Golden Village launches GV25 Film Shorts in support of next generation of filmmakers in Singapore

Singapore’s leading cinema exhibitor, Golden Village, launched GV25 Film Shorts earlier this month, a new grant scheme for aspiring filmmakers to make a short film here in Singapore.
Working in conjunction with distinguished local directors Kelvin Tong and Boris Boo, the initiative will see three successful applicants receive a grant of S$ 2,000 each to make a short film, with the Best Short Film receiving a further cash prize of S$ 3,000 and the opportunity to be screened in Golden Village’s multiplexes.
The initiative has been developed as part of Golden Village’s 25-year anniversary celebrations, and requires the film story line to align with the theme Past, Present & Future. Applications will be judged according to a predetermined points system, with filmmakers for the top eight shortlisted films being invited to present their script to a Judging Panel made up of the two directors, Boris Boo and Kelvin Tong, representation from the Singapore Film Society, YouTuber Tree Potatoes and Golden Village.
The general public will be able to vote for their favourite film in an online poll in September, with the public vote accounting for 25% of each films’ final score.
The films will then be screened for the first time at a private screening in October, after which the judging panel will vote for the Best Short Film. The judging panel’s vote will account for 75% of the films’ final score.

Speaking about the initiative, director of The Maid, Rule #1, It’s a Great Great World and his latest Hollywood production “The Faith of Anna Waters”, Kelvin Tong said:
“I am honoured to be invited to be a part of this great initiative. When I was starting out as a filmmaker, making a short film wasn’t the challenge, but getting it seen by audiences was the harder thing to achieve. The fact that the winning short film will be shown island wide in Golden Village cinemas and receive a cash prize is going to be a huge incentive for any filmmaker.”
Another industry figurehead behind the project is Boris Boo. Director of Love Matters, Where Got Ghost, The Ghosts Must Be Crazy and upcoming feel-good movie Lucky Boy, Boo added:

“I am truly honoured to be a part of the GV25 Film Shorts competition as a judge and I look forward to meeting some of the most creative individuals in Singapore. In this digital age where all of us have smartphones, anybody can make a video. However, not everyone will be able to get their films shown on the big screens, and so what Golden Village is offering the winner of this competition is a truly amazing opportunity to jumpstart their career.”
Clara Cheo, CEO of Golden Village Multiplex, said: “We’re very excited to launch GV25 Film Shorts. Golden Village has always been committed to a vibrant film culture in Singapore but this initiative enables us to go a step further by directly investing in home-grown film talent.
“I’d like to thank members of the Singapore film community for their support of this important initiative, particularly Boris, Kelvin and the Singapore Film Society for giving their time to participate in the Judging Panel and mentoring the successful applicants. GV25 Film Shorts is a fitting celebration of our 25-year anniversary in Singapore – we’re already looking forward to the next 25 years!” added Clara.
Key dates to remember for the competition are:

• Launch / Call for participants – 6 April to 31 May
• Submission Closes – 31 May
• Grant Awards Event – 13 June
• Mentoring Session – 11 July
• Submission of Final Film – 17th September
• Public Voting – 18th Sep to 13th October
• Film Judging Event – 18th October
• Best Film Screened – 19th to 31st October

GV25 Film Shorts is open to all aspiring filmmakers aged 16-years and over. 
For further information on GV25 Film Shorts click here and follow Golden’s Village’s Facebook page.