17th November 2008

The Asian Festival of 1st Films is back for a fourth year to dazzle the global film industry

* Nominations announced for the prestigious film festival *

Singapore, 17 November 2008 – The Asian Festival of 1st Films (AFFF), the world’s only film and documentary festival celebrating first-time film makers, is back for the fourth year.

Launched in Singapore in 2005, AFFF recognizes the enormous talent and potential present in the film industry, and provides first-time directors, producers, actors, cinematographers, editors and documentary film makers an ideal platform to showcase their work to an international jury of renowned film professionals.

“We recognize the best of international first-time filmmaking and invite film professionals and acquisition heads to Singapore, which provides the perfect location to play host to the Festival.

“I am delighted with the range and quality of films which have come in this year. Over 600 films and documentaries from 26 countries have posed an incredible channel with a number of excellent films in all categories,” commented festival director Sanjoy Roy.

Commented Ms Cassandra Tay, Director (Communications and Community & International Relations), Media Development Authority (MDA), “We are delighted that the Asian Festival of 1st Films has grown as a platform to showcase the best works of first time Asian film makers and raises the profile of budding film makers while celebrating first-time talents, putting Asian cinema in the spotlight. I look forward to viewing this year’s nominations and wish all the nominations the very best of luck.”

The nominations for The Asian Festival of 1st Films were announced today, and the nominated films were from a range of countries around the world including Australia, China, India, Iran, Israel, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines and Singapore.

The nominated first-time films and documentaries will compete for eleven awards in the categories of: Best Film (Producer & Director), Best Director, Best Producer, Best Cinematographer or Editor, Best Actor (Female), Best Actor (Male), Best Script or Screenplay, Best Documentary, Best Director of Documentary, Best Short Film and the Purple Orchid Foreign Correspondents Association Choice Award.

Among this year’s many exceptional nominees is International award winning actress and Cannes Festival Jury member Nandita Das in her directorial debut – Firaq. The film traces the emotional journey of ordinary people following the communal riots that engulfed Gujarat, India in 2002.

Set in Tibet, the film ‘Ganglamedo’ successfully transports you into the world of singer Anyu. The amalgamation of music and movie is a first for director Dai Wei.

This year Eric Khoo’s film ‘My Magic’ has been nominated in the category Best Actor. Bosco Francis who plays Francis delivers a emotional performance as a drunken father who turns to magic in an effort not to lose his son.

A jury of internationally renowned film makers from across the world will come together in Singapore to view and select the best in each category. The awards will be announced at a star-studded award ceremony to be held on 10th December 2008 at Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel, as the finale of AFFF 2008.