Speech by Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad at ciNE65 2021 Movie Makers Awards Ceremony

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A very good evening everyone. I am excited to be here at the ciNE65 2021 Movie Makers Awards Ceremony. I am really privileged to make my debut here at ciNE65, made even more significant under the current circumstances. For those tuning in virtually, thank you for joining us as well, as we recognise this year's excellent ciNE65 entries and celebrate our winners together.

This year's ciNE65 theme truly reflects the times we live in. In spite of the disruptions caused by COVID-19, our young filmmakers adapted very quickly and we continued with the ciNE65 activities that were planned, such as online workshops and seminars. Even though safe management measures have made conventional in-person discussions and collaborations harder for all of us, our young filmmakers worked together to produce many excellent films that highlight our people's resilience.

Films have always been a reflection of society. I have to admit that I'm a movie buff myself. Unfortunately it has been a long one year since I have watched a movie in a theatre, but thankfully we have got streaming tools to compensate but the experience is not the same. So I am always on the lookout of new films of the time, because the films, the way I look at it, mirror the mood, sentiments and outlook of society at that point in time.

So it is no wonder that COVID-linked visuals and themes have made their way into almost half of the ciNE65 submissions. And we continue to see a good number of quality entries this year. Films such as "Lockdown Wedding", "Ala-mask!" and "Whirling Gears" showed us how creativity and humour can help us look at difficult situations more positively.

I am also glad to see films featuring everyday roles that have gained prominence amidst the pandemic. "Knock, Knock" and "Kejar" – or "Chase" in Malay – capture the day-to-day struggles of our delivery persons as they strive to earn an honest day's living. These films demonstrate how simple acts of kindness keep us united in spirit and stronger as a society.

"Siti" is another beautiful story with a meaningful message. As the lead character Joyce comes to terms with her grandma's passing, she learns more about her grandma from Siti, the quiet, unassuming domestic helper and companion to her late grandmother. These bittersweet stories inspire us to treasure every moment with our elderly family members, as well as appreciate the migrant workers who leave their families to be part of ours.

Similarly, films like "Causeway Blues" and "It Might Be Us Soon" touch on migrant workers, who play an important role in sustaining our economy. The films highlight their predicament as they cope with the pandemic while yearning for their loved ones back home. With the support of their fellow workers and friends here, they find the strength to carry on.

For six seasons, ciNE65 has brought like-minded filmmakers together to showcase works that strengthen our Singaporean identity and deepen our sense of belonging to our home.

The ciNE65 community is growing, and I am pleased to see that we continue to bring on board valuable partners and alumni members who are always ready to support our efforts. This includes educational institutions like ITE College Central, Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic – the three schools with the most number of submissions this season. Thank you for your support, and please keep it up!

At this year's ciNE65 film festival held a few days ago, local filmmakers such as Huang Jun Xiang, Chong Yu Lun and Ervin Han also screened their works and shared their rich experiences with participants. Yu Lun in particular is a familiar face at ciNE65. He joined his first ciNE65 competition in 2011 and has won numerous awards since in the Jury's Choice segment, including Best Direction, Best Editing, Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography for his films. Today, he runs a film production studio with his wife and owns the popular Butterworks YouTube channel. We hope that our young filmmakers will find inspiration in his success and use the competition to gain exposure and to hone your craft.

This has been a tough year for us. More so, for the many who have had their lives and livelihoods affected by COVID-19. I would like to thank all ciNE65 participants for investing your time and your efforts in your film entries. I know it has not been easy in these times, but all of you persevered and displayed creativity and talent in producing the films. Whatever the outcome, remember that your film has made an impact on someone. To the family and friends attending virtually, I know for some of you it has been a big event for years. This year you cannot join us unfortunately. Thank you for your support for our ciNE65 participants.

The ciNE65 platform plays an important role in enabling young filmmakers to express our Singaporean identity, and your films have contributed to doing just that. We hope you will continue to create these meaningful films, and in doing so, build a stronger and more resilient society together. All the best everyone, stay safe and keep well.

Thank you very much.