Lan Yu’s curiosity about everyday lives led to an award-winning short film and a spot as a commissioned filmmaker for ciNE65.
Local filmmaker Lan Yu created an award-winning short film, $ingapura, in just two days. The three-minute film portrays the life of a taxi driver and the diverse stories of his passengers, offering a snapshot of Singapore’s society. It earned the Overall Best Film and Best Screenplay awards at the ciNE65 Movie Makers Awards in the Open Category.
Lan Yu, 25, explained her inspiration came from her curiosity and habit of chatting with taxi drivers during rides. “I’ve always wanted to make a documentary,” she said, but legal restrictions on filming with audio in vehicles led her to a scripted short film instead. Filming took 10 to 12 hours, reflecting the hustle of life captured within the confines of a taxi.
Lan Yu has continued her journey as a filmmaker, returning as one of three commissioned directors for ciNE65 2021. Her latest work, A Cat’s Purpose, screened at the festival launch in November 2020, tells the story of a homeless man finding companionship in a neighborhood cat. Inspired by her interactions with homeless individuals during an exchange trip to Germany in 2017, the film explores themes of belonging and resilience, prompting reflection on homelessness in Singapore.
