The Singapore Short Film Awards (abbreviation: SSFA) is an annual event which promotes and recognises excellence in short films in Singapore. It began in 2010 and was jointly organised by The Substation and Objectifs, presented by The Substation's Moving Images. Created by filmmaker Chai Yee Wei, former Programme Manager of The Substation's Moving Images Low Beng Kheng and current Co-Founder of Objectifs Yuni Hadi, the Singapore Short Film Awards highlights quality work done annually in the short film genre in Singapore - by seeking out new talent, reflecting current standards of the short film genre and to bring together both the veterans and the young talents as a community to create a space for networking and sharing.
The SSFA programme traditionally includes a week-long schedule of film screenings and presents all Singapore shorts submitted during an open call for entries starting September to November of every year. The competition accepts films that have been made within the two years before the competition, but screened publicly only the year before the competition. There is a submission fee of $10. Screenings for SSFA are held at The Substation Theatre, with the exception of 2015, where screenings were shifted to The Projector. All screenings are entry by donation.
Each year, an Honorary Award is given to an individual or organisation whom had made significant contributions to the Singapore film community through their work in short films. The Awards Ceremony is held following the end of the week-long schedule of screenings, in attendance of a Guest-of-Honour who will typically present the Honorary Award.
During the first few editions, SSFA was the only platform that recognised excellence in short films in Singapore.
For its 6th edition in 2015, The Substation's Moving Images became the sole organiser of the Singapore Short Film Awards.
1st Singapore Short Film Awards
The 1st Singapore Short Film Awards was held from 25–31 January 2010. Out of 133 films submitted, 33 films were selected as nominees in 10 different categories, highlighting technical achievements, as well as performance. There was participation from both experienced professionals and students from schools such as Tisch School for the Arts (Asia) and Nanyang Technological University.
All film entries and nominees were screened at The Substation Theatre. The Awards Ceremony was held on 31 January 2010. With close to 100 invited nominees and guests attending, the ceremony's Guest of Honour was filmmaker Eric Khoo and the emcee was Singapore-based actress Yeo Yann Yann.
The jury panel comprised Malaysian independent filmmaker Liew Seng Tat, former board member of the Singapore International Film Festival Jasmine Ng, experimental filmmaker Victric Thng, National Museum's Cinematheque programme curator Warren Sin and TODAY newspaper journalist, Mayo Martin.
The event was supported by The Shooting Gallery, Infinite Frameworks and Face to Face.
Award Categories
There were not more than 5 nominees per category and there were 10 categories in total.
(winners in bold)
Best Director
Sun Koh - Dirty Bitch
Wu Ruojing - Home?
Basil Mironer - Rare Fish
Kirsten Tan - Cold Noodles
Jmin (Benjamin Tan) - The Girl with The Red Balloons
Best Animation
Tan Wei Keong - Hush Baby
Iyvone Khoo & Miguel Guzman - The Mothcatcher
Joo Choon Lin - Come out and Play!
Best Fiction
Kat Goh - Swimming Lesson
Sun Koh - Dirty Bitch
Basil Mironer - Rare Fish
Eric Elofson - Master of His Domain
Sulaiman Salamon - Fighting Fit
Best Documentary
Dana Lam - She Shapes A Nation
Wu Ruojing - Home?
Vicknesh Varan - Special Pass
Ghazi Alqudcy & Ezzam Rahman - Forgotten Merlion
Wan (Idzwan Othman) - Black Friday
Best Cinematography
Chananun Chotrungroj - Sink
Tay Yuxian - A Hole In The Bed
Isabel Wong Liliing, Lydia - Home?