SINGAPORE: The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has approved another 100 screenings of the Teochew version of the film Dear You, and is reviewing the current film classification framework with respect to the use of dialect in films.
This brings the total number of Teochew screenings of the film to 272, with the government prepared to approve more should the film distributor request them in response to audience demand.
Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How was responding to several parliamentary questions about IMDA’s decision to screen the Mandarin-dubbed version of the film.
Guidelines on language use in media are implemented by the IMDA, which has supported the government’s longstanding policy to promote Mandarin as one of four official languages and has “generally served us well”, he said.
However, Singapore’s language environment has evolved, he added.
“Recognising this, in implementing the guidelines, IMDA has exercised greater flexibility to allow more dialect content in films.”
About 30 to 40 dialect films are screened at film festivals each year. IMDA has also allowed unrestricted screenings of films with “substantial use” of dialect, such as 881, Long Long Time Ago and Wonderland.
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