 ASIAN FESTIVAL OF 1^st FILMS ANNOUNCES 10 AWARDS TO RISING ASIAN FILM TALENTS

“The Road” from China Hat-Tricks with Triple Awards for Best Film, Best Screenplay and Foreign Correspondents Association Choice “Purple Orchid” Award

Singapore, 6 December 06 – First-time filmmakers who aspire to succeed won glittering crystal awards at the star-studded closing award ceremony of the Asian Festival of 1^st Films held on 6 December 2006 at the Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel. 22 feature films and documentaries from 13 countries were screened daily at Golden Village Cinemas and The Arts House. Winners of the 9 Category Awards and Foreign Press Correspondents Choice were presented tonight after a week-long festival from the 30 November – 5 December 2006.

In an impressive hat-trick, 3 awards of the 10 award categories for Best Film, Best Screenplay and Foreign Press Choice’s “Purple Orchid” Award were bagged by “The Road” (China), a beautiful love story spanning 3 decades.

For the two categories of Best Producer and Best Director, the jury decided to give the awards to both Ramakant Gaikwad for Dombivli Fast (India) & Lam Nguyen and Ham Tran for Journey from the Fall (USA).

The event was attended by a celebrity crowd comprising the local and regional who’s who as well as a large spectrum of well-established, Academy and Bafta award-winning members of the international film community.

Tonight’s panel of presenters included acting veteran Hong Kong-based Anthony Wong of John Woo’s Hard Boiled, world-renowned actress and Bafta award-winning Gina McKee of Notting Hill, local actress Wong Li Lin with MediaCorp Television, Dr Christopher Chia, CEO (Media Development Authority) and Daniel Yun, CEO (Raintree Pictures). The jury include Cecilia Yip from Hong Kong; two-time Academy award winner James V. Hart from the USA, Ketan Mehta from India, two-time Bafta award winner Michael Yorke from the UK and Volker Langhoff from Germany.

The summary of awards presented at the ceremony is as follows:

Best Screenplay

Zhang Jiarui & Daju Yuan for “The Road”(China)

Best Director

Ramakant Gaikwad for “Dombivli Fast” (India) & Lam Nguyen for “Journey from the Fall” (USA)

Best Producer

Ramakant Gaikwad for Dombivli Fast (India) & Lam Nguyen for “Journey from the Fall” (USA)

Best Actor Male

Le Go in “The Road in the Air” (Taiwan)

Best Actor Female

Kangana Ranaut in “Gangster” (India)

Best Cinematographer

Tassaduq Hussain for “Omkara” (India) & Bobby Singh for “Gangster” (India)

Best Documentary

“One Show Less” (India) produced by Nayantara Kotian

Best Director Of Documentary

Roseanne Liang, “Banana in a Nutshell” (New Zealand)

Best Film

“The Road” (China)

Foreign Correspondents Association Choice “Purple Orchid” Award

The Road (China)

Winners each received a dazzling Swarovski trophy designed by Swarovski especially for AFFF, by Sanjay Sharma, who has designed trophies for many prestigious events including the 2004 ICC Awards – the “Oscars of Cricket”. They additionally received an exclusive Raymond Weil timepiece.

Prizes:

Best Film – cash + trophy + watch

Best Director – cash + trophy + watch + SAE short audio or film course of their choice

Best Producer - trophy + watch + SAE short audio or film course of their choice

Best Cinematographer – trophy + watch + SAE short audio or film course of their choice

For more information on the AFFF, please log on to www.asianfirstfilms.com or visit the blog at www.afff2006.blogspot.com.

About the Presenters

GINA MCKEE

Fairly well-known in her native Britain for her work on such television series as Our Friend in the North, The Brass Eye, and The Lenny Henry Show, Gina McKee started earning recognition among transatlantic audiences with her work in a series of films during the late '90s.

McKee made her film debut in 1988, when she had a bit part as a nurse in Ken Russell's Lair of the White Worm, a camp-fest starring a then-unknown Hugh Grant. Although McKee would eventually work with Grant again eleven years later in Notting Hill, in the meantime she played bit roles in such films as The Rachel Papers (1989) and Mike Leigh's Naked (1993). In 1999 McKee could be seen in a major role in the aforementioned Notting Hill; over the course of that same year, she did more substantial work in Michael Winterbottom's ensemble family drama Wonderland, and Women Talking Dirty, the latter of which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. McKee also had secondary roles in Mike Figgis' The Loss of Sexual Innocence and Luc Besson's The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc.

ANTHONY WONG

Anthony Wong is one of the most talented actors in Hong Kong He made his debut in screen in 1986 in a movie Kiss me Goodbye (Lian ai ji jie). In 1982 he got his first nomination in HK film awards for supporting role in Now You See Love, Now You Don't. In 1999 he won his second best actor award from the Beast Cops. Anthony has directed himself 2 movies, New Tenant in 199 and Top Banana Club 1996. Anthony is mostly known from his villain parts like in John Woo's Hard Boiled.

About the Jury

CECILIA YIP (HONG KONG)

Of her impressive repertoire of 45 feature length films to date, Cecilia Yip has snagged the Best Actress Award in the 3^rd and 7^th Hong Kong Film Awards and the ‘Best Supporting Actress Award, in the 11th Hong Kong Film Awards. She has been awarded the ‘Best Actress Award’ in the 27th Golden Horse Award for the film This Thing Call Love acted in television programmes in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the P.R.C. and was nominated in the 30th Taiwan Golden Bell ‘Best Actress Award’ for her performance in the television series Heaven Sword Versus Dragon Sabre. She has also performed on stage with lead roles in four plays in Hong Kong.

JAMES V. HART (USA)

James is an award-winning scriptwriter from Hollywood. His writing/producing credits include; Hook, directed by Steven Spielberg, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Muppet Treasure Island & Jack And The Beanstalk: The Real Story, directed by Brian Henson, Contact, directed by Robert Zemeckis, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, directed by Kenneth Branagh as producer with Coppola and John Veitch, also directed by Brian Henson, a Jim Henson/CBS mini-series, Tuck Everlasting, directed by Jay Russell for Disney with Sir Ben Kingsley, Sissy Spacek, William Hurt.

KETAN MEHTA (INDIA)

Ketan Mehta's very first film Bhavni Bhavai won him instant acclaim. His movies have been selected for various international film festivals such as Nantes (France) and the Moscow Film Festival, where his movies have won numerous awards over the years, including: Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Jury, Best Film.

Mirch Masala was one of Ketan Mehta's triumphant efforts which won him the Best Film Award at Hawaii. It was released to 52 cinemas in the United States.

MICHAEL YORKE (UK)

Michael Yorke is a filmmaker, photographer, writer and anthropologist. He has made 24 documentaries for television and won many awards including the San Francisco Golden Gate Award, two Royal Television Society awards, a BAFTA nomination, the UN Environmental Award, the National Geographic Earthwatch Award, and the BBC Asia Award.

As an academic anthropologist and a documentary filmmaker, his focus has been to educate and inform viewers on the value of other cultures’ knowledge heritage.

VOLKER LANGHOFF (GERMANY)

Volker was awarded a scholarship with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (A.M.P.A.S.), the award-giving body responsible for the Oscars. Among his long list of credits are the 1993 film Estelle, the 2001 B-52, and Uprising '89, Dresden, which won the Golden Dove award in the International Week of Documentaries and Short Films in Leipzig.

About Teamwork Productions

Teamwork is a highly versatile entertainment company, with roots in the performing arts, social action, and the corporate world. Our expertise lies in the area of entertainment including Television, Film – documentary and feature, Event Management, Social Communication, Creation and Development of Contemporary Performing and Visual Arts Festivals across the world and in nurturing new talent across arts forms.

Teamwork Films, India, Teamwork Productions Singapore, Teamwork Films Pvt Ltd UK, Friends of Music and TWF Arts Society and liaison offices in Hong Kong and New York have initiated a wide range of projects in Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, UK and USA.

About Asia Media Festival 2006

The Asia Media Festival (AMF) 2006 is a media fiesta held from 13 November to 1 December 2006 comprising events for both trade professionals and consumers. The festival features anchor trade events such as the Asia Television Forum, Asia Film Market & Conference, Asia Animation, Media Financing Forum, Asian Television Awards and the Asian Festival of 1st Films. AMF 2006 also includes an array of exciting workshops, conferences and exhibitions for both media enthusiasts and practitioners. Running parallel to the trade events is MEDIAction!, an outreach initiative organised by Media Development Authority to inspire the general public to discover the benefits and possibilities that media can offer for work, learning and play. More information on AMF 2006 can be found at www.asiamediafestival.com.

+++

Issued on behalf of Asian Festival of 1^st Films

For media enquiries, please contact:

Ms Angela Sim

Kaiiten Communications Pte Ltd

Tel : +65 6225 4782 / HP: +65 9698 8485

Email : angela@kaiiten.com

2006-12-06T15:24:00.000+08:00

Oh wee! Tonight's the night! The Awards Night of the 2nd Asian Festival of First Films! We are going to expect some really big and important personnel tonight, from recipients of the winners of the various categories, directors, and the biggest person I'm most looking forward to meet; Anthony Wong!!! =D

So people, who do you think should win the Bests? Here are the nominees again.

Best Film
-Dombivli Fast
-The Road
-Maskot
-Journey from the fall

Best Producer
-Dombivli Fast
-The Road
-Men Suddenly in Black 2
-Journey from the fall

Best Director
-Dombivli Fast
-Bliss
-Bite of Love
-Journey from the fall

Best Cinematographer
-Becoming Royston
-Omkara
-Gangster
-Lost or Found

Best Male Actor
-Bliss
-Becoming Royston
-The Road in the Air

Best Female Actor
-Gangster
-Bliss
-Journey from the fall
-Sringaram - Dance of love

Best Screenplay/Script
-The Road
-Maskot
-Go Go G Boys
-Becoming Royston

Best Documentary
-Bagher Baccha
-One Show Less
-A Hero's Journey
-House No. 103

Best Director of Documentary
-Banana in a Nutshell
-Jonathan
-Don't Cry
-All about our mothers

2006-12-06T11:43:00.000+08:00

The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros

The film opened with the young Maximo Oliveros sashaying down the street. And since I’ve just come off fresh watching “Go Go G Boys”, I had thought that I was going to watch a film about a young boy exploring homosexuality.

But once again, I was surprised.

I found the way they portrayed the delicate balance of family versus society’s moral values very simple but complex in its concept.

The director made it so easy to understand the internal conflict that Maximo goes through even though the character hardly says anything. And within that, there is an intricacy in which the lines are carefully blurred.

And there really is no good or bad ending – just a very real one.

An accurate fictional reflection of reality, the film shows that it doesn’t take great characters and grand overtures to make a solid statement that throws a solid punch to the gut.

Just a boy, the streets he grew up on, and the man (or woman) he hopes to become.

Reviewed by our resident reviewer Tammi Kwok

2006-12-05T10:06:00.000+08:00

A Night @ Q Bar

It was a night of glitz, glamour, and grandeur. It was a night where the Big People of the festival come down and chill out, mingle with others and garner new contacts to broaden their business horizon. AGAIN I felt rather small just holding my camera.

The 2 designers trying to convince they are of age.
KIDDING! haha.

It started out with me at the entrance of Q Bar, speaking to Angela of Kaiiten about promotion banners. After getting some yellow wristbands which I thought were tags to signify that I was underage ~twiddles thumbs~, I saw Angela receive one as well then I realised it was to show that we are part of the festival and are entitled to several privileges.

After a few drinks and nibbling some of finger food, I went around with Erman requesting for photographs for the AFFF blog, which almost all had no qualms about it. In fact, all of the invited guests were friendly and very accommodating. One was a little too accommodating though... wanted something MORE than just an ordinary photograph. HAHA. I will not go into further detail. =p

I saw Roseanne again! I really admire her for the fact that she is able to do a film which is such an emotional rollercoaster, then WATCH yourself hurting. She has that strength to face her turmoils and come to terms with her own situations. And look at her! A small frame, a friendly, ever-smiling face. A shell which resides so much hurt, struggle and frustration, but also immense courage, strength and spirit. I couldn't help but feel awed in her presence.

Some really big important people whose positions in this festival I unfortunately do not know.
Kudos to them though!! =D

And oh yeah! I took a photo with Shweta and Sanjoy! Incredible people, they are! Sanjoy exudes this air of eccentricity and brilliance that I find very respectable; it really is an honour being part of the Festival with him.

Shweta and I. =)

Me, Shweta, Sanjoy.
I want his hair.

And last but definitely not the least, our two designers!
A toast to the festival's success!

2006-12-04T12:56:00.000+08:00

Go Go G Boys

Before you hold your breath and wait for me to POSSIBLY say something controversial or touchy about this film, don't. Because I didn't watch it. =p However, a review by our resident film reviewer Tammi Kwok has been done up, so take a look!

Alright alright, here was how things went. I was at the Arts House with Erman slightly late for the film. Since it wasn't nice to barge into the screening, and since I was a little apprehensive of the whole prospect of watch this film(and other things related actually), we didn't go in. Kartik was saying that the gay community of Singapore bought most of the tickets and a full house was resulted.

Being severely underexposed to the varieties of sexual preferences, I was naturally(and very) naive and didn't really know how to respond to these new experiences. I have always kept myself open to everything in life so that I can fully appreciate the happenings around me, and more importantly, not to harbour or form ridiculous prejudices or misconceptions due to the lack of understanding.

However, this was a true test. I am not saying that I AM harbouring inappropriate judgements about gays, but I'm just not ready to face the fact that I am about to interact with people with the opposite sexual preferences as I have.

It's just about being different.

It's about having people around us who vehemently oppose homosexuals with little or inadequate basis. People who ridicule and spite them for the very fact that they are different. These mentalities are. sad to say, contagious. They are still the same, but with different preferences, like how I prefer lounge music but you may not. We don't ridicule others because of their different tastes in music, right?

But why are we still in constant discrimination? This applies to everything else. Race, religion, even down to the colour of our skin.

The festival has so far shown films depicting varying degrees of discrimination and is trying not only to showcase and promote the directors of the films, but also a platform to create awareness of the conflicts that the directors are trying to tell of the world around them.

If we are all to embrace each others' difference with an open heart and mind, maybe we wouldn't be living in such troubled times.

If only we choose to love.

2006-12-03T11:17:00.000+08:00

Banana in a Nutshell
It's funny how love can sometimes be an endearing life-changing experience, which one's memories linger tantalisingly for the rest of one's life. It can be beautiful, enchanting and even surreal; a blissful state of comfort in epic proportions. However, it can also be harrowing, perilous and unsettling, as how Roseanne Liang exquisitely portrayed in a heartfelt and emotional, yet humourous documentary of her struggles with winning her parents' acceptance of her white boyfriend, while at the same time maintaining their lives together.

I personally find this film particularly significant in the film festival as although being Chinese, I can hardly speak fluent Chinese, let alone read or write it proficiently. My language ability goes only as far as the education I've been provided with. But to be competent in the language, I feel that one should know the origins of the language, the various styles, the multitude of proverbs and sayings; to UNDERSTAND your language from within. Something that I have regretfully not accomplish in my learning of the Chinese language and the Chinese culture.

We often take our cultural identities very much for granted; hardly knowing such a tradition exists because it just does; barely understanding why certain rules and regulations must be conformed to just because we should. Watching this film made me realise how much of my cultural identity I've neglected, and how much I do not understand.

Although the film talks about the struggles of a relationship between a Chinese woman and a white guy, it also emphasises greatly on the importance of filial piety, familial respect and gratitude. Roseanne's monologue in one scene tugged several raw nerves in the theatre when she spoke about the parents portraying their love for their children. Western parents would kiss their children even though they are adults or near-adults, and say "I love you" before shooing them off to work or school. On the flip side, most Eastern parents would not openly say "I love you" to their children, let alone kiss them farewell for work or school or wherever for that matter. Instead, they would prepare your breakfast every morning, cook your egg exactly how you wanted it, press your clothes(although they will often qualm about you not doing it for yourself), neaten your bedsheets, clean your room; all these show their love for their children, but Roseanne's message was this: "If you can SHOW me so much love, then why don't you just TELL me that you love me?"

A thought-provoking, powerful film. No one should miss it. Catch it at The Arts House at 4pm. Tickets are S$9.50 each.

Jonathan

2006-12-02T13:44:00.001+08:00

Jonathan

Sometimes each of us is afraid of becoming the person we want to be because it does not match the expectations of those dearest to us. Yet when we compromise who we are to try and fit the mould that is created for us, there is a risk that we might never be able to break out of it.

Should we then follow our heads or follow our hearts? Just as Jonathan, the focal character in the story, grapples with this decision, so do we. It’s that perennial question that seems to confound every one of us regardless of the colour of our skin or the country of our origin.

Jonathan is a four-year-old boy who wants to dress up as the “Little Mermaid” for the Purim Festival which commemorates the joyous victory of the Jewish people over their oppressors. During the celebration, many children and even adults dress up in costumes amidst lots of feasting and festivity.

Even as a little boy, Jonathan is well aware of the implications of his decisions. Like Ariel, the mermaid princess, who had to decide between having legs or fins, Jonathan had to choose between dressing up as a princess and dressing up “normally”.

He knows that if he decides to do something out of the ordinary, he might be frowned upon by his family and friends. Jonathan’s father stoutly opposes to his son wearing a dress to Purim and he makes his decision explicit. This completely devastates Jonathan.

With each decision we take, there are consequences to face and sacrifices to make. In its sheer simplicity and innocence, this is a truly endearing film not to be missed.

Find out whether Jonathan finally got to dress up as his favourite “Little Mermaid” at the final screening of the film on 2nd December, Saturday, 4:30p.m at The Arts House.

Reviewed by our resident reviewer Jini

2006-12-02T13:15:00.000+08:00

How do I hush someone who's making too much noise in the cinema?

There are two types of noise-makers to deal with: The Talker, usually a know-it-all who insists on giving everyone a blow-by-blow commentary on the plot; The Muncher, who takes an entire picnic basket into the cinema and annoys everyone with his endless chomping.

The simplest way to deal with both is to move to an empty seat further away once the audience is seated.

If that's not possible, tap the person on the shoulder and say in a non-confrontational manner: "Excuse me, would you mind keeping it down please?"

A quiet "sshh", followed by a smile, is another way. But refrain from doing this repeatedly as you end up adding to the noise yourself.

(Some useful tips brought to you by Urban, The Strait Times, Nov 30th 2006)

2006-12-01T15:25:00.000+08:00

Bliss - 30th Nov @ GV, VivoCity
An unnerving melancholy, coupled with the pathetic state of a family on the brink of utter dysfunction and distraught gives Bliss its cold and harsh demeanor. Bliss represents the pain and struggles of a Chinese family bound by tradition, yet being forced to conform to newer, and more often that not, more difficult circumstances. It shows audiences a side of China that few comprehend, let alone empathize. Director Seng Zhimin uses scenes of crumbling suburbs to such brutality, it emphasizes the dysfunction of the protaganist’s family.

Bliss shows the conflicts within the generations of the family, from the maternal concern of her hooligan son, to striving to make ends meet to care for the family, Bliss is frank, harsh and brutal. Despite the solemn and crude plot exterior, beneath the unwelcoming surface is a heartfelt and comforting film that I will recommend to anyone who is unfamiliar to the life of the Chinese suburbs.

Opening Night 29th Nov

2006-11-30T09:21:00.000+08:00

Opening Night, 29th Nov @ GV, VivoCity

Oh where do I start???

It was a brilliant event, absolutely awe-inspiring. This is another first for me, seeing so many VIPs and well-known personnels from all over the world, coming together to share a common passion. Honestly it was quite intimidating at first, but once everybody loosened up, conversations can be better made, and we'll soon realise that we're not that different after all despite our varied social backgrounds. Photographers were snapping away at people whom I still have not realised the magnitude of their importance in this field; only when I noticed the photographers clinging onto them and snapping away did it dawn on me; whoa, this person must be some key personnel in this thing.

All of a sudden, I felt small and underdressed, like an insignificant shrimp in a huge sea of much larger fish. So this is the high life.

When we were all finally seated in the theatre, Mr Sanjoy invited the Jury of the Festival and gave an impressive introduction of them. I can sense the awe in every person seated, the thrill in realising that there are extremely talented, enterprising and undoubtedly very important people in their midst, seated with them in the very same movie theatre. It was all very surreal, to me at least.

Dombivli Fast was aired. It was a brilliantly-crafted masterpiece. It was powerful, moving and engaging. It speaks of an ordinary man, his life pulled by repetition and trudged on with routine and monotony. Wake up, wash up, kiss the children goodbye, grab his tiffin, wait for the train, work, drink tea by the road, go home, and it repeats. As the tiresome repetition carries on, one can sense the hidden, dire need to break out of this monotony in the protaganist. The film has many layers of symbolism and touches on the issues of idealism and existencialism, about the purpose driven life, on how one sometimes ponder on the reasons to exist, who to serve and who to believe and put their trust in. This reminds me of a quote from one of my favourite movies: "There is no fate but what we make of ourselves".

Interesting film; makes one ponder on the prevelant issues in one's life and society. I love movies that makes you think after watching it. Makes your money worth, gives you something to think about, so that the movie lingers with you for some time even after watching it.

Mmm.

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF! YEAH!!!!

The reception area was packed with important people; all of them shaking hands with each other, speaking to each other about work, and speaking of work, I've managed to capture a few snippets of their conversation. HAHA.

"...so where are you now? Finance? ah..."
"...last I saw you was in that business seminar!..."
"...Did you manage to get that proposal ready?..."
"...I tell you, never get their shares; it's like digging your own grave!"
"...oh my company does financial consultation, here's my namecard..."

It was all adult-talk, I tell you. Not that I'm ALMOST one, of course... ~twiddles fingers~

ANYWAY... here are some exclusive pictures of the star-studded event!

The Asian Festival of First Films poster! So cool!! =DD

The Swarovski Trophy for the would-be winner of the Festival, very proudly brought to you by our official partner, Swarovski Crystals. I wanna get my hands on that... my precious...

Well whaddya know!!! Haha! Alright, I didn't get it, but at least I took a picture with it! I wonder how much it costs... any quotations?

I rubbed shoulders with Cassandra See!! She's a very nice person; bubbly, friendly and charismatic, hence her success in the industry! Weee!

Kartik shared an extremely funny moment with me. Eh, well not him. Just me and Erman, the graphic designer for the festival, thought that the moment was hilarious. Not sure if Kartik noticed though... anyway here is the conversation.

Erman: "Hello Karthik, this is Shawn, your official blogger."
Me : "Great pleasure to meet you sir! ~shakes hands~"
Kartik: "Ah! The euphorian, right? Haha, very good to meet you too!"
~some chatter about the festival blah blah blah~
Kartik: "Hmmm now see here Erman, we have a big problem."
Erman: "Err... what big problem?"
Kartik: "We may not be able to give you the complimentary tickets, because there is a jumble-up and all..."
Erman: "Ahh..."
Kartik: "But don't worry, we'll sort that out ya?" ~smiles broadly~
Me: ~looks at the closest movie poster and decides to crack a dumb joke~ "Happy Feet!"
Kartik: ~smile disappeared~ "No. No, Shawn. The movie has to be related to the festival. That movie is completely not related.

And Erman just stood there, not knowing whether to laugh at me, or to laugh at Kartik. I mean, I was just KIDDING, right... He took it very seriously though, thought that I really wanted to watch Happy Feet instead of the festival films.
I think he'll never see me the same way again. Hahaha.

Toodles for now! More official pictures of the Opening Night coming your way!

2006-11-28T10:39:00.000+08:00

Ways to Become a Worse Movie-Goer

For the social outcast wannabe.
We all hate those who screw up our movie-going experience, from wailing kids to over-crispy chips.
BUT are you one of them?
If in doubt, do make a checklist with the following...

Before the Movies
-Grab all the movie brochures. ALL.
-Develop at least 5 strategies for cutting the ticket queue.
-Insist and persist in telling the ticket lady you're above the age line. When all else fails, RESIST.
-Develop at least 5 strategies for cutting the popcorn queue.
-Complain to the popcorn counter that your half-sweet half-salty tub isn't proportionate.
-Complain to the popcorn counter that your drink isn't filled to the brim.
-Spill your popcorn and drink all over the place, then insist they replace it for free.
-Point excitedly to an 'R' rated film and giggle loudly.

During the Movies
-Start telling the person next to you the entire movie sequence before it starts. Make sure everybody gets to hear it.
-Let everybody know you have at least 6 plastic bags.
-Chew loudly.
-Eat chips with your mouth open.
-In fact, don't stop eating chips throughout the movie.
-The empty chips bag is fun. Play it like the accordian.
-Throw an unpopped kernal away. Try to hit the person 3 rows down on the head.
-When there's a funny moment in the movie, wait till everybody is done laughing, then laugh. Really long and loudly.
-Choke on your drink or popcorn.
-Say really loudly: "This is really boring"
-"SShh" loudly, intermitently, even though the theatre is quiet.
-Bring a hungry, full-bladdered toddler.

After the Movies
-Sure, ask around: "Of my god, did you see that?" DUH, if not why would I spend freaking $10 for me to ask you if I saw that? Like, what, I sat there with my eyes closed for the past 2 hours?

This are the quintessential ways to become a big-ass movie-goer. I feel like I've left something out. If you do know other wonderful ways to become a worse movie-goer, please add them in the Comments.

2006-11-27T07:51:00.000+08:00

It's out in the papers! Finally! =D

Check out http://www.gv.com.sg/Booking/afff06.htm for more fantastic details!

Tickets are priced at $9.50 per session. Plus plus! SFS members are entitled to discounted tickets at S$8.50 per session on production of a valid SFS membership card in person at the GV VivoCity box-office (limited to one discounted ticket per member per session)

So why are you still sitting there waiting?? Get those tickets quick quick!

2006-11-25T20:52:00.000+08:00

Alrighty now! Many of you SHOULD be really jumbly-excited right about now, and SHOULD be wondering how to get those prime tickets to view the films. Well, here they are.

Tickets may be purchased from Golden Village , VivoCity, Levels 2 & 3, VivoCity, HarbourFront Precinct in the following ways:

Book your tickets at AXS Stations. Cut the queue by collecting your tickets via GV COLLECT at any of the 200 AXS Stations island wide anytime after your purchase has been completed.
Call GV's ticket hotline (1900 912 1234)
Through your WAP phone at SingTel's IDEAS site
Online booking at http://www.gv.com.sg/Booking/
Purchase tickets at the box office in all GV cinemas
Visa and eNets are also accepted for online payment. Cash, nets and credit cards for over the counter purchases at the box office.

Tickets will also be sold at The Arts House, The Old Parliament House, 1 Old Parliament Lane , in these ways:

Over the counter - The Arts Box Office

Box Office Operating Hours – Mon till Fri 10am – 8pm , Sat 11am – 8pm , Sun closed

For Sunday events, Box Office closes 1½ hours before showtime.

By Phone – Ticket Hotline (+65) 6332 6919
Email : tickets@toph.com.sg
Cash and all major credit cards accepted.

Venues, dates and times are provided in the previous post on Film Schedules. Check it out! =)

See you there!

2006-11-24T22:40:00.000+08:00

Words From The Blogger!

Hello everybody! ~waves frantically~

The Festival commences in 5 days time! Wee! I really hope you are just as excited about this event as I am, 'cos this is my first time being part of such a glamourous event! Not only do I get to watch the movies, but more importantly, I am part of the team! ~jumps around~

This is also my first time blogging for a company, so I do hope I'm up to the mark. If there's anything dissatisfactory about my blogging, flame the tagboard.

No of course you don't! haha.

Ok serious stuff. It's really quite an honour to be doing up this blog right now, and although the learning curve was a teeeny weeeny steep (ok it was VERY steep, but I pulled through! =D), I learnt so much from the current development of the blog and hey, I still am! To write proposals to the regional and international webmasters of various film festivals to request for blog promotions, to edit HTML from the very fundamentals, even to email to the Big People behind this entire event is quite a groundbreaking revolution for me.

I guarantee you; a lot of hard work is being put into this big kahoona of an event, not just on my part but more importantly, the brilliant minds of the people working tirelessly round the clock the ensure the silky-smooth progress of the Festival, namely the members of Teamwork Productions! Applause please! ~clap clap clap~

How can I contribute my efforts to this paramount event, you may ask. Very simple.

Simply support the AFFF by purchasing tickets for the films listed and write your own reviews as Comments on the AFFF blog. This way, your efforts will make everyone(including me) feel appreciated and loved, and we'll get that warm fuzzy feeling in your tummies. Now THAT'S our source of motivation and our drive!

Last but not least, spread the word of AFFF around! Tell your friends, aunties, uncles, parents-in-law(having several spare tickets will be useful on this one), siblings, neighbours, neighbours' friends, friends of friends, to spend just a decent 5 minutes on the AFFF blog and drop us a comment or tag, be it a review of a movie from the AFFF you've watched or you just have something to say to the wonderful people behind the AFFF, or to me (hehe)!

Cheerios for now! More fantastic updates and quirky entries coming your way REALLY soon!

The Movies Lining Up!

2006-11-23T14:00:00.000+08:00

Catch Maskot at the Asian Festival of First Films! Mumtazz gives you 2 exclusive chances to win a pair of tickets to this screening. Check it out at www.mumtazz.com

This film has been nominated for the Best Film and Best Script at this year's festival. Catch it and be in the know!

A tale of family values, traditions, trust, wealth, self–worth, and love that is sometimes difficult to express.

Dennis has to fulfill his dying father's last wish before he can inherit the family business… to find a new chicken mascot for the company's logo printed on the soy sauce bottles. But his quest becomes a nightmare as his father's assistant Misran does everything he can to stop him from becoming heir.

Dennis embarks on this journey, hoping there is still time to prove his self–worth to his father and the company. The film traces the voyage to self-discovery and achievement through the mundane tasks that are a part of all human struggles.

Mumtazz gives you 3 exclusive chances to win a pair of tickets to this screening. Check it out at www.mumtazz.com

This film has been nominated for the Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress at this year's festival. Catch it and be in the know!

Weathered and misty, much like Chinese politics, Bliss reflects a new kind of family emerging from that country's recent social changes.

The film focuses on the swirling flow of life, from rebellious youth, to suffering maturity, to old age. It is the story of retired policeman Lao Li and his family seeking a new future

Will the newly formed family in the twilight years of Lao's life survive the debris of past memories?
Bliss finds a subdued, charming way to depict its characters' inner landscapes and complex emotions, as the liquid pace accentuates a vision of elegant simplicity. Sheng's storytelling ties his narrative to the fluctuating scenery of a rapidly changing culture, and discovers here the harmony of an accomplished style.

Schedule is out!

2006-11-22T14:12:00.000+08:00

The film schedule is out! People people! Get your tickets soon!
Click on the above image to enlarge.

_______________________________________
Countdown to Festival: 7 more days! =D

The Jury

2006-11-21T22:06:00.000+08:00

CECILIA YIP (HONG KONG)

Of her impressive repertoire of 45 feature length films to date, Cecilia Yip has been nominated for ‘Best Newcomer of The Year Award’ in the 2nd Hong Kong Film Awards for her debut in Patrick Tam Ka-Ming’s Nomad.

In the 3rd Hong Kong Film Awards, Cecilia received the ‘Best Actress Award’ for her role, in Alfred Cheung Kin-Ting’s Let’s Make Laugh. This was followed by her nomination for the ‘Best Actress Award’ in the film Hong Kong 1941, co-starring Chow Yun Fat in the 4th Hong Kong Film Awards. Cecilia was also awarded, in the 7th Hong Kong Film Awards, the ‘Best Supporting Actress Award’ in the film Beyond the Sunset. In the 11th Hong Kong Film Awards, Cecilia was awarded the ‘Best Actress Award’ for her role in This Thing Call Love and was nominated for the ‘Best Supporting Actress Award’ in To Be Number One. She was also nominated for Best Actress Award in the 27th Golden Horse Award for her role in This Thing Call Love. The Film Peace Hotel reunited Cecilia with Chow Yun Fat onscreen for which she was nominated for the ‘Best Actress Award’ in the 15th Hong Kong Film Awards.

In addition to her films, Cecilia has acted in television programmes in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the P.R.C. and was nominated in the 30th Taiwan Golden Bell ‘Best Actress Award’ for her performance in the television series Heaven Sword Versus Dragon Sabre. She has also performed on stage with lead roles in four plays in Hong Kong; Les Liaisons Dangereuses which had a run of six performances, The Wilderness with eight performances, Magic Is The Moonlight which enjoyed a staggering run of 36 performances and most recently, The End of Love Generation with a run of eight performances.

JAMES V. HART (USA)

J.V. Hart started producing independent films in the 1970’s soon after graduating from SMU in Dallas. Hart settled in New York City and began his screenwriting career. His writing/producing credits include; Hook, directed by Steven Spielberg, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Muppet Treasure Island & Jack And The Beanstalk: The Real Story, directed by Brian Henson, Contact, directed by Robert Zemeckis, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, directed by Kenneth Branagh as producer with Coppola and John Veitch, also directed by Brian Henson, a Jim Henson/CBS mini-series, Tuck Everlasting, directed by Jay Russell for Disney with Sir Ben Kingsley, Sissy Spacek, William Hurt.

He recently adapted Clive Cussler’s best selling novel, Sahara, starring fellow Texans, Matthew McConaughey and Steve Zahn with Penelope Cruz. Hart also contributed to Lara Croft-Tomb Raider II for Paramount and Lawrence Gordon Productions.

J.V. is currently writing and producing his first animated spectacle. The new animated epic based on ancient faerie legends for 20th Century Fox will also be a series of books by Hart in 2007. His next release will be in 2007 with August Rush with Robin Williams, Terrence Howard & Jonathan Rhys Meyers and the sci-fi fable, Mim-Z, directed by Robert Shaye.

J.V. has been nominated for the Humanitas Prize as screenwriter on Carl Sagan’s Contact, which also won the HUGO award, and received the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films Saturn Award for Best Screenplay for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. His production of Jack and the Beanstalk: the Real Story also received the Saturn Award from the Academy of Science Fiction for best mini-series in 2001.

KETAN MEHTA (INDIA)

Internationally acclaimed director Ketan Mehta has been referred to as “the brightest talent of the new generation” by the internationally renowned film-maker Satyajit Ray. He has directed 9 feature films including The Rising - Ballad of Mangal Pandey: a historical epic on India’s first war of independence, the Sepoy rebellion of 1857 AD, Sardar: A historical epic on the life of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a pivotal personality in the Indian freedom movement, Maya Memsaab: An Indian adaptation of the French classic–‘Madame Bovary’, Hero Hiralal: A dark comedy about a film buff caught in a media maze and Mirch Masala: A dramatic story of one woman’s resistance of a feudal lord, against all odds.

Ketan Mehta has won various awards including the UNESCO Club Award for Best Film on Human Rights at the Third World Film Festival for the film Bhavni Bhavni, Best Film at the Hawaii Film Festival for Mirch Masala. He has won numerous National & State Awards for his films including Holi, Maya Memsahib, Mirch Masala & Sardar.

Apart from features he has also produced and directed numerous television series and documentaries. Currently he is the Chairman of Maya Entertainment Ltd., one of India’s largest Digital Visual effects and animation facilities. He has also served as a jury member for various film festivals and has been an advisor and a consultant in the field of Audio-Visual Media. He was a member of the advisory board for the Directorate of Film Festivals of India & a member of the Governing Council for the Film and Television Institute of India.

MICHAEL YORKE (UK)

Michael Yorke is a filmmaker, photographer, writer and anthropologist. He has made 24 documentaries for television and won many awards including the San Francisco Golden Gate Award, two Royal Television Society awards, a BAFTA nomination, the UN Environmental Award, the National Geographic Earthwatch Award, and the BBC Asia Award.

As an academic anthropologist and a documentary filmmaker, his focus has been to educate and inform viewers on the value of other cultures’ knowledge heritage.

Foremost among his many productions for broadcasters such as BBC2, Channel 4, Discovery Channel, Canal+, Arte, CNN and NHK have been, Kumbh Mela : The Greatest Show on Earth, a series of 19 ‘as-if-live’ broadcast events from the great pilgrimage on the River Ganges; dubbed ‘the largest human gather ing on earth’, which he devised and directed with a team of 63 in 2001; Peoples’ Planet : What Price Nature?, a 52 minute environmental film ; Ray Mears’ World of Survival : The Coromandel Coast a 29 minute journey with Ray Mears to discover how the fishermen of the East coast of India invented the catamaran and, survive on the palmyra palm in 1998, The End of Eden; a 50 minute exposé of the horrific genocide of the Marsh Arabs of the Southern Iraq and the destruction of one of the world’s great wetland ecosystems in 1995.

He has recently lectured in Visual Anthropology at the LSE, SOAS, Oxford University, Goldsmiths College and Man chester University Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology, and is a member the Royal Anthropological Institute Film Committee. He is currently Director of the Oxford Academy of Documentary Film.

VOLKER LANGHOFF (GERMANY)

Langhoff graduated with a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from HFF Potsdam-Babelsberg, and completed another MFA, from the California Institute of the Arts (CALARTS). Langhoff acquired a special internship in photography with John Bailey, ASC and Laszlo Kovacs, ASC for the movie As Good as it Gets (Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Cuba Gooding, Jr.), and with Harold Ramis for Multiplicity, starring Michael Keaton and Andie MacDowell.

He was awarded a scholarship with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (A.M.P.A.S.), the award-giving body responsible for the Oscars. Among his long list of credits are the 1993 film Estelle, the 2001 B-52, and Uprising '89, Dresden, which won the Golden Dove award in the International Week of Documentaries and Short Films in Leipzig.

Renown Hong Kong veteran actor Anthony Wong Chau-Sang will be flying in for the Awards Night to present the prizes to the winners of the various categories. The outspoken and versatile Anthony Wong Chau-Sang began his acting career at ATV and then attended the Academy of Performing arts. He made his film debut in 1985 and won his first Best Actor Hong Kong film award for that performance. Besides being an multi-award-winning film actor, Anthony Wong has acted in more than 100 films and TV dramas, directed two films, and still has time to release the occasional punk music CD.

The international jury will decide the winners of the following categories;

-Best Film (Producer & Director)
-Best Director
-Best Producer
-Best Cinematographer or Editor
-Best Female Actor
-Best Male Actor
-Best Script/Screenplay
-Best Documentary
-Best Director of Documentary

Up to 36 films (comprising up to 28 feature films and 8 documentaries) will be screened at the Asian Festival of 1st Films to be held from 30th Nov to 7th Dec 2006.

The decisions of the jury will be full and final.

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Countdown to the Festival : 8 more days!

AFFF 2006 - In Conversation (25th Sept)

2006-10-19T18:35:00.000+08:00

Budding Asian filmmakers across the world can still rejoice and take comfort that their first-time efforts will continue to be recognised by major players in the regional film industry. Offering unique and unprecedented opportunities to amateur filmmakers in a prestigious showcase, the Asian Festival for First Films (AFFF) turns the spotlights onto new and rising talents in order to offer them critical exposure and in turn, inspire potential filmmakers to take their first steps into the industry.

As a precursor to the AFFF’s screenings of the nominated films, a forum with eminent filmmakers in the region was held at the Singapore Media Academy (SMA) on Monday (28th September) that aimed to open up a dialogue with attending students, film enthusiasts and media professionals about the distinctive process of filmmaking in Asia.

The acclaimed panellists, who are also part of this year’s selection committee, included Raymond Lee (Philippines), Daw Ming Lee (Taiwan), Alex Law (Hong Kong), Kunal Kohli (India) and Sirkka Moeller (UK/Germany) with Sanjoy Roy, the festival director who served as the forum’s moderator.

Perhaps underlining the fundamental nature of the festival, Alex Law, a veteran writer/producer/director with Hong Kong’s film industry said that passion is the first and foremost criterion that any filmmaker should possess, especially young ones. Driving home his point, he extolled the positives of his craft by saying that the surprises his job brings are rewards to him. Alex also encouraged promising directors in the region to start writing their own scripts by way of the ‘auteur’ style of filmmaking and cited Akira Kurosawa, no less, as an exemplar of success.

Playing a key role in the forum with her strong views, Sirkka Moeller who has worked in festivals the world over, surprised the guests and the audience by exposing the cynical nature of film distribution in the world in regards to financial backing and interests but impressed upon young filmmakers a caveat, “Choose a subject which you feel strongly in, and not one that you think you can make money from.”

She also had more advice for them when it comes to getting recognition in the industry. “You have to break the mould and have a unique voice,” said Sirkka. She added that films must be different and should be worked towards an audience in terms of having style and substance.

Addressing the burgeoning embrace of documentaries after high profile box office hits like “The March of the Penguins” and “Fahrenheit 9/11”, Daw Ming Lee, a professor at the Taipei National University of the Arts and one of Taiwan’s most influential film scholars, finds that the best and most accepted documentaries are the ones that depict life and reaches for social awakenings in audiences by “telling stories right”.

Also responding to the higher responses in documentaries, Sirkka added that filmmakers must have strong bonds with their subjects and need to have more discipline in their approach when it comes to forming a cohesive idea during the production of a documentary.

Kunal Kohli is arguably the biggest young director in Bollywood with a string of commercial hits to his name. He shared with us his experiences of being a film critic on a popular television programme, “Chalo Cinema” in India before he took his big step into writing and directing.

Claiming that he prefers to cater to the masses, he has always taken the populist view on cinema and uses that very attitude in the way he approaches his “masala” films - by valuing the opinions of the common moviegoer over those of critics. Kunal also finds that Asian cinema often feed on the influences of each other and prompted the industry to “make the world smaller” by using the examples of filmmakers abroad.

On the subject of exploring their process and some of the restrictions they faced in their country while coming up with ideas, Kunal said that India has now opened up in terms of higher quality scripts and story ideas, with performers that also see the virtue of honing their acting skills by choosing better roles instead of being typecast as it was in previous years.

Raymond Lee also shares this belief of a maturing film industry in Asia. He is the producer and co-writer of last year’s top prize (Best Film) winner at the AFFF, “The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros". The film has also won honours at film festivals held in Berlin, Rotterdam, Turin, and Montreal as well as being Philippines’ official Oscar entry for 2007.

Said Raymond: “Back in Philippines, we used to start with the casting first [the star system] and then see which genre we could fit them in before writing the script. Now we try to reverse the process. The films that make the most money are the ones that usually take risks and festivals are the best place for films to debut because these risks are generally accepted there.”
Kunal and Raymond further explained how important a director/producer’s rapport with the crew and stringent financial concerns actually are. Especially in small budget films when pre-production planning can make or break the entire movie. This prompted Alex to leave us with an insightful piece of allegory by relating a film as a child to the nurturing mother (director) and to the caring breadwinner father (producer).

The second AFFF will once again be held in Singapore after the relative success of its inaugural effort last year, which drew 250 film submissions from over 50 countries. The previous year’s winners have gone on to compete in prestigious competitions in Berlin and Sundance among others, achieving numerous accolades along the way.

Building on its momentum, this year’s AFFF had received more than 300 entries and will be held from 29th November till the 7th of December 2006 as part of the year’s Asia Media Festival. The nominated films will be screened at various Golden Village cinemas around the island as well as the Arts House, concluding in a glitzy awards ceremony graced by celebrities.