February 26, 2001

A kaleidescope of award-winning films all around the world makes its way to Singapore this April. What lies in store for the average movie-goer?

By Angelene wong

(Click on pictures for larger image)

Other Highlights
Fringe events
As with previous years, free screenings at the Goethe Institute, workshops and seminars will be organised as part of the fringe activities.

This year, a total of 53 fringe films from Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, USA, UK and many more countries will be screened. The Fringe programme will open from April 7 with the world premiere of Singaporean Nazir Husain's Holidays In Hell, plus a collection of new Singaporean shorts.

Look out also for actor and ex-MediaCorp artiste Edmund Chen's short film directorial debut, What Goes Around Comes Around.

Silver Screen Awards
A day before the close of the Fest, the Singapore Film Commission will present the 11th Silver Screen Awards 2001, an annual film event introduced in 1991 which has helped catapult local filmmakers like Eric Khoo, Cheah Chee Kong (Chicken Rice War) and Djinn Ong Lay Jin to international recognition. In total, 11 Asian countries have submitted 16 features.

There are 6 entries in the Singapore Short Film Category and these will also be featured in the Fest as part of the fringe activities.

Comfort, comfort comfort
The organising committee has secured the whole of GVGrand Multiplex Cinema (Great World City) for the duration of the Fest, so you can enjoy the films in pure comfort.

Thank goodness you won't have to travel to those godforsaken cinemas at Textile Centre anymore.

Telly talk
No time nor spare cash to buy a ticket? Fear not. Arts Central will be producing a 4-part series to keep viewers updated on the SIFF for the first time.

The half-hour series, Festival Focus, will commence on Sunday, April 1 at 9.30 pm.

Episode 1 of the series will unfold with the opening and closing films as well as the critically-acclaimed movies at the Fest. Episode 2 will zoom in on this year's theme: reality film.

Episode 3 will look at the fringe events while Episode 4 will showcase all 16 films participating in the Silver Screen Awards, a week prior to the event on April 27.

In addition, Arts Central - the official TV station for the SIFF for the second year running - will produce a 2-part documentary on short film-makers in Singapore titled To Cut The Long Story Short.

Also, finalists for the short film category in the Silver Awards will be screened by the station.

So, even if you don't make it to a single film, you can still impress your friends with your 'instant degree' in film.

Film trailers on the Net
Movie buffs will, for the first time, be able to check out trailers prior to booking their tickets. A total of 12 movies can be previewed on PlanetMG.com, Asia's first music portal to offer secured music downloads, starting from March 2, 2001.

How To Get Tix
Tickets will be on sale from March at CalendarONE outlets at Centrepoint, Century Square, Forum -The Shopping Mall, Funan-The IT Mall, Great World City, Jurong Point, Marina Square, Suntec City Mall, Tanglin Mall, The Substation, West Mall and Planet Hollywood. CalendarONE tickets hotline: 296-2929

Alternatively, do your booking online.

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