ABOUT
SGIFF launches Travelling Waves this spring, kicking off a new season of cinematic delights leading up to the 30th Singapore International Film Festival in November. For the first time, SGIFF takes its films on a Southeast Asian tour with Travelling Waves, a multi-city programme showcasing Southeast Asia’s exciting young filmmakers. Partnering with independent screening venues in each country, Travelling Waves provides a platform for the film community to network, foster open dialogues and explore our cinematic boundaries. The inaugural edition will dive into the rich cultural stories of Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, showcasing five diverse and bold voices exploring friendship, grief, love and memories.
Travelling Waves is a programme by the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF). SGIFF is an event of the Singapore Media Festival (SMF), hosted by Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA).
Please email programme@sgiff.com if you’d like to be a partner venue.
2019 PROGRAMME
KINGDOM
SINGAPORE / 2018 / 6 MIN / NO DIALOGUE
The quiet, atmospheric terrain of the forest is undisturbed until a man comes along. Seemingly lost, he enters the unknown space, observing and exploring the area, before he starts to falls apart. Beneath the deceptively simple actions of the character lies a layered approach to his psyche, which hinges on isolation and a sense of belonging.
DIRECTOR Tan Wei Keong’s animated film Between Us Two received the Best Singapore Short Film award at SGIFF 2017, and the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Short at Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival 2018. His films have screened at other prestigious festivals, including Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Animafest Zagreb and Taipei Film Festival.
HIGH WAY
MALAYSIA / 2017 / 18 MIN / MALAY
A young man travels back and forth between his parents’ public housing flats, searching for a beloved T-shirt so he can join his friends on a highway motorcycling trip.
DIRECTOR Chia Chee Sum started making short films, inspired by the everyday lives of urban dwellers, while studying at Malaysia’s Multimedia University. He is an alumnus of the Asian Film Academy.
A MILLION YEARS
CAMBODIA / 2018 / 20 MIN / KHMER
A young woman relaxes at a riverfront restaurant with a friend. Then she enters a parallel riverfront with a stranger, and they both recount stories of fear.
DIRECTOR Danech San has worked on various television and film productions, including the feature Diamond Island directed by Davy Chou. A Million Years is her debut short film.
A GIFT (KADO)
INDONESIA / 2018 / 15 MIN / BAHASA INDONESIA, MAKASSARESE
Isfi wants to prepare a special gift for Nita’s birthday, but to be accepted at Nita’s house, she has to wear the hijab.
DIRECTOR Aditya Ahmad’s short film On Stopping the Rain screened at various international film festivals. He has worked as a second assistant director at production house Miles Films, and participated in several feature film productions.
SONG X
THAILAND / 2017 / 20 MIN / NO DIALOGUE
A deserter awakes to discover that his body is lying lifelessly. Embarking on this new journey, he encounters a group of teenagers who intend to give him a cremation ceremony. At the same time, the military patrol is searching for his dead body.
DIRECTOR Mont Tesprateep holds a Master’s degree in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Arts, London. He is currently developing his first feature film.