National Youth Film Awards 2022 on 19 August 2022

Closing speech by Mr Alvin Tan, Minister of Statement for Culture, Community and Youth, and Trade and Industry, at the National Youth Film Awards 2022 on 19 August 2022

Distinguished guests,
Award nominees,
Ladies and gentlemen

1. A very good afternoon to everyone.
2. We are here today for the National Youth Film Awards, to recognise the efforts and achievements of our aspiring young filmmakers.
   

   A Platform for Our Youths to Find Their Voice

3. Since 2015, the National Youth Film Awards, or NYFA for short, has served as a platform for our youths to find their unique voice through the craft of filmmaking, and for young filmmakers and storytellers to connect with each other and others in the industry.
   • The Film Facilitation Programme, which *SCAPE offers as an extension of NYFA, provides young filmmakers funding support, networking opportunities within the media industry, and mentorship with established industry experts.
   • Over the past two years, *SCAPE partnered The Projector Plus and Objectifs Film Library to showcase the short films of some of our FFP participants, and NYFA winners and nominees to a wider audience on their video-on-demand platforms.
4. The NYFA is also as a springboard for our young filmmakers into the global industry. Many of our NYFA winners have ventured beyond our local shores earning international recognition and bringing our local stories and storytelling to global audiences.
   • For example, 2020 and 2021 NYFA winner, Calleen Koh, has had her films screened at over 30 film festivals and award shows. Her works were also nominated for prestigious awards like the British Academy Film Awards. Her animation works were also screened at film festivals in France, Germany, and Spain, highlighting that Singaporean youths have stature globally and internationally. 

   Endless Pursuit of Honing the Craft of Filmmaking

5. We have also seen:
   • Pan Wenbo from National Junior College was awarded the Most Promising Award under the Student Category for his film, 大鸟 (The Giant Bird), this year. We look forward to many different awards and films coming from your storytelling book. 
   • Vikneshwaran Silva, who has won Best Director in the Open Youth Category for two consecutive years, covered scenes of poverty and the elderly in Singapore through his film, Altar. You shared earlier on that you wanted to take that same vantage point from the altar.
   • We also celebrate the efforts and contributions of this year’s Youth Inspiration Award recipient, Jerrold Chong. He is a talented filmmaker and also the co-founder of a local animation studio called Finding Pictures and his films have been featured in numerous international film festivals such as the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight. More recently, he co-directed the heart-warming music video for last year’s National Day theme song “The Road Ahead”, which has won many different hearts and minds. Jerrold has also given back to the local animation community by initiating the Animated Visions Story Development Lab where he mentors the next generation of storytellers. 

   Alternative Pathways for Youths

6. Apart from NYFA, *SCAPE also hosts a series of programmes that encourage exploration across different filmmaking forms, to expand the opportunities available to young creatives. *SCAPE recently unveiled new initiatives, such as:
   • MOV:MENT Lab, where dancers and choreographers looking to gain experience in film are supported through funding, mentorship and networking opportunities, 
   • Series Pitch Lab, which trains young filmmakers to meet a growing demand in the industry for series writers. From April to May 2022, industry veterans Jessica Lee and Ler Jiyuan mentored 10 participants to put together a pitch bible and learn how to craft episodic content, and
   • The Film Critics Lab, a mentorship programme that guides young writers to review films and spark conversations on film locally. Participants are rewarded for their published reviews on local film websites like Sinema and Singapore Film Society, providing additional incentive for young critics to nurture their talent.
7. You may have heard of Forward Singapore, an exercise which was launched by Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Lawrence Wong, in June this year. We envision a society that celebrates and rewards talents beyond the conventional academic achievements, and where individuals are provided with opportunities to excel in their chosen field, like storytelling.
8. Thank you *SCAPE and NYFA for continuing to empower our budding young storytellers to tell stories within Singapore and to take our stories globally and overseas. 
   

   Conclusion

9. Please continue to tell your stories because we love them and we support them.
   
   Thank you very much.