Platform, Objectifs
Fri 5 Sep 2025, 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Curated by GINZAZA
Screening Rating: PG13
Entry by donation at the door, suggested donation $10 – $15 per pax.
Please RSVP here.
This year’s Singapore Night Fest theme, Island Nights, calls us to explore what it truly means to be islanders. In response, we’ve partnered with the visionary Japanese film collective GINZAZA to present Now Showing: Where There’s Water—a curated short film programme that wraps up the festival on its final weekend, 5 September, from 7:30pm-9:30pm.
Curator’s Notes by GINZAZA
Ginzaza began when Neo and Aiko realised how few opportunities exist outside of film festivals for people to enjoy quality short films. Our first two editions were in a small white cube space located in Tokyo’s largest underground parking lot, adjacent to Ginza subway station, and connected to a small coffee stand.
With Ray, our graphic designer, we came up with a system of screening the same 10 short films every day for two weeks. One film screened at the top of every hour during the weekdays, along with Q&As. The schedule shifted by one film every day so that if you swung by at 9am every weekday, you could catch all 10 films by the end. Passersby would grab coffee and watch a short film. It was an experiment that was specific to the location, where we tried to be part of the hustle and bustle of the city underground.
Kimi joined the team originally as the editor of ZineZaZa (and then as co-programmer)—a zine we handed out to the audience, which included program notes and other fun things, including our recommendations in Ginza. We wanted the films to run into life and life to run into the films.
So when we received the invitation to program shorts as Ginzaza, we wanted to acknowledge something about the setting of Objectifs. We learned about the history of the location and how the ports and canals have played a role in the area. As we thought about what theme to program from across the ocean, in Tokyo, we decided simply on bodies of water. In this selection of shorts, you will find oceans, rivers, baths and pools—natural and constructed bodies of water. Among many other things, bodies of water give life, connect lands and people, pose dangers, heal, and carry history. We hope the water in the films transport you, bring you waves of emotions, and lead you to a new way to connect with the water that surrounds you.
Of the four films, The Unseen River and Buzzkill are two films that we screened as part of Ginzaza Edition 1. Bath House of Whales explores Japanese bath house culture. Star Ferry is a silent film that closes out the program. We encourage you to listen to the sounds that surround you and take the images with you as you walk out of Objectifs.
Post-screening Activity: Swirling With Water Marbling
Following the screening, dive right into the post-screening creative activity and experiment with the art of water marbling – a tactile craft that echoes the themes of fluidity, reflection, and transformation explored in Where There’s Water.
Using images from the films or your own personal photos associating with memories of water, participants can craft patterns on paper using tools like sticks to create a one-of-a-kind artwork, bringing home a physical reminder of the themes from the film programme.
Suitable for all ages and skill levels. Materials will be provided.
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GINZAZA is a short film playground. Each edition is a unique exploration into the short film format.
【The People Behind Ginzaza】
Neo Sora – Founder and Programmer of GINZAZA
Film director, translator and artist based in New York and Tokyo. His short film, The Chicken (2020), had its world premiere at the Locarno International Film Festival and his first feature fiction film Happyend (2024) premiered at Venice Film Festival and is opening theatrically around the world.
Aiko Masubuchi – Founder and Programmer of GINZAZA
Aiko Masubuchi is a film programmer, producer and translator based inTokyo and New York. She has programmed film series’ and festivals at places such as MoMA, Film Forum, Film at Lincoln Center. She has produced films including Neo’s The Chicken, and Happyend.
Ray Masaki – Branding and overall design of GINZAZA, from the website to the magazine.
Japanese-American graphic designer born in New York and living and working in Tokyo since 2017. He studied at Parsons School of Design, The Cooper Union, and the Vermont College of Fine Arts. In 2022, he started Studio RAN.
Kimi Idonuma – Editor and Programmer of GINZAZA. Editor of their zine, ZineZaZa
Editor, writer. Born in Fukushima Prefecture, currently living in Tokyo. She organizes Hadakeru Kōsen, a project centered on screenings and writings on film.
When: 5 Sep 2025, 7.30pm - 9.30pm
