Singapore – Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific (DNAP), a division of global real-world media company Discovery Communications, announced the five winners of its First Time Filmmakers (FTFM) Singapore initiative. The five filmmakers will each be commissioned to produce a 30-minute documentary based on their proposals and the completed documentaries are scheduled to premiere across the region next year, as Singapore celebrates her 50th year of independence.

The five selected filmmakers are:

– Gwendolin Mah Chin Ee

– Mark Chua Peng Leng

– Priscilla Goh

– Victor Tang Kah Wai

– Yong Shu Ling

“This is the first time that we are launching FTFM in Singapore and we are excited to be able to bring Singapore’s stories to an international audience. The FTFM initiative is at the core of what we do; it reinforces our commitment to helping nurture local filmmaking talent and contributing to the industry, while providing our viewers with engaging stories and topical programming,” said Arjan Hoekstra, President and Managing Director, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific.

14 films were shortlisted from all the entries received and the shortlisted participants were required to attend a one-day workshop and pitch to a panel of judges comprising senior representatives from DNAP, the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA), and local production company Beach House Pictures, which has been appointed as the supervising producer for the initiative. The films were chosen based on the originality, quality and strength of the idea submitted and their relevance to the theme – The Singapore Story – which pays tribute to the enduring Singapore spirit, her people, innovations, culture and history.

First launched in Asia-Pacific in 2000, the FTFM initiative is an ongoing effort by Discovery Channel to support the documentary industry, provide opportunities for non-fiction filmmakers in the region, and showcase local stories of culture and people to the world. Within the industry, the FTFM initiative has already become one of the most prestigious and reputable competitions. Many first time filmmakers in Asia Pacific have realised their dreams of bringing their ideas to life through Discovery Channel’s FTFM project.

The FTFM initiative has already provided a showcase for the talents of filmmakers in Australia, United Kingdom, South Africa, Germany, Netherlands, South East Asia and China. These local filmmakers have received recognition on the international stage and their films have won several international awards.