The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is proud to announce a trio of well-respected industry experts who will mentor in its series of Film Academy developmental programmes with the festival. Part of SGIFF’s Call for Entry submissions include applications to these programmes. Beyond film screenings, the Film Academy programmes are part of the Festival’s ambition is to nurture film talent in Singapore and Southeast Asia. 

Introducing the prolific filmmaker, Tan Chui Mui who will take on the role as Mentor for the 2021 Southeast Asian Film Lab. Tan Chui Mui is a Malaysian filmmaker who has won prestigious awards in international film festivals such as Busan International Film Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam, Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival and Oberhausen Short Film Festival. She is also the first Malaysian filmmaker invited to the Cannes Cinefondation Residency and has served as Jury and Mentor in many international and regional film festivals. 

Veteran producer, Fran Borgia will head this year’s Southeast Asian Producers Network as Programme Specialist as the Festival opens its doors for the first time to welcome interested applicants for selection to diversify and widen the network and to further encourage the potential for collaboration, idea exchange and inspiration across countries.  

Last but not least, the ever-insightful Youth Jury & Critics Programme will be led by esteemed local playwright and poet, Alfian Sa’at. Alfian Sa’at is the Resident Playwright of Wild Rice, and has won the Golden Point Award for Poetry as well as the National Arts Council Young Artist Award for Literature in 2001. 

The SGIFF Film Academy is the region’s first holistic training initiative to support Southeast Asian film talents and nurture film appreciation among the audience. A launch pad for mentorship, exchange of ideas and strengthening film literacy, the developmental programmes aim to enhance the capabilities of the regional film scene collectively.

In addition, SGIFF is glad to announce an extension for its Call for Entry submissions deadlines due to appeals to 3 September 2021 for Asian and Southeast Asian Feature Films and Short Films, and to 10 September 2021 for applicants to participate in SGIFF Film Academy programmes – Southeast Asian Film Lab,  Southeast Asian Producers Network and Youth Jury & Critics Programme.

For more information on Call for Entry, please visit https://www.sgiff.com/call-for-entry-2021/.