Sunday
Sunday which depicts a young woman with a full body rash, driven to violence during a forbidden encounter with her sister’s boyfriend, emerged as one of the top
favourites at the 6th National Youth Film Awards (NYFA). Organised by
*SCAPE, the annual awards took place over Facebook live on Saturday and
announced a total of 26 winners. Directed by returning NYFA
participant Kris Ong and produced by Tan Si En, who has worked with industry
veterans such as Anthony Chen and Kirsten Tan, the film was conferred Best
Screenplay and Best Live Action in the Open Youth Category. Best Cinematography
went to Lincoln Yeo, who is a returning NYFA participant and now second-time winner. 32-year-old actress Vicki Yang, who played the lead role in “Sunday”, walked away
with the Best Actress award.
Lady E’s Wedding Revenge Plan
Lady E’s Wedding Revenge Plan written, produced, and directed by Ngee Ann
Polytechnic students was awarded Best Editing, Best Director, and Best Live Action in
the Media Student category. The film follows an eccentric young girl’s journey to
stopping her older sister’s wedding due to fears of growing up.
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| Actress Oon Shu Ann interviews Guest-of-Honour Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth, Sim Ann, during the ceremony |
Animation entries tell a darker side of reality amongst Media Students
Animations tackling issues such as societal pressures and suicide faired strongly in the
Media Student category this year. GUNKWORLD gives audiences a glimpse of
modern horror as seemingly innocent cartoon characters begin to invade every
aspect of life. Directed and written by Mark Chee, and sound design by Johan Rashid
Jesmee of LASALLE College of the Arts, the film clinched the Best Sound Design award.
セクシーな寿司 Sexy Sushi centres around a suicide mascot’s rude awakening to
the true meaning of his life. Directed by Calleen Koh of LASALLE College of the Arts,
the animation was recognised as Best Art Direction.
GUNKWORLD
However, it was Caught Off Guard – a sweet, endearing story about fulfilling dreams
– that clinched the Best Animation award in the Media Student category. Directed by
Paul Ng of 3dsense Media School, the animation follows a security guard’s dream of
becoming a ballet dancer. This is also the first time a student of 3dsense Media
clinched an award in NYFA.
Caught Off Guard
Best Documentary was awarded to Bhanja by Cheong Wan Ting of Nanyang
Technology University, while Best Original Music goes to Ridz Razali, composer for
GurJeevaan Singh BalRose’s documentary ਵਛ$ੜਾ (Vichora).
Baby Boy
“Being a NYFA jury member for the first time, it was an eye-opening experience. I am
impressed by these young filmmakers’ ability to offer fresh perspectives. I hope to be
able to work with these youths one day, and I am looking forward to see where the
next generation of filmmakers takes us,” said Actress Yeo Yann Yann shot to fame in
2013 for her striking performance in Cannes Caméra d’Or winning Ilo Ilo, directed by
Anthony Chen.
Returning participants continue to build their careers in the Open Youth category
Returning for the second time is 28-year-old Tan Wei Ting who won Best Editing for Under The Same Pink Sky. The live action film depicts a woman’s life after being
diagnosed with breast cancer. This is Wei Ting’s second NYFA win. Her first was with her
directorial debut film, CA$H, which won Best Direction in 2018.
Under The Same Pink Sky
Andre Quek and Jerrold Chong are also returning participants of NYFA. Both directors
worked with Eric Khoo on the animation – The Brown Dog – which follows a dog’s
struggles to survive in a harsh cruel human world. Based on a true story, the animation
sound design was by Chong Xin Ying who received the Best Sound Design award.
The Brown Dog
The Best Animation goes to 看瞴 (Kua Bo). Directed by Ang Qing Sheng and
produced by Jamin Wu, the animation follows the journey of a 60-year-old who made
a mistake with the lottery results due to his cataract. The jury lauded the vivid film for
capturing the Singapore heartland with surprising authenticity while taking the viewer
on a trippy fantasy ride.
看瞴 (Kua Bo)
Earning a Special mention in the Open Youth category is Jerome Ng – an architect
turned filmmaker. Proclaimed by a jury member as a “gorgeously made
animation”, Metabolist Regeneration of a Dementia Nation documents the lives of
a series of residents living in Golden Mile Complex, urging the audience to resist the
power structures that would see urban memories erased.
Metabolist Regeneration of a Dementia Nation
Inviting opportunities
Winners will have the opportunity to embark on a learning journey at the SeaShorts
Film Festival which will be going online. These filmmakers will have the chance to
engage in post-show dialogues with fellow filmmakers in the region, and have access
to all films, masterclasses, and forums throughout the entire festival period. Up to six
filmmakers will also get to showcase their film at the festival as part of a NYFA
showcase. This opportunity is part of NYFA’s continuous efforts to offer young talents a
multitude of exposure, gain regional film festival experience, and foster collaborations
with other like-minded filmmakers. The NYFA alumni from 2019 and 2020 will also be invited to pitch their stories where
five teams will be given seed funding to produce a short film each.
Here is the full list of winners:
GUNKWORLD
(Animation)
Best Sound Designv - Johan Rashid Jesmee, Lasalle College of
the Arts
セクシーな寿司 Sexy Sushi
(Animation)
Best Art Direction - Calleen Koh Yee Lin, Lasalle College of
the Arts
Lady E’s Wedding
Revenge Plan (Live Action)
Best Editing - Rios Morales, Carlos Antonio, Ngee Ann
Polytechnic
Best Director - Kathleen Bu Rui Xuan, Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Best Live Action - Niger Lim, Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Elephant in the Room
(Documentary)
Best Cinematography - Kayson Lau, Lasalle College of the
Arts
The Greatest Adventure
to Nowhere (Live Action)
Best Screenplay - Kylen Ho, Nanyang Technological University
ਵਛ$ੜਾ
(Vichora) (Documentary)
Best Original Music - Ridz Razali, Lasalle College of the
Arts
Bhanja
(Documentary)
Best Documentary - Cheong Wan Ting, Nanyang Technological
University
Caught Off Guard
(Animation)
Best Animation - Paul Ng Kwok Yang, 3dsense Media School
Baby Boy
(Documentary)
Special Mention - Bambby Cheuk & Toby Wu, Nanyang
Technological University
Sunday (Live
action)
Best Screenplay - Kris Ong
Best Cinematography - Lincoln Yeo
Best Live Action - Tan Si En
The Brown Dog
(Animation)
Best Sound Design - Chong Xin Ying
Still Standing
(Live action)
Best Art Direction - Hanning Yap
Under The Same Pink
Sky (Live action)
Best Editing - Tan Wei Ting
Best Director Gladys Ng
Class Mates
(Animation)
Best Original Music - Vivien Yap & Nigel Cheah
Best Documentary - Dave Lim
看瞴 (Kua Bo) (Animation)
Best Animation - Jamin Wu
Metabolist
Regeneration of a Dementia Nation (Animation)
Special Mention - Jerome Xin Hao Ng
What We May Be
(Live Action)
Best Actor - Aric Hidir Amin
Sunday (Live
Action)
Best Actress - Vicki Yang
Huang Jun Xiang – Youth Inspiration Award