As far back as my memories serve, The Singapore International Film Festival almost always had a relentless focus in championing films from around the South East Asian countries, of course amongst other film offerings in its main programme. In recent years with the dilution and frequent change in festival programmers, leading to the festival experience fiasco of last year's edition, more mainstream films had crept into the SIFF's programming, and film buffs had to look elsewhere for their fix of what's up and coming in the region.
I suppose the
South East Asian Film Festival, now into its second year and as hosted by the Moving Image Gallery, Singpoare Art Museum at 8Q, may prove to be that silver bullet response to fill that dearth. After all, it's curated by none other than Philip Cheah, one of the founding members of SIFF, and looking at its lineup, one cannot help but to feel excited about the festival coming up and occupying almost the entire month of March, just about the same time as SIFF usually was (in April, until the shift last year to a September calendar slot).
And what's more, tickets are kept at the usual festival-affordable S$10 (S$8 with the appropriate concessions), with filmmakers in attendance for selected post screening Q&A sessions, and a free to attend discussion panel with the directors on the topic of the Southeast Asian Wave. The festival booklet is already out and contains a comprehensive writeup on the films and their respective director's statements, essays, plus the usual nitty gritty festival essentials that spell out the screening schedule and ticketing details, amongst others. You can also visit the
Festival Website here.
A warning though to get your tickets early, as the 8Q venue isn't as large as say, the National Museum of Singapore's Gallery Theatre, so expect that they'd be snapped up as soon as ticketing begins. I've already earmarked four films, if not for a clash of dates with a possible overseas trip and In Camp Training.
See you at the movies!
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