Deadline for Film Submission!

2007-09-08T00:16:00.000-07:00

2007-07-31T02:48:00.000-07:00

More on First Time Filmakers!

Every time another local filmaker succeeds in bringing his/her film to the masses and delivers a powerful personal message and shakes the audience, I can't help but feel a surge of immense pride for the local film scene. There is, and never will be, a shortage of great films coming from not only Singapore, but regionally as well. Every film is, to the filmaker's own right, a masterpiece told with heart and soul. A good film delivers a message; a great film embeds it in the audience and leaves them much food for thought. Gone shopping is a good example of such a film. Click on the picture and check it out!

Gone Shopping is currently running in cinemas islandwide. Catch it now!

PLUS! This film serves as another reminder to submit your first film if you haven't! =D

2007-07-17T06:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to a new glorious year of the Asian Festival of First Films!!!

To kickstart the blog once more, I shall share with you a movie I've watched on the weekend: The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros; a confrontational family drama that resonates with sociopolitical heft. While its 12 year-old protagonist, the lively and spirited Maxi (Nathan Lopez) enjoys the ephemeral joys of childhood, his older brothers and widowed father adhere to the essential criminal elements of their slum district in Manila to make ends meet. However, the effeminate Maxi is bullied in the streets one evening but gets rescued by the handsome policeman Victor (J.R. Valentin) and Maxi eventually falls in love with his saviour. From its opening shot of establishing striking colours amidst a canvas of squalor, we are supposed to consider Maxi’s presence as a splash of mirth in the murky underbelly that exists in the destitution of his surroundings of ambiguous ideals and cutthroat subsistence.

This is Director Auraeus Solito's debut film and received global recognition and numerous awards from the Berlin International Film Festival (Best Feature Film), the Montreal Film Festival (Montreal First Film Prize) and even including the Best Jury Prize at the renowned Sundance Film Festival.

What's with all the hype about this particular movie and its director, you might ask? Director Auraeus Solito is a clear and impressive example of how a first-time filmaker achieves regional and international recognition through his craft and story, told with honesty and the desire to share his stories and those of his countrymen with the rest of the world.

This is what true filmaking is about. Judging from last year's reception of top-quality films from all over the world, it is evident that there are aspiring filmakers literally exploding with potential. This year, the Festival is expecting an influx of even better films of raw storytelling.

So what are you waiting for?? If you are a first-time filmaker of Asian origin holding on to a recent creation of yours, send your entry in and you may stand to win fabulous prizes and more importantly, wide wide wide acclaim!!!

Submit your entries now!