Ray Pang's short film 'Closer to Me' will be playing on the Cannes screen in May. (Youtube screengrab)
Singaporean Ray Pang’s short film “Closer to Me” has been selected to be part of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2013 in May.
The local film – which was also shortlisted for the People’s Choice Award and Jury Award for the Louis Vuitton Journey Award – is about the fragility of life and was inspired by Pang’s cancer-stricken friend. It will be screened under the Short Film Corner category to an audience of potential film distributors.
Pang, who’s been a filmmaker for six years, told Yahoo! Singapore that being part of the festival is nothing short of surreal.
“It’s a dream for a filmmaker to be at Cannes. I didn’t expect it to get selected,” said the 28-year-old Pang, who hopes the nomination will help open doors as he hopes to “rub shoulders with big names in the industry”.
A second entry from Singapore to be featured on the Cannes screen this year is from 34-year-old Christina Choo who teaches at Glasgow School of Art - Singapore Institute of Technology.
She wrote and directed s horror tale of four friends stricken with hallucinations and whispers from beyond the real life. The short movie has already won best picture in 3D at the 3D Korean International Film Festival.
The annual Cannes Film Festival brings together some of the biggest names in the film world to the seaside town in the French Riviera. This year, Steven Spielberg will act as head of jury to judge the competition.
Spielberg’s directorial debut "The Sugarland Express" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 1974, where it won the award for Best Screenplay.
The international platform also screens some of the best pieces of history in the making. It has been a springboard into international fame for lesser known directors like Roman Polanski and his full feature film The Pianist in 2002. Adrien Brody who starred in The Pianist became the youngest winner to get an Oscar for Best Actor for his role.
Watch Ray Pang’s film here.
Related Stories:
Spielberg to head up Cannes festival jury
'Argo' wins best picture on shared Oscars night
Ben Affleck's 'Argo' named best film at British BAFTAs
