The AAYFF 2017 Winning Films
Congratulations to this year's category and age group winners!
Winner age 16–18 Age Group and Best Drama and Best AAYFF film 2017 and Audience Award Winner!
TAYO
by Myles Rublee, Sophia De Dios, Liah Gomez and Jigmey Penjor. International School Manila, Philippines.
"Tayo" translates from Filipino to "us" in English. The story covers the journey of one mother who sacrifices her relationship with her son for the betterment of his future. As an Overseas Filipino Worker, she travels abroad in order to earn money so that her son can go to school. Back at home, in the provinces of the Philippines, lives her son with his grandmother, who fills the role of his absent mother. The concept behind the title us is to suggest that this is not one story, but a story of us all, it is a story that is shared amongst over 11 million OFWs and mothers around the world who make sacrifices for their children.
Winner age 10–12 Age Group
PROJECT FREEDOM
by Nathan McKeogh. International School Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
This documentary was written and directed by myself – a 12 year old boy living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Everyday I see hundreds of ducks being slaughtered at the markets for food. I wanted to take action and so this is my story of Project Freedom.
Winner age 13–15 Age Group and Best Documentary
JIANBING IN BEIJING
by Tony Huang. International School Beijing, China.
While the people of Beijing are busy at work, not a lot of time is allocated in their day for breakfast. Jian Bing is a quick way people make time out of their busy schedules, to enjoy a fusion between traditional and modern Chinese cuisine.
Winner age 19–21 Age Group and Best Animation
THE HUNT
by Mai Nguyen and Miyako Makio. LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore
The Hunt is a short animation about the presence of a food chain in every being’s survival and whether humans should stay part of that food chain in modern society.
Winner Best Music Video
BREATHLESS
by Elisabetta Laurence, UWCSEA Dover, Singapore.
A music video starring the young artist who, after an upsetting break-up with her boyfriend, decides to write a song about the relationship to deal with her despondency.
Winner Best Special Achievement (Technical)
AVA
by Jeremiah Hosana & Grace Ho. LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore
A film about letting go of the familiar in order to grow as a person. No matter how hard we try to stay in the same place, change is constant, and we have to move on eventually.
Winner Best Experimental Film
YOU'RE WORTH IT
by Mathilda Khoo. IGB International School, Malaysia.
A film about self worth and finding your own pathway of happiness.
Winner Best Short Short
FLAMINGO GIRL
by Rosa Kang. Canadian International School, Singapore
A short animation in response to feminism in our society. As Flamingo is nailed to the girl in the factory, social expectations are killing individuality and shaping women to be more feminine. The hands in the video represent the pressure from society.
“I was going to go to a four-year college and be an anthropologist or to an art school and be an illustrator when a friend convinced me to learn photography at the University of Southern California. Little did I know it was a school that taught you how to make movies! It had never occurred to me that I’d ever have any interest in filmmaking.”