• MILESTONES
    • 2005
    • 2006
    • 2007
    • 2008
    • 2010
    • 2011
    • 2014
    • 2015
  • MESSAGES
  • EVENTS
  • GALLERY
  • MAIN SITE

ASIAN FILM ARCHIVE

Celebrating

10 YEARS

Of Collecting Tales


5 Aug - 23 Oct 2015
TO MAIN SITE
MILESTONES
2005
2005

Our

1st REEL


The Asian Film Archive was founded in January 2005 to preserve the rich film heritage of Asian Cinema, to encourage scholarly research and to promote a wider critical appreciation of Asian film.
  • AFA is founded and moves into its first office at the National University of Singapore
  • Memorandum of Understanding is signed with National Archives of Singapore
  • Launch of Singapore Shorts Vol. 1 DVD anthology
  • Asian Film Symposium is co-presented by AFA and the Substation
2006
2006

MOVING

MINDS


The AFA worked with its partners to provide activities and events to meet the film literacy and educational needs of the community.
  • AFA is granted Institution of Public Character status
  • Launch of first Educators’ Workshop series
  • Launch of Royston’s Shorts DVD
  • AFA becomes an institutional member of the South East Asia-Pacific Audiovisual Archive Association (SEAPAVAA)
2007
2007

A Year Of

FIRSTS


Many firsts were achieved including the launch of a public reference collection, the preservation of the Cathay-Keris Malay classics, the admission into FIAF, the winning of the new non-profit initiative award by the National Volunteer and Philanthropic Centre.
  • AFA signs Memorandum of Understanding with National Library Board and Singapore Film Commission
  • AFA moves into its new office at Library Supply Centre in Changi South
  • AFA becomes the first Singaporean associate member of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF)
  • AFA presents Southeast Asian Digital Cinema Roundtable and Symposium
  • Cathay-Keris Films donates Malay Classics collection to AFA for preservation
  • Launch of AFA Reference Collection at library@esplanade
  • AFA wins the New Non-profit Initiative Award at the National Volunteerism & Philanthropy Centre Awards
2008
2008

FILM

REIGNS


CineOdeon, a student led film festival involving training youth programmers and critics, and a second anthology of Singapore short films were launched.
  • Launch of CineOdeon (student run film festival)
  • Launch of Singapore Shorts: Volume 2 DVD anthology
2010
2010

5 YEARS ON


In celebration of its 5th anniversary, the AFA held its first fund-raiser with the screening of a digitally restored Moon Over Malaya and a Save Our Film campaign, targeted to raise awareness of the AFA’s work amongst 18-35 years old audiences.
  • Launch of SAVE OUR FILM campaign as part of AFA’s 5th anniversary
  • First charity screening of restored film Moon Over Malaya
2011
2011

UNCLE BOONMEE

COMES TO TOWN


Award winning filmmaker and a member of AFA’s international advisory board member, Apichatpong Weerasaethakul, held a masterclass and a post-screening discussion after the Singapore premiere of his film, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.
  • Charity screening and Singapore premiere of Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
  • Masterclass by Apichatpong Weerasethakul presented by AFA, NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia and Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University
2014
2014

Part of the

WORLD’S HERITAGE


The AFA Cathay-Keris Malay Classics collection is successfully inscribed into UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register and the AFA becomes a subsidiary of the National Library Board.
  • AFA becomes a subsidiary of the National Library Board
  • Asian Film Archive Collection: Cathay-Keris Malay Classics is successfully inscribed into UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register
2015
2015

WE ARE 10


AFA’s 10th year starts off with a bang with a new office, hosting of the 19th South East Asia-Pacific Audiovisual Archives Association Conference and General Assembly, restoration and presenting four restored films as part of Singapore’s jubilee celebration, and the commissioning of 10 short Southeast Asian films to be presented at AFA’s bash.
  • AFA moves into its new office at the National Library Building on Victoria Street
  • AFA hosts the 19th SEAPAVAA Conference and General Assembly
  • Launch of AFA’s REFRAME series
  • AFA presents the newly restored Sultan Mahmood Mangkat Di-julang as the opening film of Singapore Cinema in 50 Films, Singapore Festival in France
  • AFA presents four restored films at SG50 Spotlight on Singapore Cinema in partnership with Media Development Authority, Singapore Film Commission, National Heritage Board, National Library Board and National Museum of Singapore Cinematheque
  • AFA commissions Fragment, an anthology of 10 Southeast Asian short films in celebration of AFA’s 10th anniversary
a

ASIAN FILM ARCHIVE

MILESTONES

BACK TO TOP MESSAGES

ASIAN FILM ARCHIVE

MESSAGES

Happy Birthday to the Asian Film Archive (AFA), which has just completed its first decade of operation. It has been an adventurous journey, and the AFA is now firmly established as an innovative and significant player in the Asia Pacific archiving scene – and beyond, including recognition of some of its treasures by UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” program. Here’s to a new decade of achievement!

Dr. Ray Edmondson
Principal, Archive Associates Pty Ltd Special Advisor, UNESCO Memory of the World Programme
BACK TO MILESTONES EVENTS

ASIAN FILM ARCHIVE

MESSAGES

On behalf of the South East Asia Pacific Audio Visual Archive Association (SEAPAVAA), I would like to congratulate the Asian Film Archive (AFA) on its 10th year anniversary. Our film heritage is an important expression of the creative culture of the region. Through their innovative programmes, the AFA is helping to, not only sustain, but develop a wider interest in film and film heritage and its role in contemporary society; which can only be of benefit to everyone. Well done to everyone at the AFA and the best of wishes for the future.

Mick Newnham
President, South East Asia Pacific Audio Visual Archive Association
BACK TO MILESTONES EVENTS

ASIAN FILM ARCHIVE

MESSAGES

Ten years is short for film history, but not so for the history of a film archive that was inaugurated particularly in the midst of great technological transition. The Asian Film Archive (AFA) has survived this difficult decade and acquired a significant film heritage collection to care for and present. The AFA is as much a treasure of Singapore as it is of Asia.

Hisashi Okajima
Chief Curator, Museum of Modern Art Japan, National Film Center
BACK TO MILESTONES EVENTS

ASIAN FILM ARCHIVE

MESSAGES

The Asian Film Archive (AFA) is a cause that has been dear to my heart. It was started, and powered, with pure passion, by a group of people who believed in the importance of preserving the film heritage of Singapore, and the region. Like most film projects, there is more blood, sweat and tears involved in its creation, and only the most fleeting moments of glamour. But the journey has been a most rewarding one. Happy 10th anniversary AFA. Here’s to keeping the film flame burning.

Ong Sor Fern
Journalist, Straits Times Pioneer AFA board member
BACK TO MILESTONES EVENTS

ASIAN FILM ARCHIVE

MESSAGES

Congratulations to the Asian Film Archive (AFA) for 10-years of service to the preservation of Asian film. It’s not been an easy 10 years, with budgets being tight and huge staff sacrifices. I’m very glad to see that the AFA is now on a more solid footing under the umbrella of the National Library Board and forging ahead with its founding vision of collecting, preserving, showcasing and educating people about Asian film.  It was a great pleasure to work with the AFA for five years and I wish them all the best for the future.

Susan Beard
Former AFA board member
BACK TO MILESTONES EVENTS

ASIAN FILM ARCHIVE

MESSAGES

Congratulations for keeping the fire burning for ten years! Wishing you more passion, more courage to preserve, programme and present images for the future!

Tan Bee Thiam
Founder, Asian Film Archive
BACK TO MILESTONES EVENTS

ASIAN FILM ARCHIVE

MESSAGES

My warmest happy birthday wishes to AFA!

I feel honoured to witness the blooming of this important organisation.

Reseed

Encounter

Cherish

Forward

Love/

Cinema/ 10++

Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Filmmaker / AFA International Advisory Board
BACK TO MILESTONES EVENTS

ASIAN FILM ARCHIVE

MESSAGES

I feel very proud of the Archive… It’s wonderful that ten years on, the Archive still exists especially in a place like Singapore where things come and go.

Kirsten Tan
Filmmaker
BACK TO MILESTONES EVENTS

ASIAN FILM ARCHIVE

MESSAGES

Very happy and glad that AFA has found a place to grow and develop, and become stronger in the years to come. Karen and team, I wish you all the best and may you continue to maintain and keep the fire going for our film heritage!

Jacqueline Tan
Deputy Director (Academic), Ngee Ann Polytechnic Pioneer AFA board member
BACK TO MILESTONES EVENTS

ASIAN FILM ARCHIVE

MESSAGES

In the last decade, the Asian Film Archive (AFA) has made an indelible mark on Singapore’s film community and culture by foregrounding the essential, and at times intrepid, work of film archives. I offer my heartiest congratulations to the AFA, its staff, and its volunteers as they celebrate the organisation’s 10th anniversary. May this momentous occasion signal an even more illustrious future for the AFA.

Assoc Prof Kenneth Chan
Chair, AFA International Advisory Board
BACK TO MILESTONES EVENTS

ASIAN FILM ARCHIVE

EVENTS

  • 29 Oct, 8 pm

    Sultan Mahmood Mangkat di-Julang

    Asian Premiere

    Gallery Theatre, National Museum

  • 30 Oct, 7.45 pm

    Fragment

    World Premiere

    Green Room, The Projector

  • 31 Oct, 1pm

    Asian Panorama: The Fragments of Southeast Asian Cinema

    Redrum, The Projector

BACK TO MESSAGES GALLERY

2006
AFA’s early team
L-R: Jeanine, Bee Thiam and Karen in AFA’s office in NUS tutorial room

Karen and Bee Thiam at 2006 SEAPAVAA Conference 2

2006
Karen and Bee Thiam with delegates at 2006 SEAPAVAA conference in Canberra

2007
Staff with interns
Front: Ling, Jun, Ethan, Koon Yen, Premila
Back: Pauline and Karen

2008
Launch of Singapore Shorts Vol. 2 at Kinokuniya

2009
Filmmaker, the late Yasmin Ahmad, at an AFA educators’ workshop

2010
Former President SR Nathan gracing AFA’s 5th anniversary charity screening of Moon Over Malaya

2011
Bee Thiam with delegates at the first SEAPAVAA workshop held in Noumea, New Caledonia

2011
Post-screening Q&A session with Apichatpong Weerasethakul, after screening of Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

2013
AFA talk on The Art of Film Critiquing at Filmgarde Bugis+

2015
Speakers at AFA’s Asian Panorama Roundtable: Singapore Mavericks
L-R: Sam Loh, Kan Lume, Kay Wee (AFA’s Outreach Officer), Lynn Lee, Tzang Merwyn Tong, Daniel Hui

2015 Office Warming

2015
A new home for the AFA within the National Library Building

2015
AFA Chair, Assoc Prof Kenneth Paul Tan, greeting delegates and guests at the Welcome Dinner of the AFA hosted 19 SEAPAVAA Conference, April 2015

2015 Tee Pao with Marrie Lee at Memory Film Fest

2015
Tee Pao with Marrie Lee (lead actress of They Call Her Cleopatra Wong…), June 2015

2015
With Joo Lan Berry (first from right), daughter of Yi Sui, director of The Lion City at Spotlight on Singapore Cinema at Capitol Theatre, August 2015

2015 Reframe NOSTALGIA

2015
AFA’s REFRAME series with speakers at #Nostalgia talk
L-R: Tan Bee Thiam, Prof Chua Beng Huat, Karen (AFA), Ben Slater

ASIAN FILM ARCHIVE

GALLERY

BACK TO EVENTS
TO MAIN SITE
  • MILESTONES
  • MESSAGES
  • EVENTS
  • GALLERY
  • MAIN SITE

Celebrating

10 YEARS

Of Collecting Tales


5 Aug - 23 Oct 2015
- MESSAGES

Happy Birthday to the Asian Film Archive (AFA), which has just completed its first decade of operation. It has been an adventurous journey, and the AFA is now firmly established as an innovative and significant player in the Asia Pacific archiving scene – and beyond, including recognition of some of its treasures by UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” program. Here’s to a new decade of achievement!

Dr. Ray Edmondson
Principal, Archive Associates Pty Ltd Special Advisor, UNESCO Memory of the World Programme

On behalf of the South East Asia Pacific Audio Visual Archive Association (SEAPAVAA), I would like to congratulate the Asian Film Archive (AFA) on its 10th year anniversary. Our film heritage is an important expression of the creative culture of the region. Through their innovative programmes, the AFA is helping to, not only sustain, but develop a wider interest in film and film heritage and its role in contemporary society; which can only be of benefit to everyone. Well done to everyone at the AFA and the best of wishes for the future.

Mick Newnham
President, South East Asia Pacific Audio Visual Archive Association

Ten years is short for film history, but not so for the history of a film archive that was inaugurated particularly in the midst of great technological transition. The Asian Film Archive (AFA) has survived this difficult decade and acquired a significant film heritage collection to care for and present. The AFA is as much a treasure of Singapore as it is of Asia.

Hisashi Okajima
Chief Curator, Museum of Modern Art Japan, National Film Center

The Asian Film Archive (AFA) is a cause that has been dear to my heart. It was started, and powered, with pure passion, by a group of people who believed in the importance of preserving the film heritage of Singapore, and the region. Like most film projects, there is more blood, sweat and tears involved in its creation, and only the most fleeting moments of glamour. But the journey has been a most rewarding one. Happy 10th anniversary AFA. Here’s to keeping the film flame burning.

Ong Sor Fern
Journalist, Straits Times Pioneer AFA board member

Congratulations to the Asian Film Archive (AFA) for 10-years of service to the preservation of Asian film. It’s not been an easy 10 years, with budgets being tight and huge staff sacrifices. I’m very glad to see that the AFA is now on a more solid footing under the umbrella of the National Library Board and forging ahead with its founding vision of collecting, preserving, showcasing and educating people about Asian film.  It was a great pleasure to work with the AFA for five years and I wish them all the best for the future.

Susan Beard
Former AFA board member

Congratulations for keeping the fire burning for ten years! Wishing you more passion, more courage to preserve, programme and present images for the future!

Tan Bee Thiam
Founder, Asian Film Archive

My warmest happy birthday wishes to AFA!

I feel honoured to witness the blooming of this important organisation.

Reseed

Encounter

Cherish

Forward

Love/

Cinema/ 10++

Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Filmmaker / AFA International Advisory Board

I feel very proud of the Archive… It’s wonderful that ten years on, the Archive still exists especially in a place like Singapore where things come and go.

Kirsten Tan
Filmmaker

Very happy and glad that AFA has found a place to grow and develop, and become stronger in the years to come. Karen and team, I wish you all the best and may you continue to maintain and keep the fire going for our film heritage!

Jacqueline Tan
Deputy Director (Academic), Ngee Ann Polytechnic Pioneer AFA board member

In the last decade, the Asian Film Archive (AFA) has made an indelible mark on Singapore’s film community and culture by foregrounding the essential, and at times intrepid, work of film archives. I offer my heartiest congratulations to the AFA, its staff, and its volunteers as they celebrate the organisation’s 10th anniversary. May this momentous occasion signal an even more illustrious future for the AFA.

Assoc Prof Kenneth Chan
Chair, AFA International Advisory Board
- MILESTONES
2005

Our

1st REEL


The Asian Film Archive was founded in January 2005 to preserve the rich film heritage of Asian Cinema, to encourage scholarly research and to promote a wider critical appreciation of Asian film.

  • AFA is founded and moves into its first office at the National University of Singapore
  • Memorandum of Understanding is signed with National Archives of Singapore
  • Launch of Singapore Shorts Vol. 1 DVD anthology
  • Asian Film Symposium is co-presented by AFA and the Substation
2006

MOVING

MINDS


The AFA worked with its partners to provide activities and events to meet the film literacy and educational needs of the community.

  • AFA is granted Institution of Public Character status
  • Launch of first Educators’ Workshop series
  • Launch of Royston’s Shorts DVD
  • AFA becomes an institutional member of the South East Asia-Pacific Audiovisual Archive Association (SEAPAVAA)
2007

A Year Of

FIRSTS


Many firsts were achieved including the launch of a public reference collection, the preservation of the Cathay-Keris Malay classics, the admission into FIAF, the winning of the new non-profit initiative award by the National Volunteer and Philanthropic Centre.

  • AFA signs Memorandum of Understanding with National Library Board and Singapore Film Commission
  • AFA moves into its new office at Library Supply Centre in Changi South
  • AFA becomes the first Singaporean associate member of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF)
  • AFA presents Southeast Asian Digital Cinema Roundtable and Symposium
  • Cathay-Keris Films donates Malay Classics collection to AFA for preservation
  • Launch of AFA Reference Collection at library@esplanade
  • AFA wins the New Non-profit Initiative Award at the National Volunteerism & Philanthropy Centre Awards
2008

FILM

REIGNS


CineOdeon, a student led film festival involving training youth programmers and critics, and a second anthology of Singapore short films were launched.

  • Launch of CineOdeon (student run film festival)
  • Launch of Singapore Shorts: Volume 2 DVD anthology
2010

5 YEARS ON


In celebration of its 5th anniversary, the AFA held its first fund-raiser with the screening of a digitally restored Moon Over Malaya and a Save Our Film campaign, targeted to raise awareness of the AFA’s work amongst 18-35 years old audiences.

  • Launch of SAVE OUR FILM campaign as part of AFA’s 5th anniversary
  • First charity screening of restored film Moon Over Malaya
2011

UNCLE BOONMEE

COMES TO TOWN


Award winning filmmaker and a member of AFA’s international advisory board member, Apichatpong Weerasaethakul, held a masterclass and a post-screening discussion after the Singapore premiere of his film, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.

  • Charity screening and Singapore premiere of Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
  • Masterclass by Apichatpong Weerasethakul presented by AFA, NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia and Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University
2014

Part of the

WORLD'S HERITAGE


The AFA Cathay-Keris Malay Classics collection is successfully inscribed into UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register and the AFA becomes a subsidiary of the National Library Board.

  • AFA becomes a subsidiary of the National Library Board
  • Asian Film Archive Collection: Cathay-Keris Malay Classics is successfully inscribed into UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register
2015

WE ARE 10


AFA’s 10th year starts off with a bang with a new office, hosting of the 19th South East Asia-Pacific Audiovisual Archives Association Conference and General Assembly, restoration and presenting four restored films as part of Singapore’s jubilee celebration, and the commissioning of 10 short Southeast Asian films to be presented at AFA’s bash.

  • AFA moves into its new office at the National Library Building on Victoria Street
  • AFA hosts the 19th SEAPAVAA Conference and General Assembly
  • Launch of AFA’s REFRAME series
  • AFA presents the newly restored Sultan Mahmood Mangkat Di-julang as the opening film of Singapore Cinema in 50 Films, Singapore Festival in France
  • AFA presents four restored films at SG50 Spotlight on Singapore Cinema in partnership with Media Development Authority, Singapore Film Commission, National Heritage Board, National Library Board and National Museum of Singapore Cinematheque
  • AFA commissions Fragment, an anthology of 10 Southeast Asian short films in celebration of AFA’s 10th anniversary
- EVENTS
  • 29 Oct, 8 pm

    Sultan Mahmood Mangkat di-Julang

    Asian Premiere

    Gallery Theatre, National Museum

  • 30 Oct, 7.45 pm

    Fragment

    World Premiere

    Green Room, The Projector

  • 31 Oct, 1pm

    Asian Panorama: The Fragments of Southeast Asian Cinema

    Redrum, The Projector

- GALLERY

2006
AFA’s early team
Jeanine, Bee Thiam and Karen in AFA’s office in NUS tutorial room

2006
Karen and Bee Thiam with delegates at 2006 SEAPAVAA conference in Canberra

2007
Staff with interns Front: Ling, Jun, Ethan, Koon Yen, Premila
Back: Pauline and Karen

2010
Former President SR Nathan gracing AFA’s 5th anniversary charity screening of Moon Over Malaya

2011
Bee Thiam with delegates at the first SEAPAVAA workshop held in Noumea, New Caledonia

2011
Post-screening Q&A session with Apichatpong Weerasethakul, after screening of Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

2013
AFA talk on The Art of Film Critiquing at Filmgarde Bugis+

2015
Speakers at AFA’s Asian Panorama Roundtable: Singapore Mavericks, May 2015
L-R: Sam Loh, Kan Lume, Kay Wee (AFA’s Outreach Officer), Lynn Lee, Tzang Merwyn Tong, Daniel Hui

2015 Office Warming

2015
A new home for the AFA within the National Library Building

2015
With Joo Lan Berry (first from right), daughter of Yi Sui, director of The Lion City at Spotlight on Singapore Cinema at Capitol Theatre, August 2015

2015 Tee Pao with Marrie Lee at Memory Film Fest

2015
Tee Pao with Marrie Lee (lead actress of They Call Her Cleopatra Wong…), June 2015

2015
AFA Chair, Assoc Prof Kenneth Paul Tan, greeting delegates and guests at the Welcome Dinner of the AFA hosted 19 SEAPAVAA Conference, April 2015

2015
AFA’s Reframe series with speakers at #Nostalgia talk, 2015
L-R: Tan Bee Thiam, Prof Chua Beng Huat, Karen (AFA), Ben Slater