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Singapore's film scene is having quite the year – we just saw ‘Two Travelling Aunties’ take home the Non-Fiction prize at the Sony Filmmaker Awards. And this time, it’s animation that’s getting its moment in the spotlight.
Homegrown animated feature ‘The Violinist’ has bagged the coveted Cristal at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, making history as the first Singapore-produced animated feature to take home the festival's highest honour. Often dubbed the "Cannes of animation", Annecy is the industry's biggest stage, so yes, this is a very big deal.
As if one trophy wasn't enough, the hand-drawn feature also walked away with the SACEM Award for Best Original Soundtrack, capping off an already stellar festival run. Earlier this year, ‘The Violinist’ also became the first Singapore film ever selected for Annecy's main competition in the festival's 66-year history.
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Co-directed by Singapore's Ervin Han and Spanish animation veteran Raul Garcia, ‘The Violinist’ traces the life of Fei, a Peranakan violinist whose search for her missing childhood friend stretches across decades, from colonial Singapore through the Japanese Occupation and beyond. Equal parts sweeping historical drama and emotional gut-punch, the film features voice performances by Tan Kheng Hua, Adrian Pang, Ayden Sng and Fang Rong.
Music, naturally, plays a starring role too. The score comes courtesy of Golden Horse Award-winning Singaporean composer Ricky Ho, with violin solos performed by Singaporean musician Joy Yong.
The film reportedly received an 11-minute applause after its Annecy premiere, with Han later saying the recognition was "beyond anything we imagined". The director hopes the film will pave the way for more stories from Singapore and Southeast Asia to find audiences around the world.
Produced by Singapore's Robot Playground Media alongside partners from Spain and Italy, ‘The Violinist’ arrives in Singapore cinemas this September.
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