Contributors

Akanksha Raja

Examining Vietnam’s Modernity Through the Lens of South Asian Independent Documentaries

The idea for Moving Reels: A Social Dialog formed in 2016 as the result of a dialogue between Dr. Shweta Kishore, a scholar, documentary filmmaker, film and media lecturer at RMIT University, and Zoe Butt, a director and curator at The Factory Contemporary Arts Center. The program is a series of workshops that includes screenings of films […]

Examining Vietnam’s Modernity Through the Lens of South Asian Independent Documentaries Read More »

Saigoneer Bookshelf: A Touch of Magical Realism in ‘The Cemetery of Chua Village’

Vietnam transitioned to a market economy like an old train lurching to life: momentous shakes and shudders, steam bursting out busted gaskets, disheveled cargo tumbling from luggage racks, sparks shooting off wheels screeching across warped rails and a whistle ripping into the placid sky. As the government enacted new policies, tossing aside the institutions to

Saigoneer Bookshelf: A Touch of Magical Realism in ‘The Cemetery of Chua Village’ Read More »

radar-grace-baey-yangon
Grace Baey

Grace Baey’s Portraits of Yangon’s Trans Population (via Coconuts Yangon)

Some photographers are able to capture the most delicate moments deftly. With her project Living Choices, Singapore-based shooter Grace Baey showed her ability to do just that. Baey spent one month in Yangon taking pictures of the city’s trans population for the photo series — and despite the short time frame and limited window for gaining the

Grace Baey’s Portraits of Yangon’s Trans Population (via Coconuts Yangon) Read More »

Finding Phong

Vietnam’s Award-Winning Documentary About a Trans Woman (via Saigoneer)

A critically acclaimed documentary about a member of Vietnam’s trans community will finally see an official premiere in Vietnam next month. Finding Phong, or Di Tim Phong in Vietnamese, tells the story of the titular character, a trans woman named Le Anh Phong who documented the journey from when she decided to undergo sex reassignment surgery to

Vietnam’s Award-Winning Documentary About a Trans Woman (via Saigoneer) Read More »

Ombak Potehi

Ombak Potehi: the Malaysian group reviving traditional Hokkien puppetry (via SEA Globe)

In the performance room of Penang House of Music, a museum dedicated to the musical history of this Unesco-listed Malaysian island, a crowd claps excitedly. They are cheering the group of young performers who get up from behind the stage, fatigued and sweaty, holding colourful puppets high above their heads. Their performance tells the story

Ombak Potehi: the Malaysian group reviving traditional Hokkien puppetry (via SEA Globe) Read More »

ENCATC

26th ENCATC Congress: Beyond European Year of Cultural Heritage – Key Reflections (via culture360.ASEF.org)

The 26th ENCATC Congress on Cultural Management and Policy on “Beyond EYCH2018. What is the cultural horizon? Opening up perspectives to face ongoing transformations” concluded recently in Bucharest, Romania and looked to cultural priorities in Europe beyond EYCH or the European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018. ENCATC is the European network on cultural management and policy. Maria Sharon Mapa Arriola tells us

26th ENCATC Congress: Beyond European Year of Cultural Heritage – Key Reflections (via culture360.ASEF.org) Read More »

Weekly Picks: Singapore (29 October – 4 November 2018)

Southernmost: One Table Two Chairs Project 2018 by Emergency Stairs, Centre 42, 3 – 10 Nov Catch Southernmost: One Table Two Chairs Project 2018 from 3 to 11 Nov 2018 at Centre 42 – an arts festival for the future presented by experimental theatre company Emergency Stairs. Immerse yourself in a week of artistic experimentation and dialogue across art forms, cultures,

Weekly Picks: Singapore (29 October – 4 November 2018) Read More »

Smoking

Vietnam to Ban Gratuitous Smoking in Movies, Stage Productions (via Saigoneer)

Starting from November, filmmakers will need to carefully deliberate their decision to include smoking in their works or risk the ire of the culture ministry. As Tuoi Tre reports, from November 15 this year, Circular 25 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on smoking in theatrical works will officially take effect, tightening the ministry’s control

Vietnam to Ban Gratuitous Smoking in Movies, Stage Productions (via Saigoneer) Read More »

Where Are Sabah and Sarawak in the Malaysian Arts

[Podcast] Arts Apart: Where Are Sabah and Sarawak in the Malaysian Arts? (via BFM)

With Malaysia Day just around the corner, there is a lot of conversation happening about East Malaysia. But why do Sabah and Sarawak mostly come to our minds only when it is time to celebrate Malaysia Day? The arts and culture industries, too, are not exempt from being problematic with issues like inclusion and representation

[Podcast] Arts Apart: Where Are Sabah and Sarawak in the Malaysian Arts? (via BFM) Read More »

nor Reclaims the Transgender Experience from Mainstream Media (via Frieze)

The walls of nor’s exhibition, ‘In Love’, are painted millennial pink. Photographs are displayed on the walls, salon-style, in an assortment of frames donated by the artist’s friends. Fairy lights line the ceiling. A sizeable bed sits in the middle of the humble room. Located on the second floor of a housing block, Lea’s exhibition

nor Reclaims the Transgender Experience from Mainstream Media (via Frieze) Read More »

Third Wife

Vietnamese director’s debut feature The Third Wife wins award at Toronto Film Festival

The directorial debut from Nguyen Phuong Anh, also known as Ash Mayfair, won the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) award at last week’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The Third Wife tells the story of a 14-year-old girl in northern Vietnam who becomes the third wife of a wealthy 19th-century landowner and must learn the

Vietnamese director’s debut feature The Third Wife wins award at Toronto Film Festival Read More »

2068- photo credits to_ Tan Thian Chang_0258
Tan Thian Chang

“The Misinterpreted Futures of George Town 2068”: Missing Futures

By Akanksha Raja (960 words, four-minute read) Prior to stepping into the mystifying world of The Misinterpreted Futures of George Town 2068, I was curious and fascinated by that science-fictioney title, coupled with the exciting premise of a performance with no performers: the technical elements of the show (lights, sound design, video projections) perform in

“The Misinterpreted Futures of George Town 2068”: Missing Futures Read More »

Scroll to Top