Singapore Shorts ’23 – Now That’s What I Call Y2K Shorts!: Part 2 (with Q&A session)
This screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the filmmakers.
The 2000s was a pinnacle period in history. The world was going through massive changes including survival after the 9/11 terror attack, Global Financial Crisis, rise of the internet, and deeper recognition of social issues. Singapore too was having its own awakening with the birth of a “free speech zone” at the Speakers’ Corner, the beginnings of the LGBTQ+ community demonstration event Pink Dot, the SARS outbreak, and the legalisation of what had once been considered risqué vices like casino gambling. As technology leapt forward, filmmakers experimented with digital video recording and dissemination, which continues to advance now more than ever.
Now That’s What I Call Y2K Shorts! showcases a snippet from this whirlwind decade, when a slew of imaginative and wild films emerged, that threw caution to the wind, and captured the chaotic energy of the era.
Guest Programmers
Aishah Abu Bakar
Aishah Abu Bakar is a freelance content manager and film programmer currently based in the UK. As programme manager for the Singapore International Film Festival (2015–2018), she managed the Asian feature film section, as well as masterclasses and talks. Prior to that, she was the Programme Manager for Moving Images at The Substation (2009–2014) where she was in charge of organising screenings and related events such as the Singapore Short Film Awards, the Experimental Film Forum, Singapore Indie Doc Fest, and First Take, a regular running local platform for first-time filmmakers. She is well-versed in the art of producing, having worked in the television and media industry prior to her film career.
Tang Kang Sheng
Kang Sheng is a filmmaker and film researcher fascinated by the fractures within human connections and explorations of the perception of time and memory. He has directed short films that have travelled globally. His most recent film, Back to One, was screened at the Singapore International Film Festival (2021) and won the Special Mention Award at the National Youth Film Awards (2022).
Taking a special interest in 20th century Singaporean film and television, he is currently conducting research into that era. He was a guest curator for the 4th Singapore Film Festival New Delhi (2020) and is also a film educator, having received an MFA in Film Directing at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.
There will be ten short films screened for Now That’s What I Call Y2K Shorts!: Programme 2
The Rating for this selection is is PG
Programme 2
Checkmate
Year: 2010
Director: Yahssir M.
Runtime: 11 min
Country: Singapore
Language: Tamil
Rating: PG
Synopsis
A boy sees an old man playing chess and joins him without invitation. As their conversation deepens, the old man realises that no matter his past, there is still hope for the future. Made for Panasonic Digital Fiesta 2010, this heartwarming story received multiple nominations at the 2nd Singapore Short Film Awards 2011.
Director’s bio
Yahssir M. is an award-winning filmmaker and founder of Millenia Motion Pictures. His other works have won recognition at the Asian Television Awards, New York Festivals World’s Best TV & Films, and World Media Festivals.
Waking Monkey
Year: 2005
Director: Yeo Siew Hua
Runtime: 3 min
Country: Singapore
Language: English
Rating: PG
Synopsis
A little girl tries desperately to wake her brother up to help her reach the cookies on the top shelf. However, her brother seems destined for eternal slumber. A Ngee Ann Polytechnic school production, Waking Monkey won Best Film at The Substation’s Best of First Take in 2006.
Director’s bio
Yeo Siew Hua is an award-winning director and writer. His films include In The House of Straw (2009), and A Land Imagined (2018), which won the Golden Leopard prize at the 71st Locarno Film Festival.
Potong Andam
Year: 2009
Director: Hidayah Amin
Runtime: 7 min
Country: Singapore
Language: Malay, English
Rating: PG
Synopsis
Nur is a modern Malay woman about to get married. Against her personal beliefs, her mother implores her to undergo potong andam, an old Malay ritual that determines the bride’s virginity before marriage. First screened at Sinema Showoff! 2010, this film explores the reconciliation between myths, traditions, and factual evidence.
Director’s bio
Hidayah Amin is an award-winning author, journalist, and filmmaker. A former media producer under the Ministry of Education, she is currently an adjunct lecturer at Singapore Polytechnic’s Media, Arts and Design School.
I Need Coffee
Year: 2013
Director: Ryan Yong Thanakan
Runtime: 3 min
Country: Singapore
Language: English
Rating: PG
Synopsis
A lady goes to the nearest convenience store in the middle of the night in search of some coffee. However, she realises that strange things are afoot at her local shop. This ambiguous short with surrealistic overtones was previously screened at the 4th Singapore Short Film Awards 2013.
Director’s bio
Ryan Yong Thanakan is a director, writer and cinematographer. He graduated from LASALLE College of the Arts and has directed numerous short films including Midnight Kill (2013), Buff and Drag (2019), and Ladies Night (2020).
Dinner
Year: 2005
Director: Ghazi Alqudcy & Ying Li Looi-Garman
Runtime: 3 min
Country: Singapore
Language: English
Rating: PG
Synopsis
A girl is preparing for a dinner date. As she fusses and frets over the details of the evening, we wonder if this important guest exists. A stripped-down, unusual affair, Dinner was originally created as part of Singapore History Museum’s Take 5! Guerilla Filmmaking Challenge.
Director’s bio
Ghazi Alqudcy has produced over 60 short films. His feature debut Temporary Visa (2018) won Best Film at the Asian Film Festival Barcelona. He is currently a lecturer at the Sunway University in Malaysia.
Ying is a highly experienced professional in the production industry, with a diverse background that encompasses concepts, scripts, producing, directing and editing with renowned brands and agencies. Additionally, she co-founded GainBrands.com, a startup focused on creating videos to showcase handcrafted spirits in Southeast Asia. Throughout her career, Ying has continuously engaged in freelance projects with notable companies including UBS, Accenture, Microsoft and PayPal. Her passion lies in using video as a powerful medium to amplify the voices of charities and community projects.
Floating
Year: 2004
Director: Lynn Loo
Runtime: 4 min
Country: USA
Language: None
Rating: Exemptible
Synopsis
Showing scenes of constant movement and transition, Floating is a collection of Super 8 film footage gathered on a cross-country journey from Chicago to San Francisco in 2002. A travelling visual diary that is in search of belonging.
Director’s bio
Lynn Loo is a filmmaker and artist based in Singapore and London. Her works have been exhibited in international festivals and galleries, including the Asian Film Archive, and China’s He Xiangning Art Museum.
Moomeow The Catcow
Year: 2005
Director: Wesley Leon Aroozoo
Runtime: 10 min
Country: Singapore
Language: English
Rating: PG
Synopsis
Persephone will stop at nothing to be the best of the mad scientists. However, the age-old adage, ‘Be careful what you wish for’, might make her regret her accomplishments. Strange and surreal, this Temasek Polytechnic film production won Best of Show at the Canon Digital Video Festival.
Director’s bio
Wesley Leon Aroozoo is an award-winning author, playwright, artist, and filmmaker. His films have been screened in over a hundred festivals. He currently teaches filmmaking and screenwriting at LASALLE College of the Arts.
Fairly-A-Tale
Year: 2013
Director: Koh Chong Wu
Runtime: 20 min
Country: Singapore
Language: English, Mandarin
Rating: PG
Synopsis
Peter has always believed in the existence of fairies. Upon discovering that a plot of land, ‘Fairyground’, is due for redevelopment, he goes on an impossible offensive against the authorities in a bid for preservation. This quirky musical from Nanyang Technological University was first screened at The Substation’s First Take in 2013.
Director’s bio
Koh Chong Wu has won awards in various competitions with his short films such as Prank (2015) and Please Give Me a Chance (2016). He most recently directed the horror anthology feature Late Night Ride (2021).
Playback
Year: 2010
Director: Tan Siang Yu
Runtime: 3 min
Country: Singapore
Language: English
Rating: PG
Synopsis
A senior reminisces about his childhood, play-shooting with his best friend and decides to seek him for old times’ sake. This wholesome short was previously screened at the 3rd Singapore Short Film Awards 2012.
Director’s bio
Tan Siang Yu was formerly an art teacher at Hwa Chong Institution. He has entered many digital film competitions and won awards, including Best Film at the 48-Hour Film Project for Is There Money In This? (2009).
Zo Hee
Year: 2007
Director: Jacen Tan
Runtime: 14 min
Country: Singapore
Language: English
Rating: PG
Synopsis
Jacen Tan’s titular slacker character Ah-Tan returns in this sequel to the hysterical Zo Gang (2006), as he tries his hand at making his first movie. Specially commissioned by The Substation Moving Images to celebrate its 10th anniversary, Zo Hee features some recognizable faces from Singapore’s indie filmmaking scene.
Director’s bio
Jacen Tan was named as one of Singapore’s most exciting young filmmakers by The Straits Times. His feature film Zombiepura (2018) was released theatrically in Singapore, and is streaming on Disney Plus and Netflix Korea.
For the full Singapore Shorts ’23 programme, please click here.
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