'Aswang' by Alyx Ayn Arumpac was one of the recipients of the SEA-DOC grant
The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) recently announced the relaunch of two grants. The Tan Ean Kiam Foundation - SGIFF Southeast Asian Documentary Grant (SEA-DOC) and the SGIFF Southeast Asian - Short Film Grant were both introduced in 2018 to support the development of inspiring and thought-provoking films within the region. The grants have been successful, producing projects that have received recognition at established film festivals all around the world: winning the Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique (FIPRESCI) at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam and the Amnesty International Award at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (Aswang) and been selected for the Busan International Film Festival (Binh).
This year’s festival featured the world premiere of three of SEA-DOC Grant recipients: Aswang, Citizen Hustler and Ploy, and screenings of three SEA-SHORTS Grant recipients: Binh, Judy Free and Nursery Rhymes.
“The SEA-DOC grant has helped us tremendously in allowing us to complete the project Worship in the way that the director has originally envisioned. In documentary filmmaking, where resources in this region are very limited despite the steadily growing scene and with a lot of fascinating stories to tell, the grant plays a significant role in supporting new generations of filmmakers,” said Uruphong Raksasad, director of Worship, which is a recipient of the grant.
The Tan Ean Kiam Foundation - SGIFF Southeast Asian Documentary Grant (SEA-DOC) grant is awarded to four mid-length or feature projects annually, and champions important and compelling stories told through the art of documentary filmmaking in the region. The grant has been made possible by the support of the Tan Ean Kiam Foundation since 2018.
For the first time next year, the grant will extend its support to include post-production projects. The grant will now support two production projects with a cash amount of S$30,000 and two post-production projects with a cash amount of S$20,000 per recipient.
“We believe documentary film is a powerful tool that helps us confront complex, and oftentimes, troubling realities within our lives and the world around us. These timeless stories play a crucial bridge between rethinking our past and reimagining our future,” said Tan Keng Leck, Vice Chairman of the Tan Ean Kiam Foundation.
Supported by C47 Investment and White Light Post, the SGIFF Southeast Asian-Short Film Grant (SEA-SHORTS) aims to fund the brightest upcoming names in filmmaking.
In the upcoming year, SGIFF will be awarding four SEA-SHORTS grants, double the number that was previously offered. Each recipient will receive a cash amount of S$4,000 and post-production support worth S$4,000. The grant is open to all genres including drama, animation, and experimental short films.
Interested parties may submit their applications from Tuesday, 1st of December 2020 to Friday, 31 January 2021, 23:59 (GMT+8). Application and submission guidelines are available at https://filmacademy.sgiff.com/sgiff-film-fund/. For more information about the Singapore International Film Festival, please visit https://www.sgiff.com/.