Step aside, Hollywood. Singapore has our fair share of young filmmaking talents—and you can discover the works of some of them at the ongoing Singapore International Film Festival 2022
The Singapore film industry has been nothing short of exciting over the years. Local audiences would be familiar with Anthony Chen, the director of Ilo Ilo (2013), Singapore's highly acclaimed film export, which garnered international attention and received the Golden Hose Award for Best Narrative Feature, among many other honours.
Read more: Singaporean Film Director Anthony Chen on Making Movies in a Lockdown
The cinematic wave in Singapore has inspired many local professional and aspiring filmmakers to use their talents to communicate the unique Singapore story. More often that not, the local film industry boasts a rich collection of avant-garde films, including Tiong Bahru Social Club (2020). The film, directed by Tan Bee Thiam, was selected as the opening film for the 31st Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) back in 2020.
Here are five local filmmakers you should have your eye on:
1. He Shuming
A graduate of Puttnam School of Film and Animation at Lasalle College of The Arts, He received the Media Education Scheme (Film) Scholarship Award by the then-Media Development Authority.
He has gone on to produce many notable short films, including Homecoming (2016) which was commissioned by the National Heritage Board about the residents of Pulau Ubin, as well as Boon Lay Place (2017) and Rehearsal (2018), both of which was in collaboration with the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore.
You may also recognise his name as the director of Ajoomma (2022), which has garnered international attention. Selected as Singapore’s entry to the 2023 Academy Awards, the film follows a story of the trials and tribulations of motherhood.
Read more: ‘Ajoomma’ Director He Shuming on His 7-Year Journey to Producing Singapore’s Pick for Oscars 2023