Anthony Chen still trying to make sense of Ilo Ilo’s Golden Horse win

It's been two days since "Ilo Ilo" surprisingly snatched the Golden Horse award for Best Feature Film, but director Anthony Chen has yet to take it all in.

His voice betraying exhaustion over the phone on Monday evening, 29-year-old Chen told Yahoo Singapore he has spent the past two full days fielding interviews from regional media -- from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and Singapore -- in light of the film's historic win of four Golden Horses: Best Supporting Actress for Yeo Yann Yann, Best Original Screenplay, Best New Director and of course, the biggest surprise of Best Picture.

"To be very honest, I am very, very, very tired," he said. "I feel like I've been working for these two full days, and I haven't had time to really collect myself, and to really enjoy and make sense of what has happened!"

Amid all this was the excitement the Singaporean had on receiving his award from famed director Ang Lee, his lifelong hero, and having dinner with him. Chen also says he received congratulations from luminaries like Stanley Kwan, Sylvia Chang and Tsai Ming-Liang over his victory at what is considered as the Asian equivalent of the Oscars.

"I was thinking I'll come to the Golden Horse Awards this year and I'm just going to be a fanboy -- charge my phone, (I) brought my battery charger, and I'm going to take pictures with all these stars -- and eventually (I) ended up having all these stars coming to congratulate me! It's been really special," he added.

After attending the Golden Horse Awards in Taipei over the weekend, Chen says he is flying to Tokyo on Tuesday to attend the premiere screening of "Ilo Ilo" at a film festival there, followed by the Philippines -- Manila and Iloilo (yes, it's a place in the Philippines) -- and then back to Singapore for a few days, Dubai, Los Angeles, Brisbane and Macau.

"It's been such an amazing journey... it's almost like I'm not seeing this as me; I'm seeing this as the film -- the film has had such an amazing life and journey, I feel like I find it hard as a person trying to keep up with it," he added.

For him, the runaway success the film has had at the Golden Horse Awards reflects the maturity of Singapore cinema, a milestone that marks a new chapter for the industry.

"To be very honest, I'm not sure if my mum and my dad would have heard of the Cannes film festival if I wasn't a filmmaker... but they would have heard of the Golden Horse," he said. "Everyone has heard of (the Golden Horse Awards, they) know about it, everyone knows that it is of a certain prestige."

And its historical significance is not lost on him -- this year, being the Golden Horse's 50th year, was particularly special, in addition to it being the first time ever four awards have been clinched by a Singapore film, as compared to only two, one for best newcomer and one for best music, in the past 49 years, he added.

"It just means that Singapore cinema is now being seen and recognised in the greater Chinese region, and finally it shows the maturity of Singapore cinema -- that we could possibly be on par with our contemporaries in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan -- and I would say that really turns the page, turns the chapter for Singapore cinema," he noted.

Based in London currently, where his wife is still pursuing her PhD, Chen says he plans to continue living there with her because he "needs his family time back", as well as some peace and quiet for himself. He is looking to direct his next film in a Western setting, however, with Western and international stars.

"It's not just about yes, it's great to be a Singaporean filmmaker, but at the same time I think it's an even better deal to represent Singapore as an international filmmaker, to be able to make films in different parts of the world, and I think that's what a globalised world really is about," he said.

Asked what the win might do for his now-famously tiny bank account -- he previously admitted to having only $250 in his savings account when he reached Taipei -- he said he did not understand the "frenzy" that ensued over the revelation as he was always used to not having much money.

"It hasn't been a great deal for me because I'm not used to having much in the first place," he said. "For the past 10 years I've never had much... I live a very simple life, I don't ask for a lot, I want to make the work that I want to make and I always feel the sacrifices will pay off at some point -- yes, now in terms of recognition and awards, but hopefully on the next few films maybe financially as well!"

He believes, however, that Ilo Ilo's very respectable stable of 20 awards will open up more opportunities for him, and that he will be able to charge higher fees on his next projects.

"But I think any filmmaker would do anything and sacrifice to make his first feature film," he said. "I think this film was made with very pure intentions; it wasn't about making lots of money or about winning lots of awards. It was just made (with the mindset) of wanting to make a film from the heart, a very sincere and honest film. And I think that's why the film has done so well because people felt that."

Ilo Ilo is re-screening this week and next week in selected Golden Village cinemas.

Read also:
Singaporean director Anthony Chen says human relationships inspire him
Rollercoaster ride for Anthony Chen since Cannes success
Singapore cheers "Ilo Ilo" win at Golden Horse Awards
Singaporean director Anthony Chen's recipe for "Ilo Ilo" success
Local movie "Ilo Ilo" will tug at heartstrings of every Singaporean
Singaporean filmmaker wins Camera d'Or at Cannes for "Ilo Ilo"