Singapore – It was a fine and sunny morning. A boy named Xiao Ming was on his way to school when he comes across an elderly woman who needs help. He helps her and is late for school.
Many Singaporean students have written at least one Chinese composition that started on a fine morning with great weather (“yi ge feng he ri li de zao shang”) and starred a boy named Xiao Ming.
But few, if any, of them would have imagined that Xiao Ming could become self-aware and realise that he has been forced to live out the same scenario over and over again, like in Jim Carrey’s 1998 Oscar-nominated movie The Truman Show.
This postmodern version of Xiao Ming’s story has won its 17-year-old film-maker Canden Chen the Most Promising Award at the Singapore Youth Film Festival (SYFF) 2026.
Canden made The Story Of Xiao Ming, a 20-minute film, as a graded project submission for the art elective programme when he was in Secondary 4 at Victoria School.
To his surprise, the project received full marks. “It was unbelievable. I didn’t even know it was possible to get full marks. I wasn’t sure I saw it correctly when I got my results back,” he said.
It was Canden’s art teachers who encouraged him to submit the short film to the SYFF. “I felt like it was a good platform to showcase my work, and a way to share it with the public,” he said.
Presented by *SCAPE, the festival was launched in 2024 as a platform for young film-makers and also to promote a deeper appreciation for local films.
For its latest edition, it received 262 submissions across both the Student and Open Youth categories, 43 of which were nominated for the final awards. A total of 19 awards will be given out at the festival, including Best Short Film and Best Director.
The nominated films will be screened from Jan 29 to Feb 8 at various venues.
The Story Of Xiao Ming will be screened alongside three other films on Feb 1 at the SOTA Studio Theatre from 6.30pm to 8pm.
A representative from the SYFF Selection Committee for Student Category said the film tells a “relatable and heartfelt story… rooted in the lived realities of Singapore’s study culture”.
The representative added that “the film reflects both authenticity and promise”.
Canden, who is now studying at Victoria Junior College, said: “Even before I submitted the film, I felt that this was my best work, and the one that I had put the most effort into. Winning (the award) makes me feel like my hard work is being recognised.”
A self-taught videographer, Canden said that he has been making short films and videos for school projects and as a hobby since he entered secondary school.
To shoot The Story of Xiao Ming, he borrowed a tripod and camera from his school’s photography club.
“Since Secondary 1 or 2, I’ve had the idea in my head of using the familiar concept of a composition character and making him aware of the cliches we always use in these stories,” said Canden.
“When we were assigned the project in Secondary 4, I thought the time was right for me to make it.”
Canden Chen stars in the movie as the titular Xiao Ming, who is forced to live out the scenario written in his Chinese composition.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF CANDEN CHEN
The Story Of Xiao Ming took Canden around five months to make, shooting in his school and around his neighbourhood in Bedok.
Canden played the titular Xiao Ming and roped in his teachers and classmates for supporting roles.
His 75-year-old grandmother played the elderly woman whom Xiao Ming helps in the film. “We spent two to three hours shooting the same scene in seven sets of clothes to show the passage of time. I’m very thankful for her,” he said.
Canden said that he tried to keep the film relatable for non-Chinese speakers as well and believes “there are similar ideas in English compositions that they can relate to”.
Besides directing, producing and editing the film himself, Canden also composed four original songs for the film.
“The music I made (for the film) was mainly improvised. When I had the entire film edited out, I tried to link up the key scenes with what I played on the piano,” said Canden, who is currently pursuing his piano diploma.
Canden Chan directed, produced and also scored the soundtrack for his film, The Story of Xiao Ming. He is the winner of the Most Promising Award at the Singapore Youth Film Festival 2026.
ST PHOTO: JASEL POH
Canden, whose works are inspired by HBO historical drama Chernobyl and 2017 Thai thriller Bad Genius, is unsure if he will pursue a career in the film industry.
But he plans to continue making videos and film projects as a hobby. “Film is the medium where I can express myself the most. It allows me to tell my narrative and show my vision most clearly.”
Tickets to watch the SYFF films are available at
https://syff.sg
/
.
The Story of Xiao Ming will be screened on Feb 1 at SOTA Studio Theatre as part of the Singapore Youth Film Festival 2026.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF CANDEN CHEN