singapore international film festival 2007

the Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF) is upon us again and this year it celebrates its 20th Anniversary.

running from April 18th-30th, this year's festival will showcase over 300 films from 40 countries, with highlights including a special focus on Music in Film, from Heavy Metal, Punk Rock to Free Jazz ... as well as a collection of ALL the award-winning Singapore Short Films since 1991 (in a 9-hour programme), as well as a retrospective exhibition (April 10-30) of posters and stories from the SIFF collection at the National Museum of Singapore.

check out the SIFF official website for details and schedules

*read my overtly dramatic personal take on SIFF, after the jump*

i remember a time not too long ago, when the SIFF was the highlight of the year for me, both professionally and personally (it rejuvenates me / i bump into loads of folks / i enjoy films) ... and that the SIFF-booklet was a highly anticipated item and the "hunt" of which, has brought me to all parts of our little island, in search of that oft-times elusive "treasure". currently packed+stacked into non-labeled boxes amidst thy dusty corner-shelves (with used ticket-stubs, no less) somewhere in my room, are the keepsake of my celluloid memories of the film fest, that are tangible... (yes, i am a hoarder :p)


(look, seriously, i even started an archival blog dedicated to cinema-tix! LOL)

why the allure of a stacked piled of printed-paper-pages stapled -together, which happens to list SIFF-films? basically most times it's more "tangible" a resource, as the oft-times unsteady online platform it forces the filmgoers to navigate thru every year, IMO. and also a pretty darn cool keep-sake, even with the schedule-pages torn out and film-description pages circled, ticked and starred - in blue, black and red ballpoint pen-ink = a personal "markings" for level of importance of film, and hence purchasing-decision *heh*

it helped loads if your fellow colleges are avid-filmgoers as well ("hardcore", more like LOL) and you'd know when the festival comes to town and we'd flip thru the pages of the booklets ("individually", mind - and no, there were no "film appreciation huddles", that i know of anyways), in search of cinematic-nirvana (if not a "reprieve" from the regular doldrumic Hollywood-fare) with each and everyone's own personal way. having a film-fest-buddy is also a good thing. platonic or romantic, it matters not actually, for tis the shared passion for films that's important, innit? and i so dearly do not like to "hold hands" when im watching a film fest movie LOL :p

the sharing of the darkened cinema hall, with like-minded fellow film-appreciators was a heady experience. the shared laughter, the shared gasps, and yes, even the shared awkward silence (of a truly dismal celluloid offering LOL) is a somewhat indescribable collective feeling ... everyone there's for a particular shared event and experience, and that sometimes, evokes a faint feeling of "belonging" ... tho sometimes utterly "arrogant" as well, especially when it comes to dealing with thespians' views of "commercial movies" ... be that as it may, when the theatre lights darkened, you know everyone's gonna keep their trap shut and everyone's handphones are off - becoz "we know better" (there, i told you? "arrogance"? LOL) ... and woe betide the filmfest-noob whose mobile glows in the gawwdamned-dark ... gggrrrrr

i relish in the selfish moment of a filmfestflick, of not being "a nameless one" in the herd of the masses, trudging off the cliff-face of obscurity ... and as utterly ridiculous and arrogant as that may sound, it is an experience in humility, of feeling totally dumbstruck and alone, as the cinematic world swirls around you, even hours after you'd left the theatre ... having a wee stroll in the waking celluoid dream, is indeed a light step to the heart, as well as to your dragging feet, IMHO.

i've not had any courage in saying a simple "hi" or even being able to offer a "smile" or a "gawd-that-was-good-wasn't-it-nod" to "strangers" around me, especially when i watch filmfestflicks alone (one look at me folks might think ima gonna stab them there and then LOL :p) ... and of the times where directors or filmmakers conduct their Q&As and my lips would remain inevitably sealed ... a "selfish" as i'd wanted the feeling of relishing the movie for myself, i couldn't share it convincingly with others ... just as well i guess, as everyone internalizes their reactions and feelings, in their own ways ...

and as i've told my film-students (which i shouldn't, really heheheheh) - that films a great brainwashing process = imagine being cooped-up in a darkened room, with scores of other strangers for a duration of time, shivering in the clammy cold, while being told what to see, hear and feel, by this giant bright-screen right in front of you, innit? *heh*

for sure, there have been absolute duds. mayhap even much lauded works which fly past my languishing art-flick-appreciating-mind (*wank-wank*) ... but we all take the good with the bad, becoz that's what a film festival is supposed to be, to offer differing treats and story-trips - IMHO :)

and it shouldn't just cater to the "arthouse crowd" (not that that's what it set out to do), but mayhap offer an alternative, for a limited time (unfortunately), another peek into the world of celluloid, does it? becoz, seriously, i've heard folks going-on about "i only watch movies during film fests", as well as; "huh? film-fest? aiyoh, i don;t like all artie films becoz they are very slow!" = to each his own, the only way to open thy minds, is to open they minds LOL

triumphs and tragedies aside, this year has found me dragging my own feet, even to go online to find out what films are on offer. admittedly, the rave and excitement of yesteryears has dulled drastically so (not least thy financial responsibilities) and how much the passion i felt for film, both professionally and personally, has began to feast on each other silently ... as a job, it is eating into my hobby, diluting my passion ... and as a personal passion, my tastes have changed (due to circumstance, no doubt)

and tho i might rediscover the urge/desire to watch some SIFF flicks in the weeks to come, now i'm content to review my DVD collection (cheaper that way - *sob*) ... and tho i no longer have the urge nor desire to go hunt for the memory-induced allusive film fest booklet, i might just pick one up and flip thru the pages (for old time's sake), if i happen to come across one ...

and as for the rest, i sincerely hope you enjoy your chosen films and have a great experience :)