Supporting the aspirations of our young filmmakers

Distinguished guests,

Award nominees and young filmmakers,

Ladies and gentlemen

Introduction

1. A very good afternoon. Welcome to the third edition of the National Youth Film Awards (NYFA). It gives me great pleasure to be here and celebrate the achievements of our young filmmaking talents. I want to congratulate all nominees here today. Your films have gone through rigorous scrutiny by our jury panel before being shortlisted.

Film is a powerful medium for storytelling and social good

2. Film is a powerful medium for storytelling. The combination of moving visuals, sound effects, and skilful editing can move our emotions, fire our imagination, and bring people together. More than just entertainment, film can show us new ways to view the world and ourselves. It can also inspire change, by shining a spotlight on people and communities who may not have a voice.

3. Through film, we open a window into the hearts and minds of our young filmmakers. This year, NYFA received over 200 entries across a wide range of genres, including comedy, romance and live action. These diverse and creative works reflect issues that are important to you – such as relationships within families, ageing, and the meaning of happiness. For example, Cherish depicts lessons learnt by a young boy and his estranged grandmother as they navigate their intergenerational relationship. Another film, Galanthus, explores the psyche of a man in his late 50s who struggles with the loss of his child, while putting on a front to make other people happy as a professional clown. I believe many of these stories will resonate with the audience and society at large.

4. As young filmmakers, you can become a driving force for social good. Through your films, you touch on values that are important to your peers and the broader population, such as resilience, compassion and inclusivity. These values make our country a better and more endearing home.

NYFA is a significant platform for young filmmakers to transition to the film industry

5. When the NYFA was first launched in 2015, the aim was to provide a podium for excellent work, and give budding filmmakers like yourself a platform to launch your careers. It has since become an important milestone for many media students. Many of our NYFA participants have gone on to fly the Singapore flag high at regional and global platforms.

6. Take Chicken Beauty Pageant, which won the Best Editing in Documentary Film last year. It premiered online this May and has garnered more than 1.6 million views to date. Animator, Ronald Fong, who swept the animation awards last year with his film, You Ci Ke (有刺客,yŏu cì kè) started his own 3D animation and motion design studio – Masonry Studios – after graduation. Since then, Ronald has worked on projects with renowned brands like McDonalds, and more recently, this year's National Day Parade music video. Han (Ha-n), which won the Best Picture and Best Direction awards last year, travelled to film festivals around the world, including Indonesia, Cleveland and Poland. Han's cinematographer Rachel Liew did us proud by clinching the coveted Student Etudes Golden Tadpole prize at Poland's Camerimage (Ca-mer-image) Film Festival.

7. NYFA has become an important platform for our young filmmakers. We will continue to provide you with opportunities to showcase your works. The organisers of NYFA have introduced a new category for non-media students, who despite not studying filmmaking formally, aspire to get into this sector. I hope this will uncover more creative and technical talents in film and media, and provide more opportunities for like-minded youths.

*SCAPE will continue to support young filmmakers and youth aspirations

8. The profession of filmmaking takes time to master. I urge you to continue to strive for excellence beyond the Awards. *SCAPE will support you throughout this journey, through regular engagements with the media industry, technical workshops for media skills development, and platforms such as *SCAPE TV.

9. *SCAPE's partnerships with sponsors and supporters can also link you up with the right people in the domestic and international media industry, so that you can find your place in the rapidly-evolving media landscape. In fact, two of our sponsors, Hyundai and Sony, will be handing out specially commissioned commercial projects to the winners of the Best Direction and Best Camerawork awards respectively. I hope this will help launch the careers of some of our young people here.

10. Beyond film, the National Youth Council and *SCAPE will support you in a range of diverse interests - from singing, art, community service to e-gaming. We believe that if you own your dreams, you can make them happen.

Conclusion

11. I would like to congratulate our young filmmakers for your success. This is only the beginning; I hope you will share your stories about Singapore with the world. By going to the heart of who we are, your works and stories help strengthen our sense of national identity, and bind us together as Singaporeans.

12. I would also like to extend my appreciation to NYC and DBS Bank for co-presenting the Awards, as well as partners and sponsors of NYFA who have made it possible for us to support Singapore's aspiring filmmakers. Thank you!