Detail

In this reflective letter titled "To My 46-Year-Old Self", director Lionel Seah writes about how his younger self would never have imagined becoming a filmmaker. Having encountered ageing, illness and death earlier than many of his peers, he grew up carrying unanswered questions about life's impermanence. A secondary school teacher introduced him to filmmaking, and he began channelling these doubts and emotions into his work. Through films, he explored themes of family, grandparents, death and separation, using cinema as a way to understand both the world and himself. The letter recounts his journey from SP, where he first pursued his interest in film, to further studies at the Australian Film Television and Radio School, and the self-doubt he faced along the way. He came to realise that being a director is not about controlling everything, but about honestly confronting the stories and questions that matter most. From receiving the National Youth Film Award to having his work recognised at the Cannes Film Festival, he sees his achievements not merely as accolades but as a testament to perseverance. As he works on his first feature-length film, he hopes his future self will continue making movies with sincerity, documenting fading memories, giving voice to those who never had the chance to say goodbye, and never losing the curiosity and compassion that first led him to filmmaking.

[Lianhe Zaobao]