The Singapore FilmCommission (SFC) has announced the winners of its inaugural project developmentfunding scheme which offers total seed money of up to $118,624 (S$200,000) tosix new Singapore projects.

The new scheme aims toencourage filmmakers to turn their creative ideas into viable projects bygiving earlier financial assistance during the project development phase. Thescheme will be an annual event, complementing SFC'sexisting funding schemes for later phases of script development and production.

Twelve new projects were shortlisted for a one-day intensive pitching session heldlast Thursday during the Asia Film Market in Singapore. The international jurypanel consisted of Celluloid Dreams' Michael Wrenn, Focus Films' Elliot Tong, RGM Holdings co-executivechairman Devesh Chetty, Golden Village managingdirector Kenneth Tan and Singapore's Media DevelopmentAuthority Man Shu Sum.

Six winners were awarded $11,862- $23,725 (S$20,000 - S$40,000) each,including MediaCorp RaintreePictures, Ground Glass Images, Oak3 Films as well as newcomers One Ton Cinema,Monsoon Pictures and Red Ink Media.

While the creative andartistic merits as well as commercial potential of the projects are some of themajor assessment criteria, preference is given to projects set up asinternational co-productions.

"Singapore is heading in the rightdirection in encouraging co-productions. International collaboration isessential to raising awareness and developing the nascent local film industry,"says Tong, Hong Kong's Focus Films vicepresident of film production and acquisition.

The six winners:

Armful, action adventure

Produced by One Ton Cinema's Kevin Lee

Nadra, period drama

Co-produced by Monsoon Pictures' Christopher Chew and InternationalEntertainment Services' Gary Rogers from Australia

Fang, coming-of-age drama

Co-produced by Ground Glass Images' Juan Fooand Red Films' Lina Tan from Malaysia

Tattoo, horror

Produced by MediaCorp RaintreePictures' Chan Pui Yin and SeahSaw Yam

Director: Lee Thean-jeen

Charlie Company, horror

Written and produced by Red Ink Media's Gilbert Chan

Titoudao, drama

Produced by Oak3 Films' Lim Suat Yen

Director/writer: Goh Boon Teck