8TH NATIONAL YOUTH FILM AWARDS

CONTENT 26. 06. 08. 36. 10. 46. 22. 12. *SCAPE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE LIVE ACTION AWARDS & PRIZES ANIMATION NYFA YOUTH INSPIRATION AWARD RECIPIENT MESSAGE JURY MEMBERS PROGRAMME PARTNER MESSAGE DOCUMENTARY STUDENT NOMINEES

58. 68. 78. 90. 88. LIVE ACTION ANIMATION PARTNERS & SPONSORS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS DOCUMENTARY OPEN YOUTH NOMINEES

25 AUGUST 2022 ONWARDS

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07 2022 marks the 8th edition of the National Youth Film Awards (NYFA). Drawing from this 8-year milestone, the theme this year represents the concept of “infinity” – a reflection of the never-ending pursuit of honing one’s filmmaking skills as well as *SCAPE’s commitment to support and open new doors for aspiring young filmmakers in Singapore. NYFA 2022 has received a large number of quality entries showcasing the talent of our young filmmakers. Many of the stories touched on pertinent social issues at the heart of the Singaporean society, with numerous submissions carrying a common theme of compassion in adversity. This comes at a time when it is most needed, after the isolation caused by the pandemic and a renewed focus on a more understanding and compassionate society with the launch of the nationwide ‘Forward Singapore’ movement. The *SCAPE Film Facilitation Programme (FFP), which seeks to empower young filmmakers with funding support and mentorship, has made a global footprint. Many of our alumni from the FFP have gone on to screen their films at international film festivals and clinched nominations at prestigious film awards. To aid youths further in meeting the challenges of the film industry, *SCAPE has also launched new initiatives like the NYFA Series Pitch Lab, which provides a head start to aspiring series writers, the LAB x Music: Music Scoring for Film which helps musicians diversify their pathways into the film industry, and MOV:MENT Lab, a dance film programme for dancers and choreographers keen on expanding their skillsets in videography and storytelling. To all the youths who participated in NYFA 2022, we hope you’ve had a great experience. To the nominees and winners, we extend our sincere congratulations! You have demonstrated strength in the face of adversity and inspired us with all your stories. We hope that NYFA will serve as an inspiration for you to keep striving for even greater heights through your works. Keep that fervent spirit alive and we look forward to celebrating more of your achievements with you in the years to come. Ivy Lim Executive Director *SCAPE Co., Ltd. *SCAPE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE

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09 PROGRAMME PARTNER MESSAGE The 8th edition of the National Youth Film Awards (NYFA) continues to spotlight stories createdby young filmmakers in Singapore. Over the years, these young talents have experimented withdifferent approaches and genres, offering a diverse range of short films from personalnarratives, to daily observations, or offbeat tales. They offer us a glimpse into the evolving socialand cultural local landscape, and the issues that resonate with them. NYFA is the only national award in Singapore that champions young filmmakers, and has beenan important platform for many art and media creatives. Objectifs is honoured to be theprogramme partner of NYFA again this year, working together with *SCAPE to provide valuablesupport and space to young filmmakers to share their stories. Leong Puiyee Senior Manager Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film Emmeline Yong Director Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film

10 STUDENT CATEGORY BEST DOCUMENTARY BEST DIRECTOR BEST ART DIRECTION BEST SCREENPLAY AWARD BEST ANIMATION MOST PROMISING AWARD • S$1,000 Cash • S$500 worth of vouchers for Professional Short Programmes in Art, Design, and Technology presented by MAGES • S$300 Cathay Photo Accessories Voucher presented by Cathay Photo • S$1,000 Cash • S$500 worth of vouchers for Professional Short Programmes in Art, Design, and Technology presented by MAGES • S$500 worth of vouchers for Professional Short Programmes in Art, Design, and Technology presented by MAGES • Stage Air V2 worth S$69 presented by Creative • S$1,000 Cash • S$500 worth of vouchers for Professional Short Programmes in Art, Design, and Technology presented by MAGES • S$300 Cathay Photo Accessories Voucher presented by Cathay Photo • S$1,000 Cash • 1 x DCP + the winner’s film to be made available on Apple TV / iTunes movie store for purchase and rent - TVOD) worth S$2,000 presented by Mocha Chai Laboratories • S$500 worth of vouchers for Professional Short Programmes in Art, Design, and Technology presented by MAGES BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY BEST LIVE ACTION BEST PERFORMANCE BEST SOUND DESIGN BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC BEST EDITING • S$1,000 Cash • 2-day Short Film Final Cinema Mix in Dolby-certified dubbing theatre (including theatrical & online deliverables) worth S$7,000 presented by Mocha Chai Laboratories • AT2020USB condenser mic + M20x headphones worth S$323 presented by Audio Technica • Outlier Pro worth S$119 presented by Creative • S$1,000 Cash • Sony FX-3 worth S$5,899 presented by Sony • S$500 Cathay Photo Accessories Voucher presented by Cathay Photo • S$1,000 Cash • S$500 worth of vouchers for Professional Short Programmes in Art, Design, and Technology presented by MAGES • S$300 Cathay Photo Accessories Voucher presented by Cathay Photo • S$1,000 Cash • S$500 worth of vouchers for Professional Short Programmes in Art, Design, and Technology presented by MAGES • The Actors’ Society one-year membership worth S$75 • S$1,000 Cash • AT2020USB condenser mic and M20x headphones worth S$323 presented by Audio Technica • Zen Hybrid worth S$149 presented by Creative • S$1,000 Cash • S$500 worth of vouchers for Professional Short Programmes in Art, Design, and Technology presented by MAGES • S$1,000 Cash • Professional script consultation (60-90min) with an experienced SAS screenwriter member and complimentary SAS membership for 1 year worth S$500 presented by Screenwriters Association (Singapore) • S$500 worth of vouchers for Professional Short Programmes in Art, Design, and Technology presented by MAGES

11 OPEN YOUTH CATEGORY BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY BEST LIVE ACTION BEST SOUND DESIGN BEST DOCUMENTARY BEST DIRECTOR BEST ART DIRECTION BEST SCREENPLAY AWARD BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC BEST ANIMATION BEST PERFORMANCE BEST EDITING • S$1,000 Cash • AT2020USB condenser mic + M20x headphones worth S$323 presented by Audio Technica • Outlier Pro worth S$119 presented by Creative • S$1,000 Cash • S$500 worth of vouchers for Professional Short Programmes in Art, Design, and Technology presented by MAGES • S$300 Cathay Photo Accessories Voucher presented by Cathay Photo • S$1,000 Cash • Professional script consultation (60-90min) with an experienced SAS screenwriter member and complimentary SAS membership for 1 year worth S$500 presented by Screenwriters Association (Singapore) • S$500 worth of vouchers for Professional Short Programmes in Art, Design, and Technology presented by MAGES • S$1,000 Cash • Sony Alpha 7 IV with 28-70mm kit lens worth S$3,899 presented by Sony • S$500 Cathay Photo Accessories Voucher presented by Cathay Photo • S$1,000 Cash • Short Film Online Colourgrading cum DCP package worth S$10,000 presented by Mocha Chai Laboratories • S$500 worth of vouchers for Professional Short Programmes in Art, Design, and Technology presented by MAGES • S$1,000 Cash • AT2020USB condenser mic and M20x headphones worth S$323 presented by Audio Technica • Zen Hybrid worth S$149 presented by Creative • S$1,000 Cash • S$500 worth of vouchers for Professional Short Programmes in Art, Design, and Technology presented by MAGES • S$,1000 Cash • S$500 worth of vouchers for Professional Short Programmes in Art, Design, and Technology presented by MAGES • The Actors’ Society one-year membership worth S$75 • S$1,000 Cash • S$500 worth of vouchers for Professional Short Programmes in Art, Design, and Technology presented by MAGES • S$300 Cathay Photo Accessories Voucher presented by Cathay Photo • S$1,000 Cash • 1 x DCP + the winner’s film to be made available on Apple TV / iTunes movie store for purchase and rent - TVOD) worth S$2,000 presented by Mocha Chai Laboratories • S$1,000 Cash • S$500 worth of vouchers for Professional Short Programmes in Art, Design, and Technology presented by MAGES

12 12 STUDENT PRE-SELECTION JURY Duong Dieu Linh Linh DUONG is a Vietnamese filmmaker who takes special interest in the unconventional depiction of sad, angsty and naggy middle- aged women. Her series of shorts, which is a good blend between her signature quirky sense of humour and magical realism elements, have been competing and winning awards at prestigious film festivals around the world. Linh previously attended Berlinale Talents in 2020, Asian Film Academy in 2016, Locarno Summer Academy and Bucheon Fantastic Film School in 2015. Beside her new venture into short series in 2022, Linh is also developing her first feature, DON’T CRY, BUTTERFLY, which won Moulin D’andé-CECI Award in 2019 and participated in Full Circle Lab 2020, Less Is More 2021, Locarno Open Doors Hub 2021 as well as Berlinale Co-production market 2022. Ghazi Alqudcy Ghazi Alqudcy holds a Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking from film.factory, an intensive programme created by the Hungarian film director Béla Tarr. He has produced more than 55 short films, which screened at various film festivals in Europe and Asia. In 2014, he produced a feature length omnibus documentary “Lost in Bosnia” - a collective poem about the act of filmmaking at a critical, (film-)historical moment. His directorial debut feature film, “Temporary Visa”, was awarded Best Film (Discovery Section) at the Asian Film Festival Barcelona. Koo Chia Meng Trained as a filmmaker, Chia Meng has been actively involved in various aspects of film production since 2009. His short films ‘Andrew’ and ‘After Noon’ were official selections at regional film festivals including Bangkok ASEAN Film Festival, Singapore International Film Festival, Singapore Shorts ‘21 and Minikino Film Week. Chia Meng was also Casting Director for Singaporean feature films such as Boo Junfeng’s ‘Apprentice’ (2016), Anthony Chen’s ‘Ilo Ilo’ (2013) and ‘Wet Season’ (2019). As Multimedia Designer, Chia Meng’s credits include productions by W!ld Rice, The Finger Players, Drama Box, Toy Factory, The TENG Company, Warner Music Singapore and Singapore Repertory Theatre. Chia Meng then ventured into larger scale shows like Ah Boys To Men: The Musical, Michael Learns To Rock 25: Live in Singapore as well as National Day Parade. At the Straits Times Life Theatre Awards 2019, Chia Meng and co-designer Andrew Robert Ng were awarded Best Multimedia for their work on W!ld Rice’s ‘Supervision’.

13 13 Vincent Quek Vincent Quek is the founder of Anticipate Pictures, a Singapore film distribution company that focuses on bringing arthouse, independent films and documentaries from around the world into the Singapore market for meaningful distribution. Notable releases include Memoria, The Worst Person in the World, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, and The Rescue. Before Anticipate, he worked at The Substation, a non-profit arts centre for the now-defunct Moving Images Programme, which championed local filmmakers’ works in Singapore and overseas. He holds a B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) in Film Production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Lavender Chang Lavender Chang’s focus lies in conceptual photography. Lavender’s artwork is a reflection of the sensitivity towards the subtle nuances surrounding her. Chang’s works have been exhibited at the International Orange Photo Festival, China in 2010, the Kuala Lumpur International Photo Awards in 2011, Singapore Art Museum, and Sundaram Tagore Gallery New York in 2014. In 2016, she had her solo exhibition in Society Generale at Alliance Française de Singapour, exhibited at Mizuma Gallery and The Singapore Art Show. In 2017, she had exhibitions at The Arts House and ADM Gallery in Singapore and Gajah Gallery in Yogyakarta. In 2019, at Objectifs- Center for Photography and Film, and Art Porters Gallery, and the 10th-anniversary exhibition of ION Arts’ Young Talent Programme, YTP REUNITE during Singapore Art Week. And solo exhibition at Art Porters Gallery and a solo exhibition commissioned by Alliance Française de Singapour for its 70th anniversary. In 2022, solo exhibition at FOST Gallery. Lai Junjie Lai Junjie is a development executive with WarnerMedia, working on its growing slate of original productions in Southeast Asia. Recent projects have involved HBO titles spanning the region including documentary Traffickers: Inside the Golden Triangle, which won Best Documentary Series at the Asian Academy Creative Awards 2021, and the anthology series Invisible Stories, Folklore and Food Lore. Prior to WarnerMedia, he was at mm2 Entertainment for 7 years where he worked in different departments to develop a solid foundation across the industry including creative development, funding, production of feature films, shorts and TVCs, as well as marketing and distribution.

14 OPEN YOUTH PRE-SELECTION JURY Russell Morton Russell Morton is a Singaporean filmmaker whose work mobilises Southeast Asian folkloric figures and rituals while enmeshing mythological narratives and existential concerns. The short film Saudade (2020) was screened at several international film festivals including the 31st Singapore International Film Festival (2020), 28th Sheffield Doc Fest (2021), 25th Fantasia International Film Festival (2021), 29th Raindance Film Festival (2021). Morton was also the Director of Photography for Ang Song Ming’s Recorder Rewrite, Singapore’s entry to the 58th Venice Biennale and Jow Zhi Wei’s upcoming feature film, Tomorrow Is A Long Time (2022). His first feature film project, Penumbra (2023), participated at SGIFF Southeast Asian Film Lab 2020, Full Circle Fiction Lab (2021), Berlinale Talents Tokyo (2021) and is currently in development with Pōtocol. Jaclyn Chan Jaclyn Chan is a recovering banker turned screenwriter and game writer. She has written for a variety of television shows in Singapore where her work was nominated for an International Emmy. She is currently the head writer on a mobile fantasy role-playing game and will be co-writing a feature for a US animation studio. Jaclyn teaches scriptwriting at Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film, is a juror with the International Emmys and a Caucus member of the Writers Guild of America, West. Jaclyn obtained her MFA in screenwriting from the University of Southern California and her BA in Economics from Stanford University.

15 Ruby Thiagarajan Ruby is a writer and editor based in Singapore. She is the editor-in-chief of Mynah Magazine and her writing has appeared in publications such as Vulture Magazine and New Naratif. Don Aravind Don Aravind has consistently been straddling between film, television and commercial content with integral relationships of the three mediums, finding a balance that fuels his creative oeuvre. His work has been screened and represented both locally and internationally at various festivals including the Singapore International Film Festival. Apart from his creative pursuits, he spends his remaining time volunteering at an animal shelter.

16 STUDENT JURY Natalie Soh Natalie is a video editor and occasional music-maker. Her works range from critically acclaimed feature films to video experiments, and the playful to the dead serious. Her awards include Best Editing at the 2017 Asian Film Awards for Boo Junfeng’s feature film Apprentice (2016), Best Editing at the 2017 Apollo Awards for HBO Asia’s dark fantasy series Halfworlds 2 (2016), and Best Editing (Taiwan) at the 2021 Asian Academy Awards for HBO Asia’s romance comedy series Adventure of the Ring (2020) Elizabeth Wijaya Elizabeth Wijaya is an Assistant Professor of East Asian Cinema at the University of Toronto and the Director of the Centure for Southeast Asian Studies at the Asian Institute of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. She received her PhD from the Department of Comparative Literature at Cornell University, where she was affiliated with the East and Southeast Asian Programs. For 2018–2019, she was a President’s Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Minnesota (Twin Cities). She is building an online-accessible collection of Asian short films with the UTM library. She is also the co-founder of E&W Films. She is an Associate Producer of Taste (2021) directed by Lê Bao, which received the Special Jury Award of the Encounters Competition at the 71st Berlinale Film Festival. Tan Wei Keong Tan Wei Keong is an animation filmmaker. He is an alumnus of Berlinale Talents 2022 and a current resident at SFFILM FilmHouse for his next short and feature development. His most recent short film, Kingdom, has been selected to compete at the Berlin International Film Festival 2019. His previous film, Between Us Two, received the Best Singapore Short Film award at Singapore International Film Festival 2017 and the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary Short at Outfest LA 2018. His highly acclaimed body of work received international recognition at many film festivals, including those at Annecy, Zagreb, Stuttgart and Toronto. He was awarded the Young Artist Award by the National Arts Council of Singapore in 2019.

17 Genevieve Sarah Loh Genevieve Sarah Loh has been the resident film journalist and movie critic for Mediacorp’s Channel NewsAsia (CNA) and TODAY newspaper for the past 14 years. Her passion for film and pop-culture is presented across multiple platforms of digital, television, print and radio. She is part of the founding team that started CNA Lifestyle and currently serves as the platform’s senior journalist/lifestyle editor. Having covered the Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival as well as the Oscars (Academy Awards) and Golden Globes in Hollywood over the years, Genevieve is known for her in-depth on-camera interviews with international, award-winning actors and filmmakers, as well as film reviews and articles. Jacen Tan Named ”Singapore’s latest film funnyman” by The Straits Times, Jacen combined his love for horror comedy and his experiences from serving in the army to make his first feature film, Zombiepura. Released theatrically in Singapore and Southeast Asia, Zombiepura then premiered on Disney Plus, Netflix Korea and was the number one iTunes movie in Singapore. Jacen was the first to define ‘viral video’ in Singapore with his first short, Tak Giu (Kick Ball), crashing internet servers. Two years after the comedy on lack of playing spaces in land-scarce Singapore was released, 284 state fields were upgraded and opened for public recreation.

18 STUDENT PRE-SELECTION JURY David Chua Mr David Chua was appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Council (NYC), an autonomous agency under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY). NYC oversees two key operational divisions - Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) and Youth Corps Singapore. NYC drives holistic youth development at the national level, in partnership with public and private sector agencies. It engages young Singaporeans, sends them overseas for growth and exposure, tracks youth trends and capacity builds youth sector organisations. David is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors at *SCAPE, a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) under MCCY, that runs aspirational programmes for youth. Prior to joining NYC, David served for 22 years in the Singapore Armed Forces. Viknesh Kobinathan Viknesh is a programmer at the Asian Film Archive, where he curates screenings and discursive events that examine issues affecting Asian societies, explore the art of Asian cinema, and further the film preservation mission of the AFA. Viknesh holds an MA in Film Studies from the National Film and Television School in England and was previously the programme manager at independent cinema venue, The Projector. Alex Oh Over two decades of experience, award winning film and TV composer Alex Oh is one of Singapore’s most prolific and versatile film composer. Alex has scored 24 feature films in Singapore, Australia, China and the United States, with genres ranging from comedy, family-oriented drama, action and horror. Past films include Bait, Faeryville, Rule #1 and The Maid. He is also the founder for White Noise Music, an audio post production company. Recent projects include ‘Flight Of The Dragonfly’ 4D Ride at Floral Fantasy | Gardens By The Bay, ‘Tipping Point’ Channel News Asia Documentary, TV series ‘Reunion’ and ’This Land Is Mine’.

19 Wee Li Lin Wee Li Lin is one of the pioneer female filmmakers in Singapore. Her films have a signature humour, warmth, and whimsy to them. Li Lin has made numerous short films, two feature films, as well as several telemovies and commercials. She has won several awards locally and internationally, such as “Best Director” at the Singapore International Film Festival. In 2018, Li Lin was commissioned to direct Singapore’s National Day music video “We are Singapore”. It was such a hit that it became the highest trending video on YouTube in Singapore that year. Li Lin’s films have screened at prestigious festivals around the world, such as the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, Short Shorts in Tokyo, and many others. She also teaches film-related studies at various tertiary institutions around Singapore on a part-time basis. Oon Shu An Oon Shu An is an actress and host based in Singapore. A graduate of the acting course at LASALLE College of the Arts, Shu An is a theatre, film and television actor. Notably, Oon’s best known roles were the ill-fated Song Dynasty courtesan Jing Fei in the Netflix cult favourite Marco Polo, and the troubled ex-con on her path to redemption Frances Lee in HOOQ’s How to be a Good Girl; the role she was nominated for at the Inaugural Asian Academy Creative Awards. She is the host for the newest season of Renovaid and was recently nominated Best Actress at the Straits Times Life Theatre Awards for her role in Lungs with the Singapore Repertory Theatre. Tan Si En Tan Si En is a producer based in Southeast Asia who co-founded Momo Film Co, part of Beach House Pictures and Blue Ant Media. An alumnus of Berlinale Talents 2020 and Rotterdam Lab 2018, Si En was the producer for Wet Season by Anthony Chen, which made its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival 2019, Platform Competition. The film was lauded critically and went on to receive 12 awards internationally. Wet Season is also Singapore’s representative for the Academy Awards in 2020. Her latest co-production The Year of The Everlasting Storm, produced by NEON and Animal Kingdom, premiered in Cannes Film Festival 2021. She is developing and co-producing prominent award-winning projects such as Don’t Cry and Butterfly by Duong Dieu Linh. Si En’s producing efforts have been featured in publications such as Screendaily, Variety, Channel News Asia and Yahoo. In 2020, she was recognised as one of The Straits Times 30 under 30 - The Arts. In 2021, she received the youth inspiration award given by National Youth Council and *SCAPE.

20 NYFA YOUTH INSPIRATION AWARD

21 ABOUT THE NYFA YOUTH INSPIRATION AWARD The National Youth Film Awards is a beacon for aspiring youth filmmakers since its inception in 2015. For the last six years, NYFA has provided our youths with recognition, validation, and industry network, in addition to being the key national platform to showcase their talents in film. The NYFA Youth Inspiration Award was introduced in 2019 to recognise and honour young industry professionals who have made exemplary contributions towards the filmmaking industry in Singapore. Jerrold Cheong is presented this award in recognition for his hard work and excellent portfolio of animation projects (indie short films and tv series) that lift the local standards. His films have screened at numerous international film festivals, including Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, Busan International Film Festival, Annecy International Animated Film Festival and Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF). He also collaborated with other filmmakers, such as Huang Junxiang on the NDP music video last year. Jerrold Chong is a NYFA alumni and co-founder of Finding Pictures, an animation studio and the Education lead for Cartoons Underground, an independent animation festival in SEA. He worked very closely with *SCAPE to develop our first Story Lab which saw filmmakers continue to produce and win award in other regional labs. His dedication to his younger peers and to invest in Singapore’s animation industry is evident.

22 22 ABOUT THE AWARD RECIPIENT Jerrold Chong is an award-winning animation filmmaker and co-founder of local animation studio Finding Pictures. His love for animation is rooted in a fascination in the magic of the medium to tell stories that go beyond the limits of reality and the expectation. His works often take on the form of surreal, at times absurdist tales that explore universal themes of connection, time/ memory and social issues, through the medium of stop-motion and hand- drawn animation. In 2019, his film “Piece of Meat”, co-directed with Huang Junxiang, premiered at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight and Annecy Animation Festival. His films have screened at numerous international film festivals, including Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, Busan International Film Festival,Annecy International Animated Film Festival, Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival in Bristol, Animatricks Animation Festival in Helsinki, Short Shorts Film Festival in Tokyo and Bucheon International Animation Festival in Korea, amongst others. His films “Automatonomy” and “What Has To Be” also won the Best Animation Award at the National Youth Film Awards Open Category for two consecutive years. Most recently he co- directed the official NDP 2021 Music Video “The Road Ahead”. As an organising member of Cartoons Underground - Singapore’s very own independent animation festival - he has also helped to champion and grow the local animation community. He initiated the Animated Visions Story Development Lab in 2020, where selected projects and participants are mentored and guided towards developing their projects. In 2022, he took up the role of Programme Director for Cartoons Underground. He has also served as producer for animated short films such as Morrie Tan’s “The Visit” and Olivia Griselda and Sarah Cheok’s “She and Her Good Vibrations”.

23 23 NYFA YOUTH INSPIRATION AWARD RECIPIENT MESSAGE Thank you very much to NYFA, it is an honour to be selected for this award! Looking back, I am truly grateful for the many filmmakers, artists and collaborators whose works, passion and spirit have inspired me and illuminated the path before me. When I was younger, there were many moments where I would walk into a screening at the Substation, at SGIFF, at NYFA and I would come across a mind-blowing film (or two) that would open my mind’s eye into the magical possibilities of cinema and storytelling. It’s also within these spaces where I had the opportunity to meet filmmakers I admired, future collaborators and made friends with the filmmaking community. These memories are ones that I cherish dearly. As many of you would agree, we cannot make a film on our own, let alone a good one. I am grateful to have found a community of talented collaborators and artists, and every day working with them is indeed a privilege. The process of storytelling, of creation is a humbling one. There are many times that I would think I knew what the film would be, but the creative process reveals new things about the characters, opens up new perspectives and approaches while brainstorming with the team. It’s this collaborative discovery that I find the most enriching and special. To all the nominees of this year’s NYFA and all younger filmmakers, I hope that you will find the courage and conviction to explore never-before-told stories, to experiment with new approaches or techniques and most importantly, to allow yourselves to make mistakes. While the journey may not be how you have planned it, it will turn out to be a worthwhile one. May you all find your filmmaking tribe and dream together towards bigger things! A big thank you to all my friends within the filmmaking community, collaborators and mentors who have been my shining beacon, and given me the chance to live my dreams! Jerrold Chong Recipient NYFA Youth Inspiration Award 2022

24 24 STUDENT NOMINEES

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26 A mother, trapped in the comfort of memory and mourning, confronts her grief when she is invited to the wedding of her late son’s childhood sweetheart. LASALLE College of the Arts; Puttnam School of Film & Animation 17:00 mins NOMINEES Director/Screenwriter Giselle Lin Art Director Niesa Marie Luib Sound Designer/Screenwriter Lim Xiang Yin Editor Dionne Goh Editor/Cinematographer Clyde Kam Performer Iris Li Yi yi (Time Flows in Strange Ways on Sundays) Student: Live Action

27 All Adam wanted is to be an MMA fighter and have a better relationship with his mother like they used to. But her emotionally abusive behaviour & disdain for fighting stopped him from pursuing his dreams which cause him to bottle everything up, manifesting into a rage. Opportunity came in an MMA tournament with a huge cash prize. Adam believes that winning the money might relieve his mother of financial struggles, which may lead to them having a better relationship while at the same time practicing MMA to vent his rage. Temasek Polytechnic; School of Design 22:09 mins NOMINEES Director Naqib Putra Zalman Elva Mah Art Director Nur Ameerah Bte Hidayathullah Sound Designer Nur Batrisyia Editor Muhammad Zul Khairi Bin Salleh Cinematographer Hashif Karim Screenwriter Naqib Putra Zalman Juang Student: Live Action

28 Long-simmering tensions resurface when a daughter returns home to her single mother after studying overseas. Both mother and daughter confront their estranged relationship, scarred by the aftermath of a fire. LASALLE College of the Arts; Puttnam School of Film & Animation 15:45 mins NOMINEES Director/Screenwriter Angel Shu Art Director Lin Anchi Sound Designer Khalid Sukaimi Screenwriter Song Zhi Yi Editor Kendrick Quah Cinematographer Harrison Bo Born Performer Iris Li 归燕 (The Scent of Eucalyptus Oil) Student: Live Action

29 After an unremarkable semester one, several hall residents try to process the idea of connectedness, fleeting relationships, love, and the future through the month-long ennui and languor of winter vacation stay. National University of Singapore; Communications and New Media / Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences 30:00 mins NOMINEES Director/Screenwriter Seth Cheong Is it Cold in Winter? Student: Live Action

30 Charlotte is a girl departing from her childhood and entering her teenage years. She seems to have everything a child could ever need or want, but lacks a crucial piece of the puzzle to complete her. In search of that piece, Charlotte explores various means and avenues, hoping that one day, she can find that missing piece to complete her puzzle. Nanyang Technological University; Art Design And Media 21:30 mins NOMINEES Director/Screenwriter Eliza Goh Art Director Colette Chong Sound Designer/Original Music Sandra Sek Editor Terry Tan De Hao Cinematographer Lee Jing Wei Performers Hailey Madison Karis Cleanthea Ant Nest Student: Live Action

31 In a society where women’s clothes are considered dirty, Sandar hangs her skirt outside the house. A blunder that causes their fellow Burmese neighbours to criticize Sandar for her improper act and her parents for not teaching her right. Governed by traditions and rules that she does not agree with, Sandar seeks to escape. It’s the only way. As tensions rise within the family, Sandar makes a bid for freedom from traditions that pin her down. Nanyang Technological University; Art Design And Media 19:07 mins NOMINEES Director/Screenwriter Kyaw Shoon Le Yee Art Director Muhammad Khairulameer Bin Ramlan Sound Designer Ho Miao Ying Angel Editor Ng Renee Cinematographer Chua Xin Yun Original Music Yip Yee Sing Vanessa Performer Khine Zin Htet Dirty Laundry Student: Live Action

32 Set in modern-day Singapore, long-time friends, Kyra, a 23-year-old Singaporean, and Jamie, a 24-year-old Indonesian, spend an evening together. On their way to a music gig, they make a stop at a photoshop to take a passport photo. While taking the photo, Kyra reveals that she is going overseas after graduating for work which causes tension between them. As they make their way to the gig, they find themselves in each other amidst the changing landscapes and their changing identities. Nanyang Technological University; Art Design And Media 16:08 mins NOMINEES Director/Screenwriter Christianne Chua Mingyi Art Director Sim Kia Him Joy Sound Designer Jacob Chio Yon Gin Editor Teo Jun Ming Cinematographer Ryan Sng Wei Kang Performers Shi-An Lim Sim Kee Joo Go Home Student: Live Action

33 Despite her mother’s protests, 30-year-old Sofia insists on looking for her estranged father hours before her wedding, so that he can be her ‘wali’, the male guardian to give her away during her solemnisation. LASALLE College of the Arts; Puttnam School of Film & Animation 14:44 mins NOMINEES Director Khalid Sukaimi Art Director Sanjitha Saravanan Sound Designer Kendrick Quah Editor Hazwan Nordin Cinematographer Khairel Asyiq Bin Khairudin Screenwriter Nuryn Adryana Performer Cassandra Spykerman Noda Student: Live Action

34 While digesting the abrupt death of his son, an old man seizes a 15-year-old vandal at his doorstep and drags the boy along on a journey to unravel the cause of his harassment. Nanyang Technological University; Art Design And Media 18:31 mins NOMINEES Director/Screenwriter K Ravindran Jr Art Director Ho Jia En Editor Loke Zheng Hao Cinematographer Deryck Tan Wei Loong Writings on the Wall Student: Live Action

35 A Filipino boy struggles to find his place in Singapore as his parents contemplate moving back home, he finds himself stuck as he increasingly finds comfort in his newfound friends where he learns what makes a home, forcing him to make a brave stand before the family falls apart. Temasek Polytechnic; School of Design 17:59 mins NOMINEES Director/Screenwriter Jason Del Mundo Art Director Jocelyn Tan Sound Designer Daniel Buono Editor Jazz Thiam Cinematographer Jeremi Khong Screenwriter Jason Del Mundo Bahay Student: Live Action

36 Veteran tomb hunter Raymond Goh and his companions, Peter Pak and Ah Beng, routinely comb Bukit Brown and its surrounding cemeteries in search of ancestry in hidden headstones and traces of life in overgrown landscapes. Animated by their affection for history and discovery, Chasing Dead Ends is a roving eye documentary short that follows a trio of intrepid explorers as they unearth human heritage from the grave and behold the unfiltered beauty of our forgotten monuments. Nanyang Technological University; Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information 18:20 mins NOMINEES Director/Screenwriter Clarice Foo Art Director Niesa Marie Luib Sound Designer/Editor Valerie Chan Cinematographer Bryan Leong Chasing Dead Ends 《尋》 Student: Documentary

37 A cathartic documentary exploring the aftermath of vulnerability between an adoptive mother and son, painting an emotionally complex portrait of sacrifices and secrets. Ngee Ann Polytechnic; School of Film & Media Studies 14:29 mins NOMINEES Director/Art Director Lynn Sim Sound Designer/Editor Sharon Sim Cinematographer Joash Loh 红线 (Red Thread) Student: Documentary

38 In search of a better tomorrow, a single mother leaves her family behind to serve as a maid in a distant land. Ngee Ann Polytechnic; School of Film & Media Studies 11:46 mins NOMINEES Director Xie Quang Long Editor Nurain Binti Mohd Amin Cinematographer Tela Gian Francis Oandasan From +65, With Love Student: Documentary

39 Beyond The Flaws is a short documentary about a loving father, Desmond Ang, who suffers from bipolar disorder. Ngee Ann Polytechnic; School of Film & Media Studies 15:22 mins NOMINEES Director Ambrose Louis Chia Chao Yee Editor Muhammad Nizam Bin Mushadat Screenwriter Anna Ang Qiao Yuan Beyond the Flaws Student: Documentary

40 Student: Documentary May the Shadows Burn Again is a documentary about Mr Yang, a puppetmaster who performs a ritual puppet play, Mulian Saves His Mother, for the first time in three years. Set against the backdrop of this increasingly rare artform, the film is a reflection on the dying cultures of past generations and an exploration into Mr Yang’s mortality, into how he stands alone against the ravages of time. Over the course of the film, director Gavin Chua searches for answers about the spiritual and supernatural elements of this tradition, in a poignant love letter of this glimpse into his childhood. May the Shadows Burn Again (昔日) LASALLE College of the Arts; Puttnam School of Film & Animation 15:35 mins NOMINEES Director/Sound Designer/ Screenwriter Chua Shao Lun Gavin Art Director Tay Winnie Editor Emma-Jane Fernandez Cinematographer Chua Ming Zheng Joshua

41 Growing up without a father figure in her life sparked many questions Hazirah had in her childhood. This is an intimate documentary about her journey, finding answers to questions she had about her biological father, in hopes of finding some kind of closure from her childhood and to understand her mother better. Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts; School of Design and Media 08:19 mins NOMINEES Director/Editor/ Cinematographer Nurul Hazirah Mohamad Fadil unspoken words Student: Documentary

42 Life and death weigh heavily on the shoulders of veterinarian Kitty Huang, who runs Furiends Veterinary Clinic. Heading home, she returns to two children and thirty-three pets – most being community strays inherited from her late mother. With her life devoted to serving animals, the lines between Kitty’s professional and personal duties have become blurred. Xiao Xiao – a rescued stray cat with the feline leukaemia virus and the immunodeficiency virus – became her clinic’s faithful resident as she opened her first clinic. But as the curtains close in on this cat, what does this mean for Dr Kitty Huang? Nanyang Technological University; Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information 14:40 mins NOMINEES Director/Screenwriter Shintaro Tay Chin Hoe Editor/Cinematographer See Ce Wen Kitty Student: Documentary

43 What makes wet markets — seemingly mundane grocery shopping venues — so important to Singapore’s national identity? The Wet, the Wild and the Wondrous is a multi-sensory journey through these special spaces that seeks to uncover the answer to this question. Through a granular exploration of the architectural, sociological and economic facets of wet markets, the film draws attention to hidden and often-missed details that give wet markets their unique character. The Wet, the Wild and the Wondrous is also a love letter to the colourful individuals who breathe life into the wet markets that they call home. Nanyang Technological University; Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information 16:30 mins NOMINEES Director Raeburn Brandon Josh Editor Christel Lim Wen Fang Cinematographer Kuek Ying Ting Sophia The Wet, The Wild and The Wondrous Student: Documentary

44 A portrait of 14-year-old Wen Bin and a Sri-Lankan monk. They walk different landscapes of their residences - a temple, a home, a body. Nanyang Technological University; Art Design And Media 15:11 mins NOMINEES Director Choo Yen Ee Sound Designer Beh Wen Jing Editor Teo Chuan Chee Pin Student: Documentary

45 state. explores spaces that exist between; areas that border the threshold of one stage and the next - the liminal state. In itself, the film exists in liminality; blurring lines between physical and digital interfaces. The film immerses you into a world where our protagonist traverses converging online and offline landscapes. We find an intriguing resemblance to Alice in Wonderland, who explores boundaries between her reality and a found wonderland through peculiar manipulations of time and space. As we navigate through liminal spaces in the real and digital realms we inhabit, the in-between grows increasingly nebulous. Where do we truly live? Nanyang Technological University; Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information 10:02 mins NOMINEES Director/Sound Designer See Li Yi Sherrie Editor Feline Yeo state. Student: Documentary

46 Cryptid Hunter’ is a 2D animated ‘documentary’ following a passionate monster enthusiast’s search for elusive cryptids. He spends the day out deep in a forest, but will he spot any of these secretive creatures? Nanyang Technological University; Art Design And Media 4:57 mins NOMINEES Director/Art Director Wong Yi Ting Cryptid Hunter Student: Animation

47 Kaeru is a 2D animated short film about a young Japanese woman’s journey at breaking away from societal norms, inspired by a famous poem by Matsuo Basho. Bounded by the restrictiveness of Japanese society, the main character, Kokoro, hesitates to make the decision of leaving the country to be with her lover. A guardian in the form of a frog watches over her and gives the nudge that she needs. Nanyang Technological University; Art Design And Media 4:44 mins NOMINEES Director Chi Haru Lim Qian Qing Kaeru Student: Animation

48 A young girl attempts to bake a cake and takes her simple recipe a little too seriously, things take an unexpected turn for the worst. Nanyang Technological University; Art Design And Media 2:24 mins NOMINEES Director/Art Director Reeyan Yeoh Editor/ Screenwriter Shiao-ya Maggie Huang Original Music Ngin Yun Xin Baking with Love Student: Animation

49 Accustomed to the monotonous nature of his job, an officer worker tirelessly works away at his desk when he’s visited by a parade of dancing musical notes. 3dsense Media School 2:05 mins NOMINEES Director/Editor Matthew Cabalinan Monday Blues Student: Animation

50 A young tamago’s adventure in an attempt to fit in with the masses but ultimately realizes that everybody is special in their own ways. LASALLE College of the Arts; Puttnam School of Film & Animation 1:29 mins NOMINEES Director/Art Director/ Screenwriter/Sound Designer/ Editor/Cinematographer Alex Sng Tamago! Student: Animation