Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Janice Koh proposed the establishment of a new National Film Centre to develop and promote Singapore cinema, much like the British Film Institute (BFI) in London and the Film Society Lincoln Centre in New York.
She said the Singapore Film Commission (SFC) — which is currently in charge of undertaking that task — largely serves as a grant-giving and administrative body only, without the necessary resources to educate, provide scholarship and research and promote our films both locally and globally.
With the recent international success of films such as Ilo Ilo and a rich film history dating back to the 50s and 60s P. Ramlee era, more needs to be done to improve film literacy and increase the appetite for local cinema among Singaporeans. Besides enriching our lives, NMP Koh said these films “cultivate a sense of pride in our own stories and storytellers”.
On the global front, NMP Koh argued that our films play a vital role in shaping perceptions about Singapore, especially in the digital age where culture is easily exported via film, music and television.
Photo: Ilo Ilo Facebook page
