Anthony Chen

Anthony Chen / Haze

Born in 1984 in Singapore, Anthony Chen enrolled in the School of Film & Media Studies, Ngee Ann Polytechnic in 2001 to pursue his passion in filmmaking. Apart from being a film enthusiast, Anthony has served as a radio presenter, a movie reviewer and has done work as an actor both on stage and on screen. In 2004, he graduated from film school with his graduation film, G-23, which went on to screen at over 40 film festivals around the globe and won awards in Korea, France, Belgium, Malaysia and Singapore. His second short film, Ah Ma (Grandma), secured a Special Mention Award at the 60th Cannes Film Festival, the first time a Singapore filmmaker was awarded in Cannes. Haze marks his third short film effort and was nominated for the Golden Bear for Short Film at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Film Directing at the National Film and Television School, UK.

Festival Screenings / Awards :
-58th Berlin International Film Festival, Germany
(Nominee, Golden Bear for Short Film)
-21st Singapore International Film Festival (Singapore Panorama)
-55th Sydney Film Festival, Australia
-36th Huesca International Film Festival, Spain (In Competition)
-Osian’s-Cinefan, 10th Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema, India
-57th Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia
(In Competition)
-5th Anonimul International Film Festival, Romania
(In Competition)
-4th Monterrey International Film Festival, Mexico (In Competition)

Director’s Statement:
Haze aims to capture a slice of the “youth” that all of us once owned. It is a sensitive observation of the rebellious, reckless, unpretentious, ignorant and innocent nature of youths and depicts the silly things that we do and say before we come of age.

First love is perhaps always awkward, pure in a certain way, selfish in another, beautiful and sinful at the same time.

The film does not attempt to judge the actions of its characters, but portrays the event as a phase of life that everyone goes through, that eventually helps form what we are today.