SINGAPORE — Two homegrown short films exploring familial relationships, won top honours tonight (March 8) at the 6th Singapore Short Film Awards (SSFA), organised by The Substation.

Last Trip Home, a poignant look at a father-son relationship by Han Fengyu, took home Best Fiction Film while Alvin Lee’s Bon Voyage, a tale that explores the kinship between a boy and his grandmother, bagged The Best Director and Best Sound awards. Han’s short film was also chosen to be part of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival’s Cinefondation Selection last year.

The Best Documentary award went to The Longest Distance Relationship, a sensitive and candid portrayal of religion by director Lee Sin Yee.

Over 100 members of the film community attended the awards ceremony held at The Substation Theatre, to celebrate the winners and witness Guest of Honour and filmmaker Royston Tan present the Honorary Award to film curator and Yuni Hadi, in recognition for her contributions to Singapore film. The Executive Director of the Singapore International Film Festival, and Director and Co-founder of Objectifs, Centre for Film and Photography, Yuni’s many other achievements include producing the award winning Ilo Ilo, the initiation of the Asian Film Symposium, Fly By Night video challenge with filmmaker Tan Pin Pin, and the authoring and editing of the book, Behind the Lens.

In addition, for the first time, the SSFA presented a Special Jury Prize to a director whom they felt created an exceptional piece of work. The inaugural prize went to Tang Kang Sheng for his film Passenger, a film which the judges felt was “a fresh, delicate film that takes a very strong risk and creates a magical experience.” The judges also awarded a Special Mention to director He Shuming for his short And the Wind Falls, citing a well-crafted film that showcased the potential of the filmmaker.

The judging panel comprising filmmaker and producer Fran Borgia, Vice-Chairman of the Singapore Film Society David Lee and filmmaker and co-founder of Da Huang Pictures, Tan Chui Mui said in a joint statement: “A number of the narrative shorts are taking a safe route, but it is encouraging to see people venturing into experimental, documentary and animation genres. Filmmakers here can be more daring in taking risks.”

The winners of Best Fiction Film and Best Director will each receive a S$5,000 post-production package from Infinite Studios, and a S$1,000 legal package and S$500 cash prize from Samuel Seow Law Corporation. The winner of Best Cinematography will receive vouchers worth S$500 from Camera Rental Centre. Special Jury Prize Winner Tang will receive a S$500 cash prize that is a donation from the Tribute to Hai Leong screening organised at The Substation in February 2014.

All winning films will be screened The Projector, Golden Mile Tower, Level 5 on Saturday, March 14, 8pm. Entry by donation. Visit www.substation.org for further updates.

The full list of winners :

Best Fiction: Last Trip Home

Special Jury Prize: Tang Kang Sheng for Passenger

Best Director: Alvin Lee for Bon Voyage

Special Mention: He Shuming for And the Wind Falls

Best DocumentaryThe Longest Distance Relationship

Best Cinematography: Michael Zaw for At Your Doorstep

Best Script: Shane Lim and Angelica Ho for November

Best Performance: Teo Jun Jie and Lau Xiang Ying for Passenger

Best Art Direction: Yi-Jun Ian for Graduation

Best Sound: Avery Shen of Home Studio and Jesmen Tan for Bon Voyage

Best Editing: Mads K Baekkevold for Chamber of Ox

Best Animation: Nascent

Best Experimental: Pifuskin

Honorary Award: Yuni Hadi