National Youth Film Awards 2019 Nominees Address Bold and Sensitive Conversations Through Films3 min read
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2019’s National Youth Film Awards (NYFA) announced its nominees on 9 June 2019, with many films diving into controversial topics such as public nudity, sugar dating, and pitfalls of being a social media celebrity. Others took to exploring the intricate complexities of familial versus personal identity, as well as Singaporean experiences such as National Service. NYFA saw 446 unique submissions this year, and a record number of 303 submissions were received in the Media Student category, an increase of close to 20% from 2018.
Furthermore, several award-winning directors are returning to participate in NYFA, such as Shoki Lin and Jerrold Chong, who are past NYFA winners.
“The subject matters our youth filmmakers have chosen to portray reflects the Gen Z and millennial mindset with themes that are current and tackles a search for identity. This is truly exciting as it reaffirms NYFA as a safe place that encourages youths to pursue their passions and to tell stories that they want the world to hear,” says Goh Kok Wee, Executive Director at *SCAPE.
Currently in its fifth year, NYFA also announced its refreshed award categories this year, along with a new National Youth Inspiration Award which was awarded to Nicole Midori Woodford, a Singaporean director, writer and editor. Shortlisted entries from the Media Student and Open Youth categories will each compete for 10 different awards, with Best Overall School unique to the Media Student category. Additionally, both categories will also be judged for Best Actor and Best Actress.
The following are the list of nominated films for the Media Student category:
Live Action
Ave Maria
Andrea Flavia William
Nanyang Technological University
Bodhi / 菩提
Zhen Yu Png
Nanyang Technological University
Foul Ball
Kayue Li
Nanyang Technological University
Progress Nanyang
Alistair Quak
Nanyang Technological University
Adam
Junxian Shoki Lin
Nanyang Technological University
Boys Will Be Boys
Shannen Mok
Nanyang Technological University
Farah
Pavithran Nathan
LASALLE College of the Arts
Animation
For Lorn
Hoo Yan Han & Im Eun Sue
Nanyang Technological University
Balance
Raymond Limantara Sutisna
Nanyang Technological University
Dandelion in the Wind
Do Thi Ngan Giang
Nanyang Technological University
Growth
Sarah Cheok Ling Fay
LASALLE College of the Arts
Documentary
Bare
Martin Loh
Nanyang Technological University
Life is Live
Keziah Wei L
Nanyang Technological University
China Man
Jerrell Zhi Hong Chow
Nanyang Technological University
Sweet Like Sugar
Chin Yun Ru
Nanyang Technological University
阿芥 A Jie
Lian Ying
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Blaq
Damien Eu
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Pigeonhole
Mei Fong Lim
LASALLE College of the Arts
To Be Apart
Jamie Goh
LASALLE College of the Arts
Reversion
Yu Sichao
LASALLE College of the Arts
Now Or Later
Muhammad Yusri Bin Muhammad Yusof
LASALLE College of the Arts
The following are the list of nominated films for the Open Youth category:
Live Action
萍水相逢 A Time For Us
Alvin Lee
Sarah
Andre Chong
A Spectacular Sight
Rifyal Giffari
STILL
Lee Jing Wei
You Idiot
Kris Ong
SIN-SFO
Leon Cheo
Animation
Kingdom
Wei Keong Tan
The Way Home
Kai Lun Pang
Automatonomy
Jerrold Chong
Documentary
Trailer Boys
Yusri Shaggy Sapari
White Gorilla
Charles Packer
Rojak Romance
Christine Seow
Corridors of Diversity
Kevin Siyuan Ma
Religious Procession
Dave Lim
Trespass: Stories from Singapore’s Thieves Market
Ong Kah Jing
回娘家 / Moving on
Vanessa Tan
About National Youth Film Awards
Since its inception in 2015, NYFA has been cultivating a community of likeminded media enthusiasts and is the connecting point for youths to network and collaborate. Through NYFA, some of our alumni have been commissioned for various video campaigns by corporate and industry partners such as Adobe, PAVE and SONY.
Together with industry partners, veterans, and institutes of higher learning, the NYFA programme is designed to spark deeper conversations amongst likeminded individuals and hone their crafts in filmmaking. NYFA supports artistic works from both aspiring and professional filmmakers and is committed to nurture the aspiration, vision, and creative spirit of these youths.
You can find more information about NYFA here.