After proving itself as a hit in Singapore, the local film anthology 7 Letters will take to a bigger screen later this year at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) from October 1 to 10.
The critically acclaimed work is made up of short films by seven local filmmakers Boo Junfeng, Eric Khoo, K. Rajagopal, Jack Neo, Tan Pin Pin, Kelvin Tong and Royston Tan.
It has been so well received locally that its run in Golden Village cinemas has been extended to September 2. Critics have praised the film for its poignant storytelling and ability to bring together the styles of individual filmmakers, ranging from Jack Neo, known for his commercially successful comedies, to documentary filmmaker Tan Pin Pin.
(Read our review for 7 Letters)
(Click here for our overview of the upcoming Busan International Film Festival 2015!)
This is not the first time works by some of these directors are appearing at the BIFF. For instance, Boo Junfeng’s feature film Sandcastle, about the struggles of an 18 year old, was part of the festival in 2010.
However, 7 Letters will allow a collection of shorts from seven of Singapore’s most illustrious filmmakers to be seen by an international audience in one sitting.
In The Room by director Eric Khoo and 3688 by director Royston Tan will also be shown at the festival this year as part of its A Window on Asian Cinema showcase.
The Hong Kong-Singaporean film by Khoo features six stories of couples, set in a brothel in a hotel in Singapore. Last year, local media had cast the limelight on the film’s erotic themes, but Khoo had come forward to clarify that the film is not a sex movie but rather one of its key elements is an ode to national cultural trends, landmarks and pop music in Singapore.
3688 revolves around a parking attendant called Fei Fei, who dreams of becoming a singer but has to cope with struggles such as an elderly father who has dementia.
Tan’s source of inspiration for the movie was the late Taiwanese singer Fong Fei-Fei, who had the nickname “Queen of Hats” because of her fanciful headgear. The $1.8 million movie will have its international premiere at the film festival.
3688 is slated to open in Singapore on 17 September.
Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen will also be a directing mentor in the BIFF’s Asian Film Academy 2015, which is an educational programme in which young filmmakers will put together and produce two short films in 18 days. Chen’s first feature film Ilo Ilo (2013) received the Golden Camera Award in the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and since then it has also been shown at more than 20 international film festivals.
Singapore films at the Busan International Film Festival 2015
- 7 Letters by Eric Khoo, Jack Neo, Rajagopal K, Royston Tan, Tan Pin Pin, Boo Junfeng and Kelvin Tong