Singapore galore @ AHSB 2009

I am not one to exaggerate, but this one sure looks huge!

ASIAN HOT SHOTS BERLIN, the newly established independent film festival in Germany’s capital, will go into its second edition January 13-18 next year, and the programme has finally been concluded (and can be viewed in full here). Many exciting new films from across the Asian region – and some nice odd ones among them – have been selected and each and every one of them deserves their packed house full of that famously sophisticated, appreciative and discerning audience Berlin is known for.

By now, I guess, none of you will be surprised any more to find me particularly pleased with the truly remarkable share of films from Singapore included, so here’s an excerpt for you:

• Invisible Children (2008) by Brian Gothong Tan, EP in competition
  preceded by After The Rain (2007) by Royston Tan, EP
• Salawati (2008) by Marc X Grigoroff, EP in competition
• Homeless FC (2007) by Lynn Lee & James Leong, GP
• Women Who Love Women (2007) by Lim Mayling, EP
  preceded by The Library (2008) by Joshua Lim, IP
• Gone Shopping (2008/Director’s Cut) by Wee Li Lin, GP
  

The festival’s trademark Singapore Hot Shots:

• My Blue Heaven by Chai Yee-wei
• 4 Dishes by Leon Cheo (in competition)
• Girl in a Red Sarong by Jeremy Sing (in competition)
• Stopdelete by Shaun Koh
• The Inner City by Liao Jiekai (in competition)
• Reflections by Ho Tzu-Nyen
• Bedok Jetty by Boo Junfeng
• Love Me Yesterday by Wesley Leon Aroozoo

Short films “Keluar Baris” by Boo Junfeng and “Londres – London” by Eva Tang will be part of a special queer shorts screening,

plus

Crows watch the curious stage and vanity by Eddie Wong will be shown in the Experimental Shorts programme – a World Premiere!

Media artist Sookoon Ang’s work “Let go Aviary” will be part of the festival’s video art exhibition.

By all standards, I think this is an impressive lineup, which makes Singapore the strongest nation by number of entries after the national focus for 2009, Indonesia, and Japan.

AHSB competitions, which will be decided by audience voting, award prizes for 1^st place and runner-up. They come with a prize money total of € 1000 for the winner and € 500 for 2^nd place in each of the two categories alike.

Good luck and a Happy New Year, everyone!

(pic©green chilies e.V.)