All Credits Due Viddsee

As an indie filmmaker, how do I still continue to network in “real life” given travel bans? How would an online screening impact premiere status for other festivals? If I agree to do an online screening with a festival, will I be disqualified from other festivals? Would it be better to put a film’s distribution plan on hold and send it in 2021/2022 when things resume? Should I switch careers now that a filmmaking career is less feasible?

Some of the burning questions from film graduates will be answered in this special spotlight with seasoned festival programmers. We invite our jury member, Kiki Fung (programme consultant of Hong Kong International Film Festival) and previous jury member, Ben Thompson (senior programmer of Tribeca festival) in addressing the evolving state of festival distribution.

Hollywood production remains in lockdown mode, where it'll take some time before sets open up, and filmmakers have been struggling to deal with the disruption. With productions in Asia gradually adopting new safety protocols, learn how filmmakers, Marcus Manh Cuong Vu from Vietnam, Sharofat M. Arabova from Tajikistan, and Jason Lee from Singapore, adapt to overcome these new set of challenges these past months.

With new video and social sharing platforms trending, how do we define storytelling today? What kind of stories and formats have opened up for creatives? This panel brings together content creators innovating with resources they have. We dive into the minds of Singaporeans, Annette Lee and Caryn Cheng, and our jury member Alemberg Ang, from the Philippines, to find out what stories they want to tell, as people are increasingly looking towards consuming online entertainment.

This episode, we speak with Thailand Director Aam Anusorn, who grew up in a tough environment, to share how he builds rapport - both on and off-screen - with his cast, and his personal growth in his filmmaking career. From watching horror slasher films to believing dinosaurs were real when he was a kid, he has grown to appreciate the magical element of filmmaking, gone through a few awakening moments, and finally embracing his voice and self.

He hopes that more aspiring film directors can stay open-minded, accept change, and learn from creating more films. He believes that every voice matters, and also continues to use storytelling as a way for him to speak his mind.

This episode,  we speak with Indonesian Cinematographer (DOP) Bella Panggabean, who recently got selected into the American Society of Cinematographers Vision Mentorship Program, to share her past years' experiences and learnings on the job. From playing RPG games, to being a digital imaging geek, to owning her first DSLR camera, she has not turned back ever since. 

Although there is only a handful of female DOPs in her country, she continues to build up a portfolio of stills, visual storytelling and branded commercials. She hopes that more females with a photographic eye and resilience, can have more confidence to becoming a DOP.

This episode,  we speak with Filipino film producer Alem, who recently won Docs-in-Progress Award at Cannes, to share his experience and tips on the strategies for funding. He dreams of one day making literature mainstream.