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SMHFF Short Film

Youth Competition
2021
SMHFF Short Film Youth
Competition is back for the second
year! In 2020, we saw over 160
youths participate in the inaugural
competition. Through the Festival’s
platform, and multiple local and
international collaborations,
#SMHFFYouth have reached over
20,000 individuals around the world
— and the numbers are still growing!
By harnessing this powerful medium,
we want to continue creating more
avenues for our youth filmmakers to
advocate for mental health/dementia
issues.

Register for competition

here

Prizes
Best Overall Short Film: S$3000

Best Impact Short Film: S$2000

Audience Choice Award: S$1000

The 2021 Best Overall Short Film

will be screened at the next
Singapore Mental Health Film
Festival in May 2021.

Additionally, it will be screened at

the New York City Mental Health
Film Festival (New York, USA)
and Rendezvous with Madness Film
Festival (Toronto, Canada).

Register for competition

here

Entry Requirements
To qualify for this competition,
the filmmaker(s) must:

Be between the ages of 15 — 35

years old
Be living in Singapore during the
time of production and submission
Focus on at least one of the five
topics:
1. Cyber-Bullying & Trauma
2. Life Transitions
3. Young Caregivers
4. Recovery
5. Suicide Prevention
Register for the competition by
November 30, 2020 (23:59 hour)
with a film synopsis/idea of their
short film *
Attend at least one film
production workshop *
Attend at least two mental
health/dementia workshops *
Submit their short film by February
22, 2021 (only on invitation basis)
**

Individual and Team

submissions are eligible.

*Registration for the competition

close on November 30, 2020
(23:59 hour).
Only selected individuals/teams who
have registered for the competition
will be contacted by December 7,
2020 to attend the workshops.

**Only eligible youth, who have

attended the required workshops,
will receive a film submission
invitation email from the Festival.

Register for competition

here

Mental Health Workshops

Dec 10:00am Let’s Talk About

12 – Suicide
11:30am

Dec 2:00pm Transitions within

12 – Transitions
4:00pm

Dec 10:00am Before you Hit Send:

13 – How Cyber-Bullying
12:00pm can lead to Trauma

Dec 1:30pm Dementia – Who

13 – Cares?
3:00pm

Dec 10:00am Caring for Myself

19 – while Supporting
12:00pm Others

Film Production Workshops

Dec 4:00pm Short Film

13 – Screenwriting 101
5:30pm

Dec 2:00pm Discovering the

19 – Human Psychology in
4:00pm Documentaries

Dec 1:00pm Basics of Post

20 – Production
2:30pm

Register for competition

here

Film Submissions
Details
Submissions open in early
January and close on February
22, 2021 (23:59 hour).

Maximum length of short films

should be no longer than 10mins
(including opening and closing
credits).

Participants should expect to receive

further information on film
submissions in December, upon
completion of the workshops.

*Only eligible youth, who have

attended the required
workshops, will receive a film
submission invitation email from
the Festival.

Mental Health
Workshops

Register for competition here

Let’s Talk About Suicide

Samaritans of Singapore
Date: Saturday, December 12, 2020
Time: 10am – 11:30am

On average, there are at least one suicide

death a day in Singapore. With a stigma
associated with the topic of suicide, how
then should we safely start conversations?
In this session, we will share about how we
can responsibly portray suicide-related
themes on film and the media. Suicide
being a sensitive topic by itself, it is
important that we gain some insights into
what leads someone to be in the state of
crisis.

On average, there are at least one suicide

death a day in Singapore. With a stigma
associated with the topic of suicide, how
then should we safely start conversations?

In this session, we will share about how we

can responsibly portray suicide-related
themes on film and the media. Suicide
being a sensitive topic by itself, it is
important that we gain some insights into
what leads someone to be in the state of
crisis.

Takeaways from this workshop:

1. Responsible media portrayal of suicide

2. Understanding the general
background about suicides in
Singapore
3. Understanding Myths about Suicide
4. Understanding the Suicidal Mind

Dementia – Who Cares?

Project We Forgot
Date: Sunday, December 13, 2020
Time: 1:30pm – 3:00pm

When the issue of dementia hits home,

families are often at a loss. Emotional
stress may be exacerbated by a lack of
clarity of a loved one’s condition, a lack of
knowledge on finding credible
information, or a lack of guidance on who
to speak to for support. The typical age of
current caregivers of people with
dementia is aged between 40 and 60.
However, in the years to come, it is
expected that the number of younger
caregivers will increase.

Younger caregivers, defined as those aged

35 and below, face di!erent issues as
compared to their older counterparts.
These younger caregivers are at the prime
of their lives – students choosing to
advance their studies, graduating students
and young working adults who are
pursuing their career aspirations – and
have to make significant sacrifices such as
delaying their study and career plans or
starting a family.

Caring for a loved one with dementia is a

24-7 duty. It requires the constant
deciphering of new and sometimes
challenging behaviours exhibited by the
individual they are caring for. The task of
finding the right set of solutions may often
seem like a never-ending process of trial
and error. Sometimes, all we need as
caregivers is for someone to hold our
hand, and point us to the right tools,
methods, services, or activities.

This session discusses the dementia and

caregiving journey, the di!erent care roles
in a family circle, the impact on younger
caregivers, as well as gaps and
opportunities for us to create a
community of support for these
individuals.

Takeaways from this workshop:

1. Gain a deeper understanding about

dementia and the caregiving journey
2. The di!erent care roles in a family
circle
3. The impact on younger caregivers
4. Gaps and opportunities for us to
create a community of support for
these individuals

Transitions Within
Transitions
Community Health Assessment Team
Date: Saturday, December 12, 2020
Time: 2pm – 4pm

How have you been #phasingit through

COVID-19? Join us through an interactive
2 hour session where we discuss
transitions and its relation to mental
health during COVID-19. Facilitated by
Youth Support Workers from CHAT,
come chat with us on 12 Dec 2020. Let’s
CHAT!

Takeaways from this workshop:

1. Understand transitions as a
psychological process
2. Tune in to your emotions when
navigating transitions
3. Emotions may be messy but are
important to embrace when
#phasingit through transitions.

Caring For Myself While

Supporting Others
Anglican Care Centre
Date: Saturday, December 19, 2020
Time: 10am – 12pm

A discussion on mental health with

youths, looking at how they can help
themselves and others while facing
stresses of life through the recovery
process. A quick look at techniques used
to support recovery but also recognizing
when it is time to take a step back when
needed.

Takeaways from this workshop:

1. Gain a clearer understanding about

their self care style
2. Understand how to support a peer
who is going through a di"cult time

Before You Hit Send: How

Cyber-bullying Can Lead To
Trauma
TOUCH Youth
Date: Sunday, December 13, 2020
Time: 10am – 12pm

“Are you sure the post was about you,

maybe you’re reading too much into it”,
“then just don’t look at their posts”, “it’s
just an instastory, don’t take it too
seriously”.

These are some things people say to

trivialize cyber-bullying, but cyber-
bullying is anything but trivial. Because it
is done online, over multiple platforms,
cyber-bullying can feel like it is relentless,
overwhelming and inescapable to the
victims. Ultimately, it can a!ect our
mental health and even lead to trauma.

In this webinar, we will be learning about

how we can deal with cyber-bullying and
the potential trauma that comes from it.

Takeaways from this workshop:

1. To increase participants’ knowledge in

the nature of cyber bullying
2. To increase participants’
understanding in the causes of trauma
3. Participants will be able to know
where to seek help

Film Production
Workshops

Register for competition here

Short Film Scriptwriting 101

Wesley Leon Aroozoo, LASALLE
College of the Arts
Date: Sunday, December 13, 2020
Time: 4:00pm – 5:30pm

Short Film Scriptwriting 101′ introduces

participants to the various elements of
what makes a short film script captivating,
emotionally relatable and visually
engaging. Participants will also be
introduced to the technicalities of script
formatting and the responsibilities of a
scriptwriter.

Takeaways from this workshop:

1. Particpants will learn how to format

their scripts and understand what is
needed in telling an engaging story
cinematically.

Discovering the Human

Psychology in
Documentaries
Eileen Chong, Documentary Director
Date: Saturday, December 19, 2020
Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm

“As a documentary filmmaker, how do you

gain access to a profile?”, and “How do
you then get them to share with you so
deeply and candidly?”
These are the questions that I get asked
most often.
The human stories in documentaries are
the hardest to crack. After all, why should
the profile open up their lives and share
their deepest vulnerabilities with you?
This workshop teaches youths to be
observant with human behaviour, to listen
intently to what profiles tell them, more
importantly – what they don’t say. How to
approach making documentaries with
integrity (especially if the topic is
sensitive), helps the filmmaker to
discover their own psychology in making
documentaries and encourages youths to
challenge their perspective on life in order
to broaden their horizon in the scout for
stories.

Takeaways from this workshop:

1. Importance of exploring own

“psychology”
2. Ethical Considerations in Film-
making (beneficence; safeguarding
interest of profiles; mutually-
beneficial relationship)
3. Engagement with Profiles and team-
members
4. What to take note of when engaging
profiles – especially on topics of
mental health which can be sensitive
5. How to create an environment where
profiles feel safe to share
6. Real case studies and examples of
working with your profiles

Basics of Post-Production
Yahssir M, Millenia Motion Pictures
Date: Sunday, December 20, 2020
Time: 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Learn how the standards for broadcast

audio levels and colour correction. Why
there is a di!erence between di!erent
videos and what ‘rules’ do they follow.

Takeaways from this workshop:

To be able to understand that there are

broadcasting standards for video and why
there are a common set of standards to
follow in terms of audio and colour.

General topics covered will include:

1. Software (paid and free)

2. Footage ingesting
3. Jump cuts/ 180 degrees rule / focusing
on action
4. Colour correction
5. Filters
6. Audio recording
7. Audio levels and microphone
positions
8. Clipping audio
9. Exportation for web and screening
10. Sending final files

Singapore Mental
Health Film Festival
Singapore Mental Health Film
Festival Limited (SMHFF) is a
Singapore-based and registered non-
profit organisation.

SMHFF’s vision is to provide an

inclusive and safe platform for
stories about recovery and resilience.

Safe Space
SMHFF is committed to providing
an open and safe space where we
welcome people of all backgrounds
and abilities to participate in
empowering, non-judgemental and
non-threatening discussions. This
also means that we commit to
respecting the privacy of others by
maintaining confidentiality and
allowing others to speak for
themselves.

Sponsors

Jardine Matheson is a diversified

Asian-based group with unsurpassed
experience in the region, having been
founded in China in 1832. The Group
comprise a broad portfolio of
market-leading businesses, which
represent a combination of cash
generating activities and long-term
property assets that are closely
aligned to the increasingly
prosperous consumers of the region.
Group companies in Singapore
include: Jardine Cycle & Carriage;
Cycle & Carriage Singapore, Jardine
Engineering Corporation; Schindler
Lifts (Singapore); Gammon
Construction; Hongkong Land; MCL
Land; Mandarin Oriental, Singapore;
Dairy Farm Singapore (Cold Storage;
Giant; Guardian Health & Beauty;
and 7-Eleven); Maxim’s Catering
Limited, a company incorporated in
Hong Kong; Genki Sushi Singapore;
and Starbucks Singapore.

MINDSET Care Limited

(MINDSET) is a registered charity
established by the Jardine Matheson
Group of companies to make a
tangible di!erence in the area of
mental health. Led by Jardine
Ambassadors, MINDSET aims to
raise awareness and understanding
of mental health issues to change
attitudes, while at the same time,
provide practical support to
individuals, families and charitable
initiatives in the mental health
sector. MINDSET was awarded the
Charity Governance Award 2018 and
Charity Transparency Awards 2016,
2017, 2018 and 2019 by the Charity
Council. MINDSET is also named a
Champion of Good by the National
Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre.

Supported By

National Youth Council (NYC) is the

national body for youth development
in Singapore and the focal point of
international youth a!airs.

At NYC, we believe in a world where

young people are respected and
heard, and have the ability to
influence and make a di!erence to
the world. Together with our
partners, we develop future-ready
youth who are committed to
Singapore by instilling in them a
heart for service, resilience and an
enterprising spirit.

FAQs
! Would there be a budget allocated
for each team if the proposed idea is
selected for production?

! I didn’t receive an
acknowledgement email after
registering. Did the Festival receive
my application?

! Will the Festival be screening our

films outside of the Premiere?

! What films will be screened during

the SMHFF Short Film Youth
Competition Premiere in April/May?

! Are we commissioned to create

the film?

! Can I be a team member of two

different groups that have sent two
different proposals for the application
process?
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