The “Our Singapore, Our Stories” (SG Story) initiative, a significant SG60 endeavour led by the Association of Independent Producers (AIPRO) and supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), reached its celebratory conclusion with a wrap party held at The Southern Depot on 25 November 2025. The event recognised the immense efforts and unique visions of the creators responsible for the 150 short-form videos produced under the initiative.
Guest of Honour, Senior Minister of State Mr Tan Kiat How (centre in white), joins creators
and the Association of Independent Producers (AIPRO) to celebrate the conclusion of the
“Our Singapore, Our Stories” initiative at The Southern Depot on 25 November 2025.
The core mission of “Our Singapore, Our Stories” was to empower local storytellers by providing them with the necessary creative freedom and resources to authentically bring their unique visions to life. By sustaining the activity of small studios and freelancers, the project reaffirmed the independent sector’s vital role in Singapore’s media DNA, nurturing the next wave of local storytellers.
Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, Mr Tan Kiat How, taking a selfie with members of AIPRO
Gracing the wrap party was the Guest of Honour, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, Mr Tan Kiat How, who commented on the success of giving diverse voices a platform to express themselves, “I am very proud of this project because it is about giving a space and platform for each one of us, our producers, our filmmakers, our creators, to tell our Singapore story”.
Fostering a Sustainable Creative Ecosystem
The initiative successfully brought together a diverse group of filmmakers, from established professionals to emerging voices. The 150 short films represent a comprehensive cross-section of Singapore, featuring different languages and races, and spanning various genres, including comedy, documentary, animation, and variety. The project even encouraged innovation, with some films leveraging Generative AI. The process employed approximately 450 media professionals and resulted in 160 videos from 30 selected titles, achieving more than 1 million views.
Jeevan Nathan, President of AIPRO, speaking at the wrap party.
Jeevan Nathan, President of AIPRO, detailed the association’s commitment to supporting the creative community, “AIPRO spearheaded this initiative to provide meaningful support to our creators and foster a vibrant, sustainable creative ecosystem in Singapore,” said Jeevan Nathan. “We challenged our filmmakers to expand their creativity into the social media space, and the results have been incredible. We are proud to see so many succeed in engaging with fans of their content and build real communities around their films”.
The initiative utilised an innovative, tech-driven model to manage the nearly 100 concepts submitted, deploying tools such as an AI chatbot for query management, a proprietary scoring system for fair judging, and AI automation for supporting first-round script vetting. This approach was key in transcending conventional commissioning limitations, thereby granting creators greater autonomy over their vision and resources.
AI-generated image of Daniel Yam, Director of Thank You, Mr Wonderful, with his AI Cast
In addition to using technology to streamline its internal processes, the initiative also encouraged creators to explore new formats, with some films leveraging Generative AI to tell their stories. This exploration into cutting-edge technology highlighted both its potential and the necessary human element involved when using these tools, as experienced by Daniel Yam, Director of Thank Mr Wonderful, an AI short film. Yam noted the challenges of working with rapidly changing AI tools, but found the experience reinforced a core truth, “Working on Thank You, Mr. Wonderful was meaningful, frustrating, and hilarious all at once. But those moments reminded me that AI can support the craft of storytelling, not replace it. The heart and emotion of the story still has to come from us”. Yam’s project ultimately became his way of honouring the everyday Singaporeans who worked hard, loved quietly, and never asked for recognition, stressing that the story’s spirit and resilience must be driven by the human creator.
Powerful Personal Stories
The creative autonomy afforded by the initiative had a profound impact on the participants, enabling them to explore deeply personal narratives and adapt to new formats.
Adil is a story about a man with two months left, who rediscovers the power of giving back.
Sanif Olek, Writer and Director for Ada Jalan & Aidil, spoke to the value of this approach, “In a production landscape where algorithms often decide which stories get greenlit, it’s refreshing that AIPRO took the bold step to launch the SG Story initiative. I was able to shape narratives that felt real, emotional, and specific to our culture.” Sanif further elaborated that working on AIDIL and ADA JALAN showed him the power of creative autonomy, allowing him to explore themes of mortality, service, quiet dignity, fatherhood, class, and finding direction, often highlighted through empathy and support in everyday spaces like hawker centres and void decks.
Nicole Lee, Actress & Writer, on the set of Second Hand Stories.
Nicole Lee, Actress & Writer in Second Hand Stories, also spoke about the creative latitude offered, “There was a lot of freedom to explore with this project. The theme of home means something different to everyone,” she stated, noting that she poured all her sentimentality into the series, as her parents used to own a unit in an old shopping mall. She explained the ambition behind the concept, which focused on the passage of time: “We crafted different character arcs, each representing a different Singapore at a different moment in time, with the shop serving as a microcosm of the country.” For Nicole, the project was also a culmination of her experience, “Being able to both write and act in it was also very full-circle for me.” She put pieces of herself into the story, including her relationship with her parents and their shop.
Marcus Chan, Director & Writer of Second Hand Stories, directing the young talents of the show.
Marcus Chan, the show’s Director and Writer, agreed with Nicole, noting that the project offered both creative freedom and depth. He expressed, “It really allowed us to tell such raw and personal stories. That’s really what I was the most proud of!”
Cast and Crew of Chicken Rice and Second Chances.
For others, the project offered a valuable opportunity for significant learning and experimentation, particularly in the realm of short-form content. Shafie Mustafa, Executive Producer for Chicken Rice and Second Chances, reflected on this learning curve, “All in all, it was a very enlightening learning experience with great support from the cast and crew. As a result, we have developed a new taste for micro drama, so hopefully we’ll get more second chances”.
Cast and Crew of Die Die Must Go Home.
The SG Story initiative also allowed creators to weave their individual histories directly into the nation’s broader narrative, connecting the personal to the public. Kylie Tan, Producer of Die Die Must Go Home, emphasised the connection between personal and national identity, “This SG60 project has let us weave our personal memories into Singapore’s narrative, growing up together, appreciating our shared history and contributing stories of who we are”. Her collaborator, Priscilla Goh, Director of Die Die Must Go Home, echoed this sentiment regarding collective history, “Working on our sgstory Die Die Must Go Home allowed me trace my family’s history alongside Singapore’s, and gave me a greater appreciation of the stories that makes Singapore, ones from every family that make up the story of who we truly are”.
The success of the program has generated anticipation for future iterations. Lim Suat Yen, Executive Producer at Oak3 Films, expressed hope that the initiative would continue, “I hope SG Story will continue every year, for us to have more stories from Singapore. Also, to give a chance to younger talents to emerge from this programme”. The “Our Singapore, Our Stories” initiative stands as a testament to the power of dedicated support and creative freedom, demonstrating how the independent media sector can effectively capture and reflect the multifaceted narrative of Singapore.
About the Author
Lawrence Ng is a veteran TV producer, tech journalist, and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in media production. As the founder of tech360.tv, and long story short, he combines production expertise with a passion for emerging technologies. The opinions expressed in this article reflect the author’s personal views and do not necessarily represent those of the AIPRO.