FILMMAKERS & ARTS COMMUNITYS STATEMENT RE: MDAS BAN ON TAN PIN PINS TO SINGAPORE WITH LOVE September 11, 2014 at 2:25am FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 10, 2014 STATEMENT ON MDAS DECISION TO BAN TAN PIN PINS TO SINGAPORE WITH LOVE We, the undersigned would like to express our deep disappointment at the Media Development Authoritys decision to ban Tan Pin Pins award winning documentary, To Singapore With Love. Ms Tans film examines the lives of Singaporeans living in exile. In doing so, she explores an aspect of our nations history that is rarely discussed in the public sphere. The MDA claims that the subjects in Ms Tans film gave distorted and untruthful accounts of how they came to leave Singapore and remain outside Singapore. We would like to suggest that rather than banning the documentary, authorities release their version of the events in question, so that viewers can make up their own minds. Indeed, we note that the MDA has already published a detailed press release stating their official account. To Singapore With Love screened at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival and has won multiple awards all over the world. It has received high praise from filmmakers, critics and festival programmers. Many commentators have described it as essential viewing for all Singaporeans. Banning the film will only reinforce the view that our government is trying to limit discussion around our very own history. Finally, we would like to emphasize that censorship does nothing to promote a vibrant, informed society. We thus urge the MDA to reconsider its decision. List of Signatories: Anthony Chen Boo Junfeng Royston Tan Kelvin Tong K. Rajagopal Ivan Heng Janice Koh Lynn Lee Ong Keng Sen Charles Lim Zhang Wenjie Kuo Jian Hong T. Sasitharan Tan Tarn How Audrey Wong Alvin Tan Kok Heng Leun Sun Koh Jasmine Ng Ho Tzu Nyen Kirsten Han Kenneth Lee Wee Li Lin Chai Yeewei Lee Xian Jie Jeremy Boo Shelley Thio Ken Kwek Pam Oei Thum Ping Tjin Martyn See Joshua Chiang Han Yew Kwang Lau Chee Nien Noor Effendy Ibrahim Wahyuni Hadi Lim Jialiang Damien Chng Eva Tang Festivals, Awards and Accolades In Competition, World Premiere, Busan International Film Festival 64th Berlinale, Forum Winner, Best Director, Muhr AsiaAfria Documentary Awards. Dubai International Film Festival Winner, Best Asean Documentary, Special Mention, Salaya International Documentary Festival Winner, Asian Cinema Fund, Busan International Film Festival Art of the Real, Film Society of Lincoln Center, USA, 23 & 24 April Freedom Film Festival, 4-city Malaysian Tour. Petaling Jeya, Johor Baru, Kuantan and Penang Seoul International Documentary Festival, 12 & 15 April In Competition, Its All True, Brazil, 7-10 April Busan Asian Cinema Fund Seoul Screenings at Indieplus Jogja-Netpac Film Festival International Documentary Film Festival, Kerala Diaspora Film Festival, Incheon “Expertly crafted, enormously moving” – Film Society, Lincoln Center “The only Singaporean film that truly deserves to be called a “must see”. A brave, intelligent, sensitive, heartbreaking and humbling work that left my head spinning” – Colin Goh “All of Tan Pin Pin’s previous work has been moving towards this courageous point.” –Tony Rayns, Head, Jury, Dubai International Film Festival “This moved me to tears. Every young Singaporean of my generation should see this, in fact all Singaporeans should see this. It’s a slice of our history that shouldn’t be forgotten, and hopefully properly acknowledged in the near future.” – Anthony Chen “The most important Singaporean film I have ever seen.” – Woo Yen Yen “Tender and searching, deserves to be watched by the largest Singaporean audience possible, and more than once.” – Chan Cheow-Thia “”To Singapore, With Love” is a necessary film. That it is very well made is a bonus. Extremely moving and thought-provoking.” – Koh Jee Leong “Stylistically concise, with so much heart.” – Kirsten Tan “A moving, heartbreaking work on unrequited love for one’s country” – Traslin Ong “A very delicate and intimate gaze into the lives of Singaporean political exiles and their families.” – Paolo Bertolin, Venice International Film Festival delegate “If you feel touched, it may be because of the production’s impressive ability to weave sentiment from small details, food, poetry, songs, and photos.” – Cine21 (Korean cinema magazine) More information Film’s official site tosingaporewithlove/ Film’s Facebook page https://facebook/tosingaporewithlove Director’s filmography imdb/name/nm2566810/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 09:35:17 +0000
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