Singapore International Film Festival Official Opening Film Presentations
Lido 1, Shaw Theatres Lido, Shaw House@350 Orchard Road
4 Dec 2014 (Thu)
The 25th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) opened with Unlucky Plaza, the first Singaporean film to ever open the SGIFF. It was attended by Minister for Communications and Information, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim and started with a welcome speech from Chairperson of SGIFF, Mr Mike Wiluan.
The Opening Film Unlucky Plaza is directed by Singaporean filmmaker Ken Kwek, featuring local actors Adrian Pang, Judee Tan, Shane Mardjuki, Guo Liang, Janice Koh, Pam Oei and Filipino actor Epy Quizon. The film title is playfully named after the famous Orchard Road shopping mall where Filipino residents frequent. It examines the contradictions of Singapore society becoming more open and yet more intolerant; richer and yet poorer. SGIFF is proud to present Unlucky Plaza as the Opening Film.
The later half of the very same night saw a second screening. The Crossing is a Special Film Presentation, screened at SGIFF before its actual theatrical release in Singapore the very next day. Pure Talents celebrity emcee Danny Yeo introduced and interviewed the director John Woo with two cast members – Tong Dawei and Angeles Woo – as well as the director’s wife who also attended SGIFF. Zhang Ziyi walked the red carpet but skipped all theatre greeting sessions.
Danny Yeo also had the chance to get up-close and personal with John Woo as well as Juliette Binoche backstage while awaiting for the many events of the night to unfold.
It was truly a delightful night meeting director John Woo, French actress Juliette Binoche, and working with the fabulous team behind SGIFF, namely (from left to right in the photo) Hwee Sim, Yuni and Wenjie. The pleasant surprise for Danny was enjoying a great rapport with Chen Ning cohosting an event for the very first time!
