"Pop Aye" is Singapore's pick for Oscars!
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25 Sep – Kristen Tan's "Pop Aye" has been selected as Singapore's entry for the 90th Academy Awards' Best Foreign Language Film category.
Having been chosen for over 30 international film festivals, the debut feature of the local filmmaker has thus far won four awards, including the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Screenwriting at the Sundance Film Festival, as reported by The Straits Times.
Its victory earlier this year had also made history for being both the first movie to compete in the Sundance Film Festival and the first to win it.
"Love it or doubt it, every filmmaker in the world pays attention to the Oscars – to have a shot at representing Singapore with my debut feature feels to me a powerful and humbling experience. With Bong the elephant as our lucky charm, I can't wait to see how far he would take us through the Oscar race," Tan said.
The movie which is set entirely in Thailand stars Thaneth Warakulnukroh as a poor architect who is reunited with his childhood elephant. Together, they then go on a trip down memory lane across the countryside, in search of their old home.
"The film has resonated with audiences both at home and internationally. We are proud to submit it for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards 2018, and hope that more audiences will get acquainted with quality works by Singaporean filmmakers," Joachim Ng, Director of Singapore Film Commission said.
To be held on 4 March 2018, the final five nominees for the 90th Academy Awards' Best Foreign Language Film category will only be announced in early 2018.
For those who missed out on "Pop Aye's" screening can watch it at its second run at The Projector starting this 30 September.
