1. What Animation style is preferred or required?

There is no preference for animation style, whether 2D, 3D, Flash or claymation.


2) How long can I take to do the Animation project?

The Animation must be completed within a year of receiving funding.


3) Who is open to receive the funding?

The Animation initiative is open to Individuals – Singapore Citizens and PRs - and Companies. The individual must be at least 18 years old as at January 2007 and can be either the Director or Producer of the film. The company must be registered as a legal entity and incorporated in Singapore and have at least 30% local ownership. The Project must be undertaken in Singapore.


4) Is the scheme open to Students?

The scheme is primarily targeted at those who can devote their full time attention to it.

Students are welcome to apply, but the project cannot be part of the students' coursework. We may also need clearance from the school as personal work done using the school's resources could mean the school ends up owning the work, which is not the desired outcome.


5) Am I able to hire part time staff to help out?

This is valid under the terms of the Grant.


6) Can I work with a non-Singaporean on the grant?

At least one of the applicants must be Singaporean or a PR to qualify for the scheme.
Production must be 100% done in Singapore.


7) Who does the Assessment?

Submissions for funding are jointly reviewed by Singapore Film Society and MDA.


8) What is the basis for the Approval of a Project?

Approvals are given based on the Quality of Proposal; Originality of Concept; Quality of Designs and Artwork; Quality of Script/ Treatment; CV of Applicant and Applicants ability and commitment to the project. If required, short listed candidates may be invited for an interview to further explain their proposals.

Applicants for Category B (Length from 16-30 minutes) should have prior experience producing an animated short film.

Much of this will be down to the judgment of the panel, including MDA. Quality is subjective, but the overall proposal and show reel (if any) should give a good indication of the applicant's capabilities. We have limited funds, so priority will naturally be given to those projects we feel have the strongest potential.

Applicants may be required to go through a joint interview by SFS and MDA.


9) How long will it be before an applicant is informed about whether their submission has been approved?

The processing time for each application is 6 weeks maximum. Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be informed by the Singapore Film Society.


10) Is the completed animation meant for International markets, or can it have local flavour?

The vision is for the finished short films to be of a standard that can be showcased in festivals and markets around the world. It should be understandable to an International audience but that does not mean it cannot have a local flavour and in fact it could be a good element in telling a story.


11) What is meant by “Originality of concepts” - Can concepts like local stories or Asian folklores, myths etc be used?

You may choose to use local stories as long as you have the rights to produce them in the desired format i.e. animation. Asian folklore and myths can be used as well since the story/ concept is just one part of the judgment criteria. Evidence of copyright may be needed if the source material is originated elsewhere and/or in another format.


12) Can the film be in a language other than English?

The film can be in any language but must include English subtitles as the final successful animation is to be showcased in festivals and markets around the world.


13) Can I make an animated music video under this scheme?

We are likely to assess music videos less favourably as the objective is to support short films.


14) Is a film which includes Live-action and Animation eligible for the funding?

For a project with a mix of live-action and animation, we'd be more inclined to support projects in which animation forms an overall majority. Priority, however, will be given to fully animated films.


15) Is there a Submission deadline?

There is no submission deadline.


16) How many Short Films are to be funded under this initiative?

Initially we are looking at 10 suitable projects for Category A (Length from 3 – 15 minutes) and 5 suitable projects for Category B (Length from 16 – 30 minutes)


17) Can an Applicant send submission for both Category A and Category B? Is there limit to the number of proposals that a team can submit?

Due to the initial target number of projects we are unlikely to support a single applicant on more than one project. Rather than sending in many of their ideas, we encourage Applicants to select their best idea and prepare a convincing proposal instead.

We have limited funds, so priority will naturally be given to those projects we feel have the strongest potential and it is unlikely that a single team will be given funding for both Category A and B.


18) How will the funding be disbursed?

The first advance of 50% of the allocated grant is given out upon Applicants acceptance of MDA’s Letter of Offer. The second and final portion will be given out at the end of production of the project.


19) What costs can be claimed against this funding intiative?

Manpower; Hardware and Software; Intellectual Property Rights and Professional service costs can be claimed.

The funding can cover part of software and hardware costs (to be incurred by the applicant). Clearly such items have residual value beyond the scope of the project being produced. Any funding will therefore not be 100% of hardware / software costs. SFS will do an assessment and make a final offer should the project be chosen for support. As an example, we are unlikely to approve full funding to enable a complete in-house 3D or claymation production set-up.

Applicants must submit a full budget report and receipts of relevant expenditure with their second claim form.


20) What happens if a successful applicant is unable to complete their Animation due to unforeseen circumstances?

SFS and MDA will assess the reasons that led to the incompletion of the project on a case-by-case basis. Under the terms of the grant, the applicant has to refund the entire sum of funds disbursed to them at the point of termination of the project if SFS and MDA judge that the reasons for incompletion are not valid.


21) Who holds the Copyright to the completed short film?

The copyright for the completed Animation Short in both categories is retained by the Individual or Company.

SFS reserves the right to send screeners of films and final source tapes/reels to festivals. The filmmakers will be contacted should their film be selected by festivals.

22) Can the animation short be made up of episodes?

We would prefer not to have episodic animated short films since ASFI is designed to help animators and studios here to work on stand-alone, short-form animated films.


23) What is the website to which I may refer to for further details and Application forms?

Detailed guidelines and the Application form are available online at:
ASFI Homepage

For further enquiries you may contact us at : animationfund@sfs.org.sg
Or on the phone at 9732 2609.