News and Notes: September 27, 2007

All Geared Up for the Asian Film Market 2007

Pusan International Film Festival
From grandmothers and getai (song stage) to exploring spaces and examining life in the red-light district – Singapore-made movies are all set to wow audiences at the 12th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) in Korea from 4-12 October.

A record of five Singapore-made films have been selected for screening at the event, which is considered one of the world’s most vibrant and influential film festivals. They are:

881 by Royston Tan
Ah Ma (Grandma) by Anthony Chen
Invisible City by Tan Pin Pin
Kuaile Gongchang (Pleasure Factory) by Ekachai Uekrongtham
Solos by Lume Kan and Loo Zi Han

Of these, 881 and Invisible City will be making their international debut. 881, which has raked in impressive box office sales, vividly portrays the extravagant getai shows that accompany the Hungry Ghost festival. It will be screened in the Gala Presentation section.

Ah Ma – which won a Special Mention Award in the Palme d’Or Short Film Award at Cannes Film Festival 2007 – will screen in the Wide Angle – Asian Shorts 1 category. Invisible City, a documentary that explores Singapore life through its spaces, will be featured in the Wide Angle – Documentary category. Kuaile Gongchang will showcase at the Midnight Passion section while Solos will screen at A Window on Asian Cinema category.

Pusan Promotion Plan
The knives are out! Well, actually, Knife is in! The Singapore-Thailand-China action-drama project by LeBrocquy Fraser Productions was selected for the 10th Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP). Held in conjunction with the Pusan International Film Festival, the PPP is a project market for Asian independent film projects and promising directors and producers to explore opportunities with potential co-producers and financiers. Filmed in High-Definition, Knife tells the story of an outcast soldier as he attempts to rescue his daughter from a gang. A total of 34 other projects have been selected for PPP 2007.

Asian Film Market 2007
The Media Development Authority and the Singapore Film Commission have teamed up again in the effort to make sure that all eyes are on Singapore-made films during this year’s Asian Film Market, also held in Pusan. The two agencies will jointly field a delegation of local film, distribution and production firms to showcase Singapore cinema.

Singapore companies participating in the event, to be held from 8-11 October, include Blinding Sight Media, LeBrocquy Fraser Productions, Monsoon Pictures, Wormwood Pictures and World Without Borders. Most of the Singapore-made projects will be making their market debut. To Speak, by Craig Ower, a drama based on the true story of a Cambodian girl, was featured at the Montreal World Film Festival 2007. 年.月.日 (Year. Month. Day), a feature film trilogy and 微笑不见了 (You Are My Sunshine), an animation feature to be directed by Edward Foo, have garnered the interest of, and will be co-produced with, China producers.