Fact Sheet: ciNE65 Fact Sheet

ABOUT ciNE65

Launched by Nexus in July 2011, ciNE65 encourages aspiring film-makers to tell their Singapore story and what Singapore means to them. Through ciNE65, Nexus hopes to harness the potential of short films to touch the hearts and minds of Singaporeans and to recognise and nurture local film-making talents.

The word "cine" means film while the number "65" connotes all things Singaporean - from our year of independence in 1965 to our international dialing code (+65).

The theme for the third season of ciNE65, "Believing • Home", is inspired by the spirit of our pioneers who believed in Singapore and worked together to build a strong, secure and cohesive nation, our home. Therefore, ciNE65 Season Three is centered on the idea of believing in Singapore, because this is home.

OBJECTIVES OF ciNE65

• To encourage Singaporeans to express and embrace our Singaporean identity through film and;

• To nurture budding film-makers.

COMPETITION OVERVIEW

PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES

• Singaporeans can participate as an individual or as a team.

• Each team should not exceed six (6) members.

• Non-Singaporeans residing in Singapore can participate as part of a team.

There are two categories - Student Category and Open Category in this competition.

Student Category

• Full-time students, who are studying in a local educational institution at the point of registration, are eligible to participate in this category. Non-Singaporean students residing in Singapore are welcome to be part of the team.

• Overseas Singaporeans, who are studying full-time in an educational institution abroad, at the point of registration, are eligible to participate in this category.

Open Category

• All Singaporeans (including overseas Singaporeans) are eligible to participate in this category. Non-Singaporeans residing in Singapore are welcome to be part of the team.

• Submitted films should be original and should not be previously submitted for other competitions. The submitted films should revolve around the competition theme, "Believing • Home". Each short film must adhere to the given theme and be no longer than 3:00 minutes in duration (including opening and ending credits). All film submissions must be produced in high definition (HD) quality.

All films must be submitted to www.cine65.sg by 6 April 2015, 2359hrs.

Please refer to the www.cine65.sg for a full list of the participation guidelines.

AWARDS AND PRIZES

There are three award categories: Jury's Choice Awards, Audience Choice Awards and Inter-School Challenge. The Jury's Choice Awards comprise eight technical awards each for the Student and Open Categories. The Jury's Choice Awards will be determined by a panel made up of the organiser and industry professionals. 

The Audience Choice Awards comprise three awards which will be determined by the total number of votes received from the public.

The Inter-School Challenge applies only to the Student Category and it will be awarded to the school with the highest number of quality entries submitted by teams made up of members from the same school.

Only entries shortlisted by the Selection Panel will qualify for the award/s. An entry may be nominated for more than one award. A winning entry for any award will still be eligible for other prizes that it is nominated for.

SYNOPSES OF WINNING FILMS AND SPECIAL MENTION AWARDS

To view the winning videos, please visit ciNE65 website (www.cine65.sg) or the ciNE65 YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/cine65sg).

Open Category

Unwavering (https://youtu.be/9xIUgD7PXhI)  

Winner of "Overall Best Film"

Unwavering is a film based on an old cleaner, who reminisces about the times when she set out to achieve her dreams and aspirations. Even in the monotony of her days present, she endeavours with unwavering belief and commitment, both cornerstone characteristics of our Singapore Pioneer Generation.

VOTE (https://youtu.be/fq3faT1TO7s)

Winner of "Best Direction" and "Best Screenplay"

A lifelong friendship is put to the test, when Rajan asks Pushpa for the biggest sacrifice of her life.

Our promise, our belief (https://youtu.be/7ftJP0qBNx4)

Winner of "Best Cinematography" and "Best Editing"

Benjamin makes a speech on his big day to thank the two brothers who have been there for him all this while. The three boys then reminisce about the innocent promise made years ago which they believed in – overcoming all challenges, even with the difference in cultures and colours. Harmony is what we believe it to be. When there is harmony, it is home.

When I grow up (https://youtu.be/gXPrrrILggw)

Winner of "Best Art Direction"

A girl ponders about what she wants to be when she grows up, and looks to the past for inspiration.

INLAND (https://youtu.be/qHy7F5MSCnA)

Winner of "Best Sound Design"

Being wounded in battle, a soldier seeks refuge in an abandoned building. On the brink of giving up, he remembers what he's fighting for.

一针一线 (A Needle A Stitch) (https://youtu.be/wMhiqWLSnSo)

Winner of "Best Documentary"

'A Needle A Stitch' is based on an interview with an elderly uncle who runs a clothes alteration shop with his wife. It is reflective of their lives where they live by a needle a stitch every day. It is their bread and butter and their passion. Without it, their lives, after caring for their children, would seem purposeless. They are an inspiration to many elderly who have lost their direction and do not have something to hold on at the later stages of their lives.

Student Category

Home-made 家味 (https://youtu.be/V6XFOD18Vpg)

Winner of "Overall Best Film", "Best Screenplay" and "Best Sound Design"

Home-made is a short monologue about a young Singaporean chef, Joey (Ah Boy). He participates in an international cooking competition, drawing inspiration from and seeking to achieve the taste of his grandmother (Ah Ma)'s dishes. Home-made resonates with the theme of "Believing • Home" by presenting something Singaporean on the international stage.

Treasure (https://youtu.be/pnSgdioDvg8)

Winner of "Best Direction"

Treasure is the story of how perseverance and hope can build a nation. De Ming comes home from school in a bad mood. He tells his father he is doing badly in school. Feeling demoralised and dejected, his father thinks of a way to cheer his son up and motivate him. His father takes De Ming to Chinatown to find some treasures. De Ming wants to give up, but his father encourages him. They find the treasure. When De Ming opens the treasure box, he is not impressed. They look at the city skyline and the boy reaches an epiphany; it is Singapore that has come so far to evolve into a glorious nation filled with abundance and prosperity, all through the determination of our forefathers. His father explains how the fruit of hard work and perseverance is the foundation of building a nation. Through this journey of self-confidence and ambition, 'Treasure' shows how a little incentive can spur Singaporeans to believe in themselves and achieve great heights.

L'Amant (The Lover) (https://youtu.be/h9opkDVEh-Q)

Winner of "Best Cinematography"

A man passionately describes his lover. Who might the elusive one be? L'Amant is about a Frenchman talking about his love for Singapore. 

Blk 401 (https://youtu.be/yik8hfbgluo)

Winner of "Best Editing"

A young man finds the feeling of home in the coffee shop he used to visit, as he reminisces fragments of his childhood and adolescence there.

Dedication (https://youtu.be/qLpl_OQWErc)

Winner of "Best Art Direction" and "Best Documentary"

Reminiscing about his late father, a young man delves into what it means to be dedicated to one's home.

Audience Choice Awards

Sightless (https://youtu.be/FKAn6nWenh0)

Favourite Film

A father teaches his son a valuable lesson to trust and appreciate his people and his surroundings

Le Shiong who plays Andrew in Homeground (https://youtu.be/xErHw_xY6IE)

Favourite Actor

Andrew is going through a typical bad day, but an incident helps him realise a quiet truth.

Beverly Wong who plays the mother in This is Home (https://youtu.be/pLAGFDi3GFg)

Favourite Actress

An overseas educated daughter, a widow and a dying grandmother come together for a family dinner on National Day.

Special Mention Awards

Open Category

SEEING (https://youtu.be/P8Fpb8WvBFE) 

Special Mention Award

SEEING is about how a visually handicapped man's daily struggles eases off with the help of a multiracial society that is caring – one of the core values of a nation which shapes a healthy society.

Tomorrow will you love me? (https://youtu.be/T5Y06Lw9HWY)

Special Mention Award

"Tomorrow Will You Love Me" explores the magical world of Singapore street wayang.   "Wayang" is a Malay word meaning "theatrical performance". The film explores the lives and struggles of these opera and puppet performers both on and off stage. Mr Wu and his troupe members have been performing Chinese opera in Singapore since the 1970's.   Currently 66 years old, Mr Wu and his members, many of whom belong to the pioneer generation, believe in what they do and will continue to perform this tradition in modern Singapore till they no longer can.

Wet Market (https://youtu.be/h3iG0C9tW30)

Special Mention Award

Home is where the heart is – or rather, where the fruits are. In 'Wet Market', a nonchalant son learns to appreciate the love and care of his mother, through the wisdom of a fruit stall uncle.

Genggam (Clench) (https://youtu.be/tPeLpCRsmY4)

Special Mention Award

During the Japanese Occupation, prisoners of different races were imprisoned. However, the prisoners managed to overcame all odds to go against the Kempeitei. Unity. Strength. Racial Harmony overcame everything.

Student Category

The Journey (https://youtu.be/UP6DHNDGtRA)

Special Mention Award

A docu-story on Singapore's first female Regimental Sergeant Major in National Day Parade 2011.

Home Brewed (https://youtu.be/qDqr9ikkmAk)

Special Mention Award

The journey of two close friends as they grow up during Singapore's early years. Contrasting ambitions and goals pull them apart when adulthood kicks in but fate eventually brings them back together again for a cup of coffee.

Sightless (https://youtu.be/FKAn6nWenh0)

Special Mention Award

A father teaches his son a valuable lesson to trust and appreciate his people and his surroundings

JUDGING CRITERIA

The jury is comprised of film industry professionals and partners of ciNE65 Season Three. The jury will judge each film based on the following criteria:

Relevance to Theme

The film should reflect the theme "Believing • Home".  

Ability to convey ideas

The film should be effective in engaging and encouraging viewers to reflect on the messages behind the story.

Execution & Treatment

The films should demonstrate a high standard of technical execution. This includes quality visuals, sound design and audio integration, lighting and camera positioning, and other relevant aspects that contribute to a positive viewing experience.

Originality

The film should be presented in a unique manner through the use of creative film-making techniques, imaginative writing and directing, and an original plot.

Emotive Impact

The film should engage the emotions of the audience and leave a lasting impression.

ciNE65 SEASON THREE JURY

The jury comprises:

Boris Boo, film director

Chai Yee Wei, film director

Edmund Chen, Director of Asiatainment Pte Ltd

Jeremy Sing, founder & editor of SINdie website

Joe Ng, film and TV music composer

K. Rajagopal, film-maker

Kat Goh, film director

Jason Lai, co-founder & Director of Content at Oak3

Mardhiah Osman, film lecturer at LASALLE College of the Arts

Sharon Loh, cinematographer

Colonel Roland Ng, Director, Nexus

WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS

To help budding film-makers develop their potential in film-making, ciNE65 Season Three offers professional advice on film-making through workshops and seminars. A total of five workshops and three seminars were held during the course of the competition.

Workshops

One of Singapore's most prolific film directors, Chai Yee Wei held a workshop on the preparation work needed behind the scenes when working on a film set.  Award-winning Singapore production company, BananaMana Films held workshops to provide tips to aspiring film-makers tips on how to create an engaging web series. Lastly, pioneer film-maker, and academic board member of the Singapore Media Academy, Juan Foo, also held a workshop which gave aspiring film-makers a better insight into the craft of scriptwriting.

Seminars

Renowned local Director Ric Aw's "The Director's Process" seminar helped participants better understand the process of how the director's vision comes alive from script to production. Pok Yue Weng, who co-runs the production house, The Creative Room, held a seminar, "Visual Language of Film". There, participants learnt how to interpret and use visuals to communicate the story of a film. Lastly, Kenny Tan, winner of the "Overall Best Film" in the second season of ciNE65 Season Two, spoke at the "Homespun Stories – Singapore in Film" seminar. There, he shared insights on Singaporean identity, culture and lifestyle in films. Kenny is also one of three commissioned film-makers for ciNE65 Season Three.

WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS

For more information on ciNE65 Season Three, please visit the following social media platforms:

Official Facebook microsite: www.cine65.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cine65
YouTube: www.youtube.com/cine65sg
Instagram: www.instagram.com/cine65

More Resources

• ciNE65 Season Three Concludes on a Record High