Eric Khoo
Eric Khoo | ||
---|---|---|
City Art Institute, Sydney | ||
Occupations |
| |
Years active | 1990–present | |
Spouse |
Kim Eun Choo (m. 1997) | |
Children | 4 | |
Parents |
|
Eric Khoo Kim Hai (born 27 March 1965) is a Singaporean film director and producer who is often credited for the revival of the Singapore modern film industry.[1]
Early life and education
Born on 27 March 1965 in Singapore, Eric Khoo was the youngest son of the 15 children of
Khoo's interest in film eventually led him to study
Career
This sections includes a improve this sections by introducing more precise citations. (January 2019) ) |
Khoo's films Mee Pok Man and 12 Storeys have together been screened at over 60 film festivals, held all over the world including prestigious festivals such as Venice, Berlin and Rotterdam.
In 1998, Khoo was ranked as one of the 25 exceptional trend makers of Asia by Asiaweek magazine and in the following year was included into Asiaweek's leaders for the millennium issue. He was an executive producer for the local comedy hit, Liang Po Po – The Movie (1999), and One Leg Kicking (2001), which were both the highest grossing local movies for their respective years in Singapore. He also produced 15 (2003) directed by Royston Tan, which screened at the Venice Film Festival (2003) and Sundance (2004). His TV work includes being executive producer of DRIVE, an anthology series for the Television Corporation of Singapore (1998), and Seventh Month (2004), a highly acclaimed TV horror series for Channel U (SPH Mediaworks). These productions served as a platform for grooming young talented filmmakers.
Some of his notable achievements include being the first recipient of the National Arts Councils
In 2004, Khoo directed his third feature
Khoo was a judge at the 10th
In 2007, Khoo was appointed as a board member of
In 2009, Khoo entered into a partnership with Infinite Frameworks to form a new company, Gorylah, specializing in the production of genre films. Gorylah's maiden effort,
Khoo has five critically acclaimed feature films that were at film festivals all over the world:
In September 2014, Khoo announced that he will release a drama anthology, In the Room, in 2015. Exploring themes of love and sensuality, the film will star Hong Kong actress Josie Ho, up and coming Korean actor Choi Woo-shik, Japanese adult-film actress Shou Nishino, and actor Koh Boon Pin, who starred in Khoo's 12 Storeys. In the Room will also feature a homage to controversial cabaret dancer Rose Chan, the subject of a biopic that was first announced in 2009 but is still under development.[6][7] In the Room premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2015 and travelled to the San Sebastián International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival and Singapore International Film Festival. It was initially unable to be screened for commercial release in Singapore as Khoo refused to edit two scenes that exceeded the MDA's film classification guidelines.[8] Later, the subtly different 'international version' of the film was given a commercial release on February 25, 2016, after it was passed uncut with an R21 rating by the Media Development Authority.[9]
In December 2015, Mee Pok Man was restored by the Asian Film Archive for its 20th anniversary and screened at the Singapore International Film Festival. The high-resolution Digital Cinema Package version, restored from original 35mm prints, also enjoyed screenings at arthouse cinema The Projector in April and May 2016, with a panel discussion on the film's legacy.[10]
2015 also saw the release of Khoo's short film, Cinema, as part of the omnibus,
In 2016, Khoo collaborated with some of Southeast Asia's most renowned filmmakers as part of an omnibus project commissioned by National Gallery Singapore, Art Through Our Eyes. This project brought together – for the first time – filmmakers
In 2018, Khoo directed Ramen Teh, which stars Seiko Matsuda. The film premiered as the closing film of the Culinary Cinema section at the Berlin International Film Festival.[13] He also launched the Scream Asia Festival in Singapore.[14]
Personal life
Khoo is married to Kim Eun Choo; they have four sons named Edward, James, Christopher, and Lucas.[3]
Selected filmography
Year | Title | Roles | Note |
---|---|---|---|
1990 | Barbie Digs Joe | Director, writer | Short |
1991 | Hope and Requiem | Director, writer | Short |
August | Director, writer | Short | |
1992 | The Punk Rocker and... | Director | Short |
1993 | Symphony 92.4 FM | Director | Short |
The Watchman | Director | Short | |
1994 | Pain | Director, producer | Short |
1995 | Mee Pok Man | Director | |
1997 | 12 Storeys | Director, writer | Nominated for the Un Certain Regard Award |
1999 | Liang Po Po: The Movie | Executive producer | |
Stories About Love | Executive producer | ||
2000 | Moments of Magic VDO | Director | Singapore's millennium MTV |
Home VDO | Director | Short | |
2001 | One Leg Kicking | Writer, executive producer | |
2003 | 15: The Movie | Producer | |
2005 | Be With Me |
Director, writer | Singapore's official entry to the 78th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film |
2006 | Digital Sam in Sam Saek 2006: Talk to Her | Director | Segment: "No Day Off" |
Zombie Dogs | Producer | ||
0430 | Producer | ||
2007 | 881 | Producer | Singapore's official entry to the 80th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film |
2008 | My Magic | Director, writer | Singapore's official entry to the 81st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film |
Invisible Children | Producer | ||
2009 | Darah | Producer | |
2010 | Sandcastle | Producer | |
2011 | Tatsumi | Director | Animated Film Singapore's official entry to the 84th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film |
60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero | Director | Segment | |
2012 | 23:59 | Producer | |
2013 | Ghost Child | Producer | |
Recipe | Director | Telemovie | |
2015 | In the Room | Director | |
7 Letters | Director | Segment: "Cinema" Singapore's official entry to the 88th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film | |
Wanton Mee | Director | Telemovie | |
2016 | Apprentice | Executive Producer | Singapore's official entry to the 89th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film |
Art Through Our Eyes | Writer | Short: Segment Chua Mia Tee | |
2018 | Ramen Teh | Director | Won the Audience Choice Award at the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Film Festival |
Folklore (TV series) | Director | 1 episode | |
Buffalo Boys | Executive Producer | ||
2019 | Food Lore | Director | |
Piece of Meat | Writer, Co-Producer | Short | |
2022 | Food Affair with Mark Wiens | Creator, Executive Producer | TV Series |
Awards
- Best Director for a Short Film at the Singapore International Film Festival in 1994
- National Arts Council, Singapore Young Artist Award for Film in 1997
- Singapore Youth Awards in 1999
- Best Director at the Torino Film Festival in 2005
- Singapore Youth Awards Medal Of Commendation in 2006
- Chevalier de l'ordre des arts et des letters in 2008
See also
References
- ^ "Eric Khoo | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ OCLC 864303540. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
- ^ "BBC's Mishal Husain Meets". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ "19th Moscow International Film Festival (1995)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 22 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
- ^ Lui, John (3 September 2014). "Eric Khoo's new movie to feature sex, nudity and a Japanese porn star". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original on 5 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ^ "Eric still can't find his Rose". The New Paper. Singapore Press Holdings. 19 April 2009. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ^ Lui, John (3 December 2015). "No show for Eric Khoo's erotic film in cinemas here". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- ^ Lui, John (26 January 2016). "Eric Khoo's erotic drama In The Room resubmitted to MDA for classification". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
- ^ Lui, John (13 April 2016). "20 years on, Mee Pok Man remains one of the most important Singapore films, say experts". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- ^ Chan, Boon (20 August 2014). "One film for Singapore's 50th year from seven top local directors, including Eric Khoo and Jack Neo". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ^ Loh, Genevieve Sarah (19 January 2016). "S'pore films headed to 2016 Berlin International Film Festival". TODAY. Mediacorp. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ "Ramen Teh". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (12 September 2018). "Eric Khoo to Launch Scream Asia Festival in Singapore".