Jeremy Chua, general manager of SGIFF, courts young viewers and social media.
SINGAPORE – The Singapore International Film Festival plans to fight “junk food” viewing habits that have turned cinema into another social event, says its general manager Jeremy Chua, 36.
Without the festival’s counterbalancing force, Mr Chua fears young people will lose touch with cinema’s power to provide experiences beyond pure entertainment. “The Cinephile pass holders are free to set their editorial line and bring their personality. There’s no one teaching them to write or giving them a guide. They are there to build their sense of taste and writing style,” he says.
Over time, he hopes that as these creators “debate online, tag one another, they create an ecosystem of dialogue and criticism”. Schools can choose between assembly screenings and classroom sessions, with each screening including guided discussions. The programme uses relatable Singapore and Asian short films rather than experimental works, creating what Mr Chua calls “a safe space to express their thoughts and feelings” about cinema.
Mr Chua says that so far, ticket sales have been strong. Sold-out titles include Spanish film-maker Pedro Almodovar’s portrait of female friendship The Room Next Door, starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore. At the 2024 Venice International Film Festival, it won a Golden Lion, the festival’s highest award.
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