Singapore, 23 September 2008 – Over US$250,000 in funding was awarded at this year’s The Asian Pitch competition organised by Japan’s NHK and Singapore’s MediaCorp. Stories about Shakespeare-spewing Chinese children, an association of "dead" people, and diamond couriersare among the winning proposals from independent filmmakers across Asia.

The selected five directors and projects are: 
Sanjeev Sivan (India) : Dead Man Walking
Zhu Chun Guang (China) : For The Love Of Shakespeare  
Sheron Dayoc (Philippines) : A Weaver’s Tale
Zhao Liang (China) : A Farmer’s Struggle
Arun Kumar (India) : The Icemen – Angadias of India

This year, twelve shortlisted filmmakers from China, Korea, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia pitched their stories to a panel of executive producers from the two public broadcasters.

Among the five, one of the winners – The Icemen of Angadias– came from the initial batch of proposals from last year’s The Asian Pitch. It was previously awarded a development prize and will now receive full funding.

On its second year, The Asian Pitch has seen a 35 percent increase in submissions, with 162 entries from Australia, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam hoping to turn their ideas into world-class high definition documentaries. The pitch was held on 10 - 11 July 2008 at MediaCorp, Caldecott Broadcast Centre.

Mr Narashima Fumio, deputy director of NHK’s Programming Department, comments, "When producing a program dealing with issues surrounding the Asian people, I think it is important that the director/producer shares the same value and same social perspective as the local people. I believe that through these programs produced with an Asian consciousness, we will be able to convey an Asian perspective and enable the world to understand Asia more."

NHK’s Mr. Junichi Katayama, Senior Producer, who was one of the jury members and the executive producer of two of the programs recalls, "We are happy that we have winners from China and the Philippines, who were not present in last year’s winners. The new five programmes, together with last year’s three, will give us an illustrative look on Asia."

Mediacorp’s Caldecott Productions International Managing Director, Ms Ong Hee Yah says, "With the increase in submissions this year, we are confident that The Asian Pitch will continue to produce stories that have not been told before."

The five programs will be available internationally when they make their debut at the MIPTV tradeshow in Cannes next April.

Below are the synopses of each project.

1) Name of Director – Sanjeev Sivan
    Country – India 
    Title – Dead Man Walking  

Synopsis – What would you do if you find out that you are dead? Applying for a bank loan in 1975, Lal Bihari, a

2) Name of Director – Zhu Chun Guang
    Country – China 
    Title – For The Love Of Shakespeare  

Synopsis – Imagine a group of students from an isolated school in a remote mountain in China, with no access to the outside world, totally ignorant of the English language – reciting the sonnets of William Shakespeare. Follow them as they learn the classics through an ancient Chinese method of recitation, practicing diligently for a grand English speaking competition – where over 1000 Chinese children will for three hours, fluently and without pause, recite Shakespeare’s verses.

 3) Name of Director – Sheron Dayoc
     Country – Philippines   
     Title – A Weaver’s Tale

Synopsis – The Yakans are the traditional settlers of Basilan Island in the Southern Philippines, famous for their art of weaving. Their skills have been handed down from generation to generation, and the intricate designs of their fabric are said to be based on their dreams. Get to know the Yakan women as they endeavour to preserve their vanishing art – challenged by a chronic conflict environment and increased modernism – and continue to weave a rich and colourful tapestry of life stories.

4) Name of Director – Zhao Liang 
    Country – China 
    Title – A Farmer’s Struggle

Synopsis – The endless desert advances towards the village in surprising speed, nibbling at the houses on the edge of it. Where several hundred families used to live, now there is only one – Wei Guangcai and his wife. Living in one of the worst-hit areas affected by desertification in China, this man stands his ground against the sand pushing him away from his home, enduring the forces of nature and the winds of loneliness.

5) Name of Director – Arun Kumar 
    Country – India 
    Title – The Icemen : Angadias of India

Synopsis – The Angadias – literally "one who carries valuables" – perform a task that major carriers in the region such as FedEx decline because of the risks involved. Ironically, even without handheld scanners and high-tech tracking systems, this simple delivery system is the fastest, cheapest, and most reliable method of transporting goods in this region of the world. Plainly dressed, unarmed, and carrying unmarked canvass sacks, these men transport 4 million dollars worth of diamonds each day – yet earn salaries of less than 50 dollars a month.

For more information, please contact:

Shialey Tan
Assistant Vice President, International Business 
Caldecott Productions International
MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Tel: (65) 6350 3212
Fax: (65) 6259 2062
E-mail:

About

Caldecott Productions International is a division of MediaCorp, set up in April 2006, with a key focus in producing and distributing high quality HD Asian documentaries for an international market. Our specialty is in producing original stories from the ground, championing the lives of the common people because their stories are worth telling. Our main subject matter is centred on social issues and human interest with respect to the environment, wildlife and unique cultures in Asia. We work with some of the most creative independent directors in Asia for authenticity and local perspectives.