Adrianna GarciaASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, turns 42 on Aug 8. To celebrate this milestone, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be organising the ASEAN Cinematic Showcase over 3 days, beginning on Aug 4.
5 specially selected movies produced in Southeast Asia will be screened to salute ASEAN’s diversity. Organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore in partnership with m:idea, Singapore’s first student-run media conglomerate from School of Film & Media Studies at Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), the showcase aims to expose students from tertiary institutions and the general public to stories in the region.
Singapore’s My Magic and Thailand’s The Tin Mine will be the curtain-raisers of the event at NP on Aug 4, followed by Malaysia’s Goodbye Boys and True Love produced by Myanmar the next day. My Magic director Eric Khoo was nominated for the prestigious Golden Palm Award at the recent Cannes Film Festival, and the movie’s Francis Bosco won a Best Actor award at the Asian First Film Festival.
The closing film Rainbow Troops, will be screened at the National University of Singapore’s University Cultural Centre. The Indonesian film, a hopeful and heartwarming story about a group of students and teacher fighting against all odds to prevent their school from closing down, promises to leave audiences charmed and touched. It will bring the showcase to a fitting finale, making a symbolic statement about the hopes, struggles and dreams of ASEAN to rise above all challenges in order to become a force to be reckoned with in the region and beyond.
To secure your free tickets, email asean.cinematic@gmail.com.
Event Details
Date/Time: 4 August 1900-2230
Venue: Ngee Ann Polytechnic Preview Theatre, School of Film & Media Studies, Level 9
Film: My Magic (Singapore) & The Tin Mine (Thailand)
Synopsis:
My Magic
By Eric Khoo / Singapore / PG / 75 min
Francis is a broken single parent who struggles to win his son’s respect and love as he makes a bizarre return to magic in a bid to seek redemption and acceptance. My Magic addresses issues of love, life, family ties, redemption and magic.
My Magic was nominated for the Golden Palm award at the Cannes Festival.
In Tamil with English subtitles
The Tine Mine
By Jira Maligool / Thailand / NC 16 / 110 min
The Tin Mine is adapted from Ajin Panjapan’s collection of semi-autographed short stories about a young man who learns about life while living in a mining camp. The movie brings to screen the mining life set in southern Thailand in the 1940s and more importantly, a story about earning respect and growing up.
The Tim Mine was the official entry from Thailand for Best Foreign Language Film at the 78th Academy Awards.
In Thai with English subtitles
Date/Time: 5 August 1900-2230
Venue: Ngee Ann Polytechnic Preview Theatre, School of Film & Media Studies, Level 9
Film: Goodbye Boys (Malaysia) & True Love (Myanmar)
Synopsis:
Goodbye Boys
By Bernard Chauly / Malaysia / PG / 88 min
Set in 1990, Malaysia, Goodbye Boys is about a gang of pimply guys with raing hormones, undecided ambitions and formative identities. They set out on a grueling five-day journey though the Kinta Valley that changes friendships and themselves.
In English, Cantonese and Malay with English subtitles.
True Love
By Kyi Soe Tun / Malaysia / 128 min
True Love portrays the love story between a Japanese man and a young Burmese woman. Mee Mee, the girl, travels to Japan to live with her father, and in the process, meets the Japanese love of her life. It is a story abouy sacrifice and the different facets of love.
In Burmese with English Subtitles
Date/Time: 6 August 2030-2230
Venue: National University of Singapore, University Cultural Centre
Movie: Rainbow Troops (Indonesia) BY INVITATION ONLY
Synopsis:
Rainbow Troops
By Riri Riza / Indonesia / PG / 125 min
Based on a best-selling novel written by Andrea Hirata, Laskar Pelangi (Rainbow Troops) is a heartwarming tale about a group of students and their teacher who struggle against all odds to keep their school from closing down in the village.
Set in the quaint Belitong island of Sumatra, the film is a real inspiration to all, as it captures both the values of friendship
and the many struggles of humanity to come together for a common cause. This memorable and poignant film will leave audiences touched.
In Indonesian with English subtitles.
How to Get to Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Directions if you are travelling by public transport:
Buses stopping at Ngee Ann Polytechnic Main Bus Stop: 52, 61, 74, 75, 151, 154 & 184
MRT Station to alight: Clementi MRT Station. Take bus 154 or 184 towards Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Ushers will be stationed at various checkpoints beginning from the bus stop and along the walkway to guide all visitors. Ushers will be decked in black polo shirt.
Directions if you are travelling by car:
1. Enter through the main entrance (refer to map) and turn left after the zebra crossing.
2. Turn right and drive up the slope.
3. Turn right upon seeing School of Film & Media Studies and Chapman University.
4. Turn left into the car park at Blk 52/53 School of Film & Media Studies and Makan Place.