Sinema Officially Kicks Off September Screenings at GV Grand

Singapore, 15 August 2012 — Singapore independent films will make their comeback to commercial screens this September as Sinema firms up its programming in collaboration with Singapore’s leading cinema exhibitor, Golden Village. 

Kicking off the return of Sinema will be two award-winning films, When Hainan Meets Teochew and 18 Grams of Love, by local director Han Yew Kwang. Cinema-goers will be able to enjoy this alternative content in a more accessible location, with both films screened in GV Grand on Wednesdays, 12^th and 26^th September 2012. Golden Village will apportion a dedicated four-hour time slot from 6.30pm to 10.30pm, every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month for Sinema’s regular programmed screenings.

Film-enthusiasts will fall in love with romantic comedy 18 Grams of Love, which won Bronze Award and topped the Audience Choice category at the 13th Lyon Asian Film Festival, features an ironic and bittersweet viewpoint on the complexities of love. Touching on affairs close to the heart, the film explores the integral pillars of trust and communication between men and their wives. 

Having garnered some of the best reviews for a local film in 2010, When Hainan Meets Teochew returns to the screens due to popular demand. The gender-bending Singaporean comedy film also made its international premiere at the 35^th Hong Kong International Film Festival, as well as the 34^th Asian American International Film Festival, featuring an interesting concoction of a mismatched couple who do not fall into society’s expectation of a handsome male lead and a beautiful female protagonist.  

Audience members will also be treated to a 30-minute post-screening discussion session with film director Han Yew Kwang himself, to complete the film-watching experience. 

The addition of Sinema’s content to Golden Village’s line-up of films aims to drive increased awareness of Singapore and Asian films among mainstream audience members. Both organisations are known for their strong support of local productions, which has brought award-winning Singaporean films such as 881 by Royston Tan,    12 Storeys by Eric Khoo, It’s a Great Great World by Kelvin Tong and others to the Singapore movie-goers. 

For trailers: http://www.sinema.sg

Organized in partnership with Sinema, the National Library Board's Screen Series kicked off last Friday, 27 May, with a screening of The Soloist. The series aims to showcase and explore the roles that the various arts genre can play in our lives through the popular medium of films. The audience present was a mix of working professionals and other curious strangers. Most had heard of the film before, and one or two had even watched the film previously and wished to catch it again and discuss it in depth. 

Nicholas Chee, one of Sinema's founders, facilitated the post-film discussion. Mr Chee talked about basic film deconstruction and sub-plots, and the art of storytelling, in this case, that of the ‘hero’s journey’. He shared personal experiences along the theme of finding oneself, and the audience shared a range of perspectives as well. Paired with Mr Chee's background in visual communication and filmmaking, there was an overall exchange of interesting insights. 

The session concluded with plans for further discussion, on an online platform, and the audience was directed to ‘go arts’s’ Facebook page for more information. 

If you're looking for an accessible platform for open discussion on interesting films, make sure you do not miss out on the next session on 24 June. This session continues the theme of music, presenting 'In Search of Beethoven' by award-winning filmmaker, Phil Grabsky. Register here.