Singaporean filmmaker Wong Kwang Han inspires young creative minds at Curtin Malaysia

Miri – 5 September 2023 – The Media and Communication Department, Faculty of Humanities and Health Sciences at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) hosted a talk and feature film screening by renowned Singaporean filmmaker Wong Kwang Han as part of its initiative to bring international filmmakers to engage and inspire young creative minds in Borneo in the field of filmmaking and storytelling.

A critically acclaimed filmmaker, Wong has made significant contributions to the film industry in Singapore and beyond. His works have garnered numerous awards and recognition for their artistic vision, originality, and thought-provoking narratives. With a passion for storytelling, he has dedicated his career to creating films that challenge conventions and explore the human experience.

Wong has been a theatre director since 1997 and is co-founder of the multi-disciplinary arts group Aporia Society. He has written more than 20 plays and film scripts and his plays have been performed in China and India. His short films are archived in the Singapore Film Archive and his feature film ‘Flights through Darkness’ was featured at the 2016 Jogja NETPAC Asian Film Festival and the 2017 ASEAN Film Festival.

About 20 students and staff of Curtin Malaysia and local filmmakers attended the screening of Wong’s feature film ‘Twenty 20’ in the university’s mini theatre, Cinema Lite. After the two-hour screening, Wong engaged them in a discussion online on the film and its theme of perfectionism in families and how it could affect youngsters in their daily lives. Wong said he was inspired to produce the film based on the experiences of his students who faced such issues.

One of the attendees, second-year Bachelor of Communications student Goh Guang Ao said, “As someone who grew up in an Asian household, I found the film very relatable and meaningful because I tended to be a bit rebellious during my teen years too.”

During his talk, Wong delved into his creative process, the challenges he faced as a filmmaker, and his advice for aspiring filmmakers. The attendees were encouraged to ask questions, seek advice, and discuss their own ideas and projects with the esteemed filmmaker.

“I want to make films that are able to capture real life situations. Even though most stories on screen are fictional, they are still based on real life feelings and experiences,” remarked Wong.

He related how, when he submitted his work to film festivals in Europe, the audience and judges were surprised that his work was in English and not an indigenous language. “As we speak English a lot in Singapore, I want to present who we really are,” he explained.

Wong also shared how he balanced the artistic individualism of his films and the commercial-industrial considerations. “As an independent filmmaker, it is challenging to get funding other than from government grants. We have to do everything ourselves, and most of the cast members are my former students,” he said.

“We were very privileged to have Mr Wong present a screening of one of his acclaimed films, allowing the attendees to experience his unique visual storytelling style that has captivated audiences around the world. The film screening served as a source of inspiration and encouraged the aspiring filmmakers to push the boundaries of their craft,” said Head of the Media and Communication Department, Dr. Ngu Ik Ying.

“We welcome our media alumni, Borneo filmmakers and aspiring filmmakers based in Miri to join our future screenings and film festivals. Together, we can learn from the best in the industry, foster meaningful connections, and create a nurturing environment for young talents to flourish,” she added.

To know more about Curtin Malaysia, visit www.curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or Tik-Tok.

Critically acclaimed Singaporean filmmaker Wong Kwang Han.

Wong Kwang Han (on screen), Dr Ngu Ik Ying (5th left, first row) posing for group photo with attendees and Borneo filmmaker Mohamad Budriz Abdul Aziz (2nd right, back row).

Attendees enjoying screening of ‘Twenty 20’ in Cinema Lite.