Mental Health Film Festival Singapore Announces Winners of Short Film Youth Competition

The fifth edition of the Mental Health Film Festival Singapore (MHFFS) recently concluded four days of powerful dialogue and thought-provoking films exploring mental health. The festival closed with the announcement of winners for the annual Short Film Youth Competition (SFYC), celebrating young talents from Temasek Polytechnic and the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information who took home top honors.

This year’s festival, held from 7 to 10 November 2024 at Golden Village Suntec City, attracted a strong turnout under the theme “Building Bridges to Mental Well-being.” Festival-goers attended six international feature film screenings, all of which sparked meaningful discussions on mental health challenges and journeys. Through the festival, MHFFS aims to deepen public understanding of mental health, spotlighting the stories of those impacted and encouraging collective awareness and empathy.

Each film screening was followed by post-show discussions led by mental health professionals and individuals with lived experiences, providing audiences with coping strategies, insight into mental health journeys, and practical tips for building more supportive communities. Festival attendees could also connect with 15 mental health organizations at the on-site roadshow, gaining access to valuable resources and support.

Spotlight on the Short Film Youth Competition

The SFYC, an initiative by MHFFS, empowers young filmmakers aged 35 and under in Singapore to create impactful stories around mental health. This year’s competition, designed to foster mental health awareness in the next generation of storytellers, received over 122 entries, with 21 finalists selected.

Entries were judged in two categories: the Youth Showcase, for full-time students in Singapore, and the Open Competition, for Singaporeans or PRs with experience in filmmaking. The Youth Showcase jury featured Alex Yeo (Caring for Life), filmmaker Kris Ong (MOMO Film Co.), and Jardines MINDSET Manager Matthew Koh. The Open Competition was evaluated by filmmaker Nelson Yeo, life coach Dr. Jade Kua, and Jane Koh, Deputy Director of the Singapore Association for Mental Health.

Youth Showcase Category

BEST OVERALL FILM: applebox

Dir: Caitlin Eirene Wong (20) and Zoe Beatrix (20), Temasek Polytechnic 
Prod: Zoe Anastasia Chan 

A teenage girl loses everything she cares about and has to learn to find herself again, free from expectations and pressure.

BEST IMPACT FILM: Illusion of Presence

Dir: Neo Jun Bin (22), Temasek Polytechnic
Prod: Kendra Lim Wei Jing 

Jia Yong, a 2nd-year Polytechnic student, struggles to find time for his school work due to his mother (Mei Yan) constantly creating problems for him. Over time, Mei Yan’s actions start to frustrate Jia Yong, Mei Yan realising this, decides to stop looking to her son for help.

SPECIAL YOUTH MENTION: Waves

Dir: Shailesh Nathan (21) 
Prod: Shailesh Nathan

A young woman, consumed by despair, decides to end her life at a secluded beach. As she wades into the water, she hears the unmistakable click of a camera shutter. Furious, she confronts the photographer who captured her most vulnerable moment.

Open Competition Category

BEST OVERALL FILM: The Sun is Up and I Shall Live

Dir: Jazmine Monaz (26), Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, NYC Grant
Prod: Macarius Chia 

The sole carer for her family, a young woman’s sunny optimism wavers on the chaotic day of her little brother’s school play.

BEST IMPACT FILM: Keep a lookout for me

Dir: Zachary Yap (30) 
Prod: Soong Check Eng 

A decade after losing his best friend to a drug overdose, a narrator ruminates on the fondness and bitterness they had together. 

SPECIAL YOUTH MENTION: The World I Live in Doesn’t Exist

Dir: Tan Ker Wei (28), LASALLE College of the Arts Singapore  
Prod: Celestine Pang

A documentary about depersonalisation and derealisation, a form of dissociation where those afflicted experience sensations of isolation, alienation and unreality as they experience dream-like, out-of-body feelings and sensations, as well as distress and doubt over whether they are real or in control.

Awards

The SFYC allocates the following prizes for winners:

Youth Showcase Category: 

• Best Overall Film: 
  • Trophy and S$1,000 
  • A post-production editing package from Infinite Studios worth S$3,000.
  • A free course of your choice from AV8 media 
  • 6-month membership from the Singapore Film Society
• Best Impact Film: 
  • Trophy and S$500
  • 1 free course of your choice from AV8 media
  • 3-month membership from the Singapore Film Society
• Special Youth Mention: 
  • Trophy and S$500 from Infinite Studios
  • 1 free course of your choice from AV8 media
  • 3-month membership from Singapore Film Society

Open Competition Category

• Best Overall Film: 
  • Trophy and S$2,500 
  • A post-production editing package from Infinite Studios worth S$3,000.
  • 1 free course of your choice from AV8 media
  • 6-month membership from Singapore Film Society
• Best Impact Film: 
  • Trophy and S$1,000
  • 1 free course of your choice from AV8 media
  • 3-month membership from Singapore Film Society
• Special Youth Mention
  • Trophy and S$500 
  • 1 free course of your choice from AV8 media
  • 3-month membership from Singapore Film Society

MHFFS will continue its outreach efforts year-round, including events to showcase SFYC films. For those interested in screening these impactful stories within their communities or workplaces, MHFFS welcomes inquiries at [email protected].