To mark the 25th anniversary of the Singapore Film Commission (SFC), Our Stories, Well-Told aims to bring Singaporeans closer to local cinema by celebrating Singapore’s filmmakers, inspiring budding film talent and growing appreciation for local films. Catch free screenings of 25 acclaimed Singapore films and shorts at Esplanade during Red Dot August.
If you're looking for a good scare on home turf, these three films will do the job. Gilbert Chan's 23:59 is a psychological horror thriller set on a secluded island used for military training. In Lee Thean-jeen's Bring Back the Dead, a grieving mother's attempt to bring back the soul of her seven-year-old son after he dies in a road accident has horrific consequences. And in Kelvin Tong's The Maid, dismiss Chinese superstitions at your own peril, as a newly-arrived Filipina maid finds herself embroiled in bizarre and eerie happenings in her Singapore household.
23:59
23:59 is a psychological horror thriller set in 1983 on a secluded island used for military training. A rumour spreads like wildfire among the soldiers about a mad woman's death at the exact time of 23:59, with her vengeful spirit believed to be haunting them. Tan, an introverted outcast, fears becoming the next victim. His sceptical friend, Jeremy, dismisses the existence of ghosts. However, during a 24 km road march through the forest, a mysterious and gruesome event unfolds. Fueled by fear, Jeremy decides to uncover the truth behind the incident, leading to a confrontation with the dark secrets of the island and his deepest fears.
Duration: 1hr 18mins
About Gilbert Chan
Gilbert is a multiple award-winning writer, director and trainer residing in Singapore. His writing accolades include the top prize in the Singapore Screenplay Awards in 2001 for S11 and the prestigious MDA Scriptwriting Competition in 2002 for Amnesia. He also won the UTV International Award for the short film A Cantonese Crime Story. In addition, he won the Script Development Grant from the Singapore Film Commission for his movie treatment Little Genius and The Girl Next Door. He is also the co-writer and director of the digital movie S11. S11 made the official selection at the Shanghai International Film Festival 2006 and also won the audience choice award at the Toronto-Singapore Film Festival. He is now writing and directing a comedy with Jack Neo, one of Singapore's most renowned filmmakers.
Cast: Henley Hii, Tedd Chan, Lawrence Koh, Josh Lai, Mark Lee, Stella Chung
Film Credits:
Gorylah Pictures, Clover Films, Grand Brilliance, Mm2 Entertainment
In Association with: Pmp Entertainment, Passion Music & Entertainment & Innoform Media
Present a Mm2 Entertainment Production & a Gilbert Chan Film “23:59”
Main Starring: Mark Lee, Henley Hii, Josh Lai, Tedd Chan, Lawrence Koh, Tommy Kuan
Introducing: Stella Chong
Director of Photography: Kelvin Keehoe
Art Director: Too Wen Huel
Image Designer: Lebon Ang
Special Efx Makeup: Karen Tan & Grace Chong
Editor: Natalie Soh
Post Production: Infinite Frameworks
Post Supervisor: Lawrence Ang
Audio Post: Muse
Music Scoring: Darren Ng
Sound Designers: Darren Ng & Kazz
Story By: Gilbert Chan & Ng Say Yong
Screenplay By: Gilbert Chan
Production Manager Eugene Lee
Associate Producers: Kent Chan & Tan Fong Cheng
Producers: Gary Goh, Au Yuk Sing, Freddie Yeo
Supervisory Executive Producers: Eric Khoo, Mike Wiluan, Lim Teck, Ng Say Yong, Mang
Executive Producers: Eric Khoo, Tengku Iesta Tengku Alaudin, Lim Kim Sow, Richard Mong, Lim Teck, Tan Peck Joo, Mang
Directed By: Gilbert Chan
Bring Back The Dead
When her seven-year-old son dies in a tragic road accident, a grieving mother, Jia En (Jesseca Liu), seeks the help of her former caregiver, Mdm Seetoh (Liu Ling Ling), to bring back his soul so he can be ‘by her side’ at home.
However, after several strange and deadly occurrences in the house, she begins to suspect that there is something amiss with the soul she has brought back. In discovering what has really happened, she unravels the horrific truth … a truth which may cost her her life and the lives of those around her.
Duration: 1hr 30mins
About Lee Thean-jeen
Thean-jeen is one of the most prolific and acclaimed writer-directors working in the Singapore independent production industry today, and whose work traverses several genres in both television and film.
His feature film work has ranged from the comedic hijinks of the Malaysia-Singapore co-production Homecoming (2011), to the romantic comedy of Love…And Other Bad Habits (2013), to the supernatural horror of Bring Back the Dead (2014).
As a screenwriter, he has become the go-to person for adaptations of Singapore literature. Throughout his career, he has brought at least 25 local short stories, novels and novellas to the screen, beginning with AlterAsians and The Singapore Short Story Project, which adapted the works of Gopal Baratham, Colin Cheong and Simon Tay–among others–into award-winning television drama series. He also worked on big-screen adaptations of Catherine Lim’s novella A Leap of Love and Suchen Christine Lim’s novel A Bit of Earth. Most recently, he adapted Dave Chua’s seminal novel Gone Case into a two-part miniseries for Mediacorp Channel 5.
Known in the industry as an actors’ director, he has directed Rebecca Lim to her first major acting award– Best Actress In A Leading Role (Asian Television Awards 2010)–for the highly-acclaimed drama The Pupil and recently, Jack Neo, for Best Actor In A Leading Role (Malaysia’s Golden Wau Awards 2013) for Homecoming.
He has been featured twice on okto’s Director’s Showcase, writing and directing original content in the form of two features, The Million Dollar Job and Raffles’ Gold.
Cast: Jesseca Liu, Jacko Chiang, Liu Ling Ling
Film Credits:
Mm2 Entertainment, Weiyu Films, Clover Films
in Association with: Bert Pictures, Infinite Frameworks, Jteam Productions Pte Ltd, 3vs1 Asia, Growth Fund 2 Limited
With The Support Of Singapore Film Commission
Present A Film By: Lee Thean-jeen “Bring Back The Dead” A Weiyu Films Production
Starring: Jesseca Liu, Liu Ling Ling, Jacko Chiang
Special Appearance: Eelyn Kok
Co-starring: Shawn Tan, Yeo Thiam Hock, Jennifer Ebron, Tjoa Shyet Teng, Junior Tan, Timothy Law
Director of Photography: Joel San Juan
Music Composed By: Tay Chee Wei
Post Production Supervisor: Lawrence Ang
Visual Effects Supervisors: Andrew Kow, Yeo Wen Chek
Editor: Natalie Soh
Post Production: Infinite Frameworks
Wardrobe Stylist: Lynn Yong
Makeup/Hair & Special Makeup: Dollei Seah
Art Directors: Matt Lie, Kenneth Kee
Assistant Director: Tiffany Ng
Production Manager: Jacqueline Leow
Screenplay By: Lee Thean-jeen
Chinese Dialogue By: Rebecca Leow
Based on a Short Story By: Wong Swee Hoon
Line Producer: Ng San San
Associate Producers: Marilyn Wong Charlyn Ng
Producers: Toong Soo Wei, Freddie Yeo
Executive Producers: Melvin Ang, Lim Teck, Lim Bee Lin, Bert Tan, Mike Wiluan, Jack Neo, Zheng Le
Directed By: Lee Thean-jeen
The Maid
During the Chinese Seventh Month, the gates of hell open, and spirits are set loose upon the unsuspecting world. 18-year-old Rosa Dimaano arrives in Singapore on the first day of the Seventh Month to work as a domestic maid for her employers, Mr and Mrs Teo. Their mentally disabled son Ah Soon develops an immediate attachment to Rosa. Rosa starts having vivid nightmares and glimpses of strange apparitions at night while working between the house and the Teos’ Teochew opera stage. Things begin going amiss as she soon finds out that there was a maid who worked for the Teos two years before named Esther. Esther was very much liked by Ah Soon too, and that is when Rosa begins to suspect that things are not as simple as they seem. This shocking tale of a culture that is unique to Southeast Asia is directed by Singapore’s most prolific filmmaker Kelvin Tong.
Duration: 1hr 42mins
About Kelvin Tong Weng Kian
Kelvin Tong Weng Kian is a Singaporean film director, screenwriter and producer. He was a former film critic for The Straits Times.
Cast: Alessandra de Rossi, Hong Huifang, Benny Soh, Chen Shucheng
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