* All tickets are sold out currently!

In conjunction with our 5th anniversary, the Asian Film Archive will be presenting the world premiere of the digitally restored film Moon Over Malaya, one of the earliest Chinese language films shot in Singapore and the most acclaimed of the “Nanyang Trilogy,” produced by the Kong Ngee Company in 1957. Shown for the first time in Singapore after decades, the film is a spectacular visual memory of Singapore's golden age of cinema and the historical and socio-economic landmarks of its time.

Programme
6.00pm Registration
6.45pm Guests to be seated
7.00pm Arrival of His Excellency President S.R Nathan
7.05pm Introduction
7.15pm Film screening
8.45pm Tour of  Exhibition and Cathay Film Gallery
9.15pm Reception

The Film
 Ngok Ming (Patrick Tse) is an idealistic young man, passionate about promoting and developing education in Malaya. He approaches a wealthy Chinese businessman to raise funds for building schools and meets the young heiress, Cho-lin (Nam Hung). After a whirlwind romance, they get married. However, Ngok Ming struggles to balance his passion for education and performing his duty of managing the family business. As conflicts between the characters escalate, Ngok Ming and Cho-lin make decisions that change their lives forever.

1957 | 91mins | Cantonese with English, Mandarin subtitles | Director Chun Khim | Assistant Director Chor Yuen

The Heritage
Moon Over Malaya was shot in Singapore and Malaysia in 1957 and starred Patrick Tse, Nam Hung and Patsy Kar Ling before their heydays of stardom. The film was produced by the Kong Ngee Company, founded by Singaporean brothers, Ho Khee-yong and Ho Khee-siang, in 1937. With its contemporary, modern and urbane films, Kong Ngee created a new standard in Cantonese cinema – a cinema that attracted and became the pastime of younger people in a bustling and newly affluent post-war Asia. The film was made in the golden age of Singapore’s cinema heritage, a time when a locally produced film had a reach and appeal beyond Singapore’s shores. For filmmakers and audiences alike, it is evident that much can be gleaned and learnt from Singapore’s film history, expertise, and traditions which run much deeper and further than what Singaporeans are aware of.

More than 400 films were made by Singapore producers from the 1950s-70s but a significant portion of these films are lost. Surviving films need funding so that they can be preserved, maintained, digitised and restored. Through the charity screening, the Archive hopes to raise S$150,000 to maintain and upkeep its preservation, restoration and outreach work. To quote Oscar-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese: “Movies are the memories of our lifetime. We need to keep them alive.”

The Archive
The Asian Film Archive is a charity founded to preserve the rich film heritage of Asian Cinema, to encourage research on film and to promote a wider critical appreciation of this art form. The Archive makes its collections available to the public through the Asian Film Archive Reference Collection and works to dynamically reach out to the community through organised screenings and other educational and cultural programmes. The Archive is the winner of the New Non-Profit Initiative Award at the Annual National Volunteers and Philanthropy Awards in 2007, which recognises the impact of our work and management practices. The Archive’s work is also internationally recognised by its peers. It is Secretary-General to lead the Southeast Asia Pacific Audio Visual Archive Association (SEAPAVAA). The Archive is the only Singapore affiliate of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF), an association of world-leading film archives.

Reserve Your Seat
All tickets to the charity screening are now sold out. You can however, still make your gift of SGD$50.00 here: http://www.asianfilmarchive.org/BeInvolved/Donate.aspx. The Archive depends on your support. The Archive is an Institution of Public Character (IPC) and cash donation to the Archive is eligible for a 250% tax deduction. Your tax deductible gift enables the Asian Film Archive to preserve our film heritage that future generations will connect with and enjoy.

Contact: Ethan Yeo (info@asianfilmarchive.org or 6777 3243)

With the support of Ho Kian Ngiap and family, Alternative Content Distribution Network, Blackmagic Design, Canon Singapore, Cathay Organisation, Hock Tong Bee, Hong Kong Film Archive, Infinite Frameworks, National Archives of Singapore, People’s Association and Turntable Music.

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