Member of the Month – October
This month we have the pleasure of speaking with Michael Lim, Filmmaker. Programme Manager, Singapore Film Society. Board member, Singapore International Film Festival.
Briefly what is your role? I’m the festival director for Animation Nation for the Singapore Film Society. My role is curation and raising funds for the festival as the main duties. I also write and direct films for corporates and branding.
Any advice for doing business in Singapore and/or the region? Advice, look for partners who can really deliver to your expectations. It is a highly competitive market and people work extremely hard so work life balance may not be the same as in NZ. Know some Singlish. That was a small joke.
When did you move to Singapore? Where from? Born and bred here in Singapore but lived overseas for more then ten years in Australia, London and the US.
Where were you born? What country do you call home? Singapore.
What do you like most about Singapore? Food culture is great, public transport is easy and people are friendly.
What do you do to relax? Listening to music and watching films. Also tennis is my favourite sport.
What’s top of your bucket list? Going to the Cannes Film Festival with a film project for market. Making the Book of Hat VR experience and bringing it to Cannes as well.
Why did you join the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce (Singapore) and what do you like most about it? I joined the NZCC to become more aware of NZ businesses and culture. I’m also looking for strategic partners from NZ for collaborations as we have a NZ-SG co-production treaty which has only been used once. I would like to see greater partnerships in this industry and have recently visited the Big Screen Symposium in Auckland to network and understand the film industry in NZ. It was a great success for me in that respect.
Any last words? I’m looking to do the first VR collaboration project between NZ and SG at the moment. Its in early stages and I’m looking for partners and sponsors for it as its a charity project to raise money to find a cure for cancer. It’s based on a NZ book that I’m optioning and its called the Book of Hat by Harriet Rowland. We had the Singapore book launch at the NZ Singapore High Commissioner’s Residence at the end of June this year.
