SINGAPORE: Local filmmaker Nelson Neo recently screened his film, “Dreaming & Dying,” at the Locarno Film Festival as his debut feature, and it has now won two awards. The film was awarded the Filmmakers of the Present – Golden Leopard (Pardo d’oro Cineasti del presente) and the Swatch First Feature Award (Prize for Best First Feature).
The film is said to revolve around the story of three friends in their fifties who reunite after years of being apart. The three friends find themselves in a love triangle, and as they figure out their feelings, supernatural experiences occur. The cast included Doreen Toh, Peter Yu, and Kelvin Ho, and Singaporean cinematographer Lincoln Yeo who shot the film.
In a press statement, Nelson Neo stated: “It is a really amazing experience to return to Locarno Film Festival with my first feature film, Dreaming & Dying, to win this distinguished award and screen to sold-out audiences who appreciate and love our film.”
He added: “We are excited to bring Leopard home and share it with our team.”
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Nelson Neo made history by being the first Southeast Asian film and Singaporean director who had won two of the top prizes in the Cineasti del presente category of the festival.
The category, Concorso Cineasti del presente, of the festival highlights the selection of first and second feature films, primarily world premieres which are directed by emerging global directors.
The film is produced by Singapore-based Momo Film Co.
In an Instagram post, Momo Film Co. shared: “Nelson Yeo’s debut feature “Dreaming & Dying” has swept up not one but TWO awards at the festival! Our film is the first Southeast Asian film to clinch the Golden Leopard for Concorso Cineasti del presente, and we have also been awarded the Swatch First Feature Award (Prize for Best First Feature)!”
The team added: “Thank you to the eminent jury for selecting our film, we are honoured to receive these awards on behalf of our amazing cast and crew, whose efforts are central to the success of our film!”
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