The night was the crowning moment for graduating Film Sound and Video students, a screening of the graduating projects lovingly and devotedly carved by many aspiring and soon to be film-makers. Similar to past screenings that have been tradition for final year students, Projection 08 should likely stand proud amongst it’s predecessors with its wide range of quality short films.

Keluar Baris (2007) – Boo Junfeng

In the time span of two days, Keluar Baris is about 18 years old boy’s contemplation toward National Service (NS), especially since he just returned home from Spain for a holiday. His father does not understand his son’s detest toward NS and failed to prepare him mentally for NS. The boy’s grandmother provides much of the comic relief, being naggy and muddleheaded. Keluar Baris reflects the attitudes of the many males in Singapore toward NS. Unlike some of Boo Junfeng’s work, Keluar Baris took …

Royston Tan has made more than 20 short films, including Mother, Sons and Hock Hiap Leong, which have screened and won awards at numerous international film festivals.

His short film, 15, which won a Special Achievement Award at the 2002 Singapore International Film Festival, was made into his first feature film. 15 has brought him international acclaim for its graphic portrayal of local gangster life.

What makes a Singaporean film, Singaporean? The fact that a Singaporean made it? Or because the film was shot in Singapore? Maybe the colloquial ‘Wa Laus’, ‘Lors’ and ‘Lars’ that are present in the film play a part?

Singapore Dreaming is a local film by husband-and-wife filmmaking team, Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen. The film was opened in Singapore towards the end of 2006 and was inherently touted as one of the most affective and accurate pictures of the Singaporean community. The publicity materials of the film even boasts a short review by President S.R Nathan, President of Singapore, that Singapore Dreaming represented ‘Life in its reality’. So, is Singapore Dreaming a truly Singaporean Film?

Smell of Rain is one of those movies that you wished more and more Singaporeans recognize as part of their growing film economy. It’s one of those movies that ought to be widely released in the country, not just to 8 weeks of showtime.

Focusing on a 20 year old boy’s uniquely silent vision of everyday life, as well as his reactions to a female interest, Smell of Rain had brilliant cinematography and direction which is almost quite unheard of from Singaporean Films. The film has a backbone strong enough to keep the film paced and spaced well enough throughout its one and a half hours of screen time due to its experienced directorial debut of Gloria Chee. Rather impressive is also her passion for the elements in the story that is obvious from the choices of shots and decisions in the film’s structure.