From a Cinewhore's Mind...

I recently submitted my short film, Pictures On the Wall to the Singapore International Film Festival's Singapore Short Film Competition.

Two days ago, I received an email from Festival Coordinator Joe saying that it had been disqualified from competition because it had screened at First Take at the Substation in December 2004.

I was understandably very upset and disappointed, and let him know in no uncertain terms. Now I am writing to you to appeal this decision, based on the reasons below.

The rules were only released in November 2004, and I sent in my entry in October, one month before that. How can I be expected to know the rules if they hadn't been released at the time?

Furthermore, I cannot be expected to know that these have been the rules "all along". I have been away from Singapore for three years, and prior to these years, had never made a film in Singapore before.

Secondly, The rules state that the film must not have been shown at any festival or event previously. I did not know First Take qualified as an official "event". To me, it seemed like an informal gathering of people to watch some student film. There was no competition involved, no prizes, no critics, nothing. Going by the films that were shown along with mine, it seemed like I'd submitted it to the wrong place, for everyone seemed to be showing their first projects whereas mine was a thesis film. I wanted a little exposure and it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Additionally, the usual venue was occupied at the time of the screening in December, so it had to be shown in a tiny room which fit thirty people at the most. Out of these, five of them were my friends who'd already seen the film. What kind of a pathetic reach is that?

With all the time, effort, and money I spent making this half hour short film on 16mm, I cannot just sit by and let it just be seen by twenty people. What is the point of that?

At the end of the day, I would never have submitted it to First Take if I'd known it would be grounds for disqualification from the SIFF.

And finally, a bit about the rule itself.

What is the point of having this rule in the first place? The pool of Singapore-made films is not exactly huge to begin with. Why thin it out even more by implementing this so stringently? If the whole point is to encourage local filmmaking, this runs counter to everything that stands for. How can crushing a work based on a technicality, without even considering its individual merits, be justifiable? Is all the talk about supporting local film just that, talk and nothing else?

The festival programs films from all over the world, many of which have been screened and won awards in international festivals. Why the double standards then, for local short films?

If you can watch the film and consider it for screening, I would be satisfied. I don't even care about the competition. Even if it screens out of competition I'll be more than happy. The bottom line is, please don't deny me a chance to show my work just based on a technicality.

Thank you very much