Twelve film students from the School of the Arts Singapore (SOTA), travelled to Taipei, Taiwan for a study trip from 11 to 17 November 2016. The annual Arts Excellence Programme Film Study Trip, which is supported by Temasek Foundation Nurtures, a non-profit philanthropic organisation funded by Temasek Trust, is intended to give students the opportunity to gain deeper insights into the world of filmmaking and to broaden their scope of cinema knowledge and experience.

At the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, the most acclaimed film event in Taiwan, students were exposed to different filmmaking techniques from around the globe and to current and critically acclaimed international films. They viewed several film screenings and interacted with the respective directors in post-screening dialogue sessions.

Stretching their learning opportunities to the fullest, the students also attended a series of masterclasses by award-winning filmmakers, including Singaporean film director Chiang Wei Liang, who directed Anchorage Prohibited ????, and Midi Z, a Burmese film director, who directed The Road to Mandalay ???? . Additionally, the students visited the Taiwan Film Institute, where they learnt about film archiving, producing and independent film distribution.

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About what one student had to say

When asked about her experiences on the study trip, Megan Lim, a Year Five film student shared, “From the back to back film screenings as part of the Golden Horse Film Festival, to the behind-the-scenes look at film restoration at the Taiwan Film Institute, the trip provided a comprehensive scope of the multi-faceted nature of filmmaking. We also had the opportunity to meet people from different sectors of the film industry, which gave us a holistic view of the creative and financial aspects involved in making films.”

About SOTA

SOTA is Singapore’s first national pre-tertiary specialised arts school with a six-year integrated arts and academic curriculum, leading to the International Baccalaureate Diploma, for youths aged 13 to 18 years old. Under the ambit of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, SOTA offers a dedicated development path for those who have an interest and show early talent in the arts, providing a learning environment where both their artistic and academic potential can best be realised. Find out more about SOTA here.

Did you know…
The cinema of Taiwan is deeply rooted in the island’s unique history. Since the introduction of film 1901 under Japanese rule, the Taiwanese film industry has developed steadily and today Taiwan’s reputation as a regional film hub is well established. More recently in fact, when acclaimed Taiwanese director Ang Lee shot his Oscar-winning 3D adventure “Life of Pi” on the island in 2012, or when French director Luc Besson chose Taipei over seven other Asian cities when selecting the setting for part of his sci-fi thriller “Lucy”, which starred Scarlett Johansson, Taiwan gained high praise from Hollywood and industry heavyweights across the globe.