Our History

2010

  • April 27, 2010: Submission of application to ACRA for F8 registration.
  • May 1, 2010: SIRD publishes “Beyond the Blue Gate.”
  • June 25, 2010: Initial application is rejected.
  • June 26, 2010: Successful launch of “Beyond the Blue Gate.”
  • July 9, 2010: Appeal filed with the Minister for Finance.
  • August 7, 2010: Retreat held at Desaru.
  • August 21, 2010: Conducted a workshop featuring a skit for activists.
  • October 27, 2010: Official launch of “Beyond the Blue Gate” in Kuala Lumpur.
  • November 1, 2010: Submission of United Nations UPR report.
  • November 29, 2010: F8 is registered as a public company limited by Guarantee.
  • December 11, 2010: Media coverage highlights Function 8’s activities.

2011

  • March 19, 2011: Stroll at Hort Park.
  • June 27, 2011: Workshop on Community Organization by Ron Fujiyoshi.
  • August 2, 2011: Commencement of the Changing Worlds Series with Fr. James Minchin as the first speaker.
  • August 27, 2011: Field trip to Bollywood Veggies.
  • August 27, 2011: Commemoration of the Jing Quee Memorial.
  • September 13, 2011: Second installment of the Changing Worlds Series featuring Dr. Poh Soo Kai.
  • October 4, 2011: Casual conversation with Lee Tee Tong.
  • October 25, 2011: Third session of the Changing Worlds Series featuring Dr. Lim Hock Siew.
  • December 3, 2011: F8 retreat held at Desaru.
  • December 27, 2011: Fourth segment of the Changing Worlds Series featuring Dr. Peter Carey.

2012

  • March 6, 2012: The Changing Worlds Series continues with a talk by Tay Kheng Soon, marking the 5th installment.
  • May 25, 2012: Reception of a congratulatory letter from Archbishop Nicholas Chia for F8’s organization of its 25th Anniversary.
  • May 30, 2012: Subsequent retraction of Archbishop’s congratulatory letter.
  • June 2, 2012: Commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of Operation Spectrum with the theme “That We May Dream Again.”
  • June 30, 2012: Expression of gratitude to volunteers through a celebratory lunch for “That We May Dream Again.”
  • July 3, 2012: Memorial event honoring Lim Hock Siew.
  • July 18, 2012: Lim Hock Siew Memorial held in Kuala Lumpur.
  • July 24, 2012: The Changing Worlds Series continues with a talk by Teo Eng Seng, marking the 6th session.
  • August 26, 2012: Presentation of the play “Square Moon” written by Wong Souk Yee.
  • September 1, 2012: Publicized Archbishop’s withdrawal of support for F8’s 25th Anniversary, leading to statements from MHA and the Archbishop.
  • October 19, 2012: KC Chew delivers a talk on “How Gifts Happen.”
  • October 6, 2012: Launch event for “Escape from the Lion’s Paw” and “Smokescreens & Mirrors” in Singapore.
  • October 28, 2012: First-year celebration of the Freedom Film Festival and Singapore Alternative Book & Art Festival (SGAAB).
  • November 6, 2012: Continuing the Changing Worlds Series, Yeoh Lam Keong presents his insights as the 7th speaker.
  • November 24, 2012: Launch event for “Escape from the Lion’s Paw” and “Smokescreens & Mirrors” in Kuala Lumpur.
  • December 1, 2012: Official launch event for “Escape from the Lion’s Paw” and “Smokescreens & Mirrors” in Penang.

2013

  • February 2, 2013: Observance of the 50th Anniversary of Operation Coldstore.
  • March 5, 2013: The Changing Worlds Series continues with an address by Goh Lay Kuan, marking the 8th session.
  • April 9, 2013: Leong Sze Hian contributes to the Changing Worlds Series as the 9th speaker.
  • May 1, 2013: Participation in the 1 May protest advocating for changes in the Population Policy.
  • July 30, 2013: Dr. G Raman delivers the 10th talk in the Changing Worlds Series.
  • September 10, 2013: Dr. P J Thum speaks as the 11th presenter in the Changing Worlds Series.
  • November 5, 2013: The Changing Worlds Series continues with Putu Oka Sukanta as the 12th speaker.
  • November 9, 2013: Collaborative event with the Singapore Anti Death Penalty Campaign featuring photographer Toshi Kazama as the 13th speaker in the Changing Worlds Series.
  • December 20, 2013: Staging of Wong Souk Yee’s play “Square Moon” at 8 pm.
  • December 21, 2013: Additional staging of “Square Moon” by Wong Souk Yee at 3 pm & 8 pm.

2014

  • January 4, 2014: Inaugural Freedom Film Festival and Singapore Alternative Book and Art Festival.
  • January 5, 2014: Second installment of the Freedom Film Festival and Singapore Alternative Book and Art Festival.
  • January 11, 2014: A Changing Worlds session featuring Dr. P J Thum, Dr. Loh Kah Seng, and Dr. Imran Tajudeen, moderated by Dr. Hong Lysa, marks the 14th event in the series.
  • May 13, 2014: “60 Years On … Commemorating the May 13th 1954 Student Movement.” F8 & MARUAH commission a documentary by Jason Soo, which is screened.
  • November 15-16, 2014: The third-year celebration of the Freedom Film Festival and Singapore Alternative Book and Art Festival (SGAAB).

2015

  • March 2015: Announcement of the Freedom Film Festival (FFF) film grant. Proposal submissions are due by April 4, 2015.
  • May 23, 2015: Commemoration of the “28th Anniversary of Operation Spectrum.” Launch of the Chinese edition of “Beyond the Blue Gate” and a talk by Fong Hoe Fang and Chan Wai Han on the “Youthful Idealism of the Pioneers Club.”
  • June 15, 2015: Submission for the 2nd Universal Periodic Review is completed.
  • August 30, 2015: Release of “Comet in Our Sky: Lim Chin Siong in History” (new edition) edited by Poh Soo Kai.
  • October 11, 2015: Dr. Michael Heng presents “Three Powerful Trends Driving Political Change in Malaysia,” marking the 15th installment of the Changing Worlds series.
  • October 30, 2015: Freedom Film Festival Fringe 1 – Screening of “Mdm Phung’s Last Journey” (Vietnam).
  • November 6, 2015: Freedom Film Festival Fringe 2 – Screening of “Rite of Passage” & “Hashim’s School of Hope.”
  • November 13, 2015: Freedom Film Festival Fringe 3 – Screening of “Dangerous Acts Starring the Unstable Elements of Belarus.”
  • November 14, 2015: Start of Freedom Film Festival & Singapore Alternative Book and Art Festival (SGAAB) – Day 1 (4th year). i) “Living In The Drains” & “Away from Ayah” (Moderator: Yit Leng). ii) “Question of faiths” (Moderator: Yit Leng). iii) “Singapore Rebel” & “Speakers Cornered” (Moderator: James Leong). iv) Malaysia short films (Moderator: James Leong/ Lena). a) “Viral Sial!” b) “Di Sebalik Runcit” (The Grocery Shop). c) “Memory as Resistance: Grandma Kong Defending Her Village.” d) “Sindiket/Syndicate.”
  • November 15, 2015: Freedom Film Festival – Day 2 (4th year). i) “Portraits of Mosquito Press” (Moderator: Shirley Soh). ii) Screening of “Human Scale” by Andreas Mel Dalsgaard (Moderator: Shirley Soh). iii) “1987 Marxist Conspiracy” (Moderator: Hui Wen). iv) “I Will Not Be Silenced” (Moderator: Hui Wen).

2016

  • January 27, 2016: Participation in the 2nd session of the UPR in Geneva.
  • February 13, 2016: Launch event for Dr. Poh Soo Kai’s memoir “Living in a Time of Deception” (English and Chinese editions).
  • February 21, 2016: Author session with Dr. Poh Soo Kai.
  • April 15, 2016: Private screening of “1987: Untracing the Marxist Conspiracy.”
  • April 16, 2016: Engaging conversation with Dr. Poh Soo Kai.
  • May 6, 2016: Private screening of “1987: Untracing the Marxist Conspiracy.”
  • May 21, 2016: Private screening of “1987: Untracing the Marxist Conspiracy” followed by a discussion with members of the Catholic community.
  • May 21, 2016: 16th session of Changing Worlds: “Cause Lawyering, Mdm Vellama, and By-election.”
  • June 4, 2016: Pak Said Zahari Memorial Ceremony and sharing session.
  • June 18, 2016: Seminar on “Kena Police How?: Your Right to Due Process.”
  • June 24, 2016: Private screening of “1987: Untracing the Marxist Conspiracy” with a focus on the student movement.
  • July 9, 2016: Private screening of “1987: Untracing the Marxist Conspiracy” for the old left.
  • July 23, 2016: Private screening of Interview with Chng Min Oh.
  • July 30, 2016: 17th session of Changing Worlds: “Protecting Our Judiciary and Free Speech: On the Administration of Justice (Protection) Bill.”
  • August 4, 2016: Private screening of “1987: Untracing the Marxist Conspiracy” organized by AWARE & F8.
  • August 6, 2016: F8 Retreat and Dinner for F8 friends.
  • September 10, 2016: 18th session of Changing Worlds: “ISA Detentions & Restrictions, From ‘Communists’ to ‘Terrorists.’”
  • September 17, 2016: Private screening of an interview with Chng Min Oh as part of the Torture Series.
  • September 24, 2016: 19th session of Changing Worlds: “Forgotten Victims of the Death Railway.”
  • October 14, 2016: Freedom Film Festival Fringe 1: “Out of Fashion.”
  • October 28, 2016: Freedom Film Festival Fringe 2: “Indonesia Nite.”
  • November 11, 2016: Freedom Film Festival Fringe 3: “Among the Believers.”
  • November 19-20, 2016: Freedom Film Festival Day 1 & Day 2 (5th year) and Dinner for guests, volunteers, and friends.
  • December 10, 2016: Observance of Human Rights Day with a focus on “The Sorry State of Human Rights in Singapore.”

2017

  • January 15, 2017: Presentation on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by Anselmo Lee.
  • April 16, 2017: Exclusive showing of Oh Teng Aik’s interview as part of the Torture Series.
  • May 21, 2017: Engaging dialogue with survivors of Operation Spectrum, along with the launch of the book “1987: Singapore’s Marxist Conspiracy 30 Years On.” Insights shared by civil society organizations.
  • June 16, 2017: Ongoing discussions with survivors of Operation Spectrum; Exhibition titled “The Other Side of the Moon.”
  • June 30, 2017: Exploring the role of art for understanding, healing, and transformation.
  • July 14, 2017: Exploring the connection between Foreign Workers and the Singapore Marxist Conspiracy.
  • August 11, 2017: Private screening of the documentary “To Singapore with Love.”
  • August 12, 2017: Reading from the book “1987,” reflecting on its significance.
  • October 28, 2017: Presentation of “Untracing the Conspiracy” documentary.
  • November 11, 2017: Freedom Film Festival (FFF) event.
  • November 12, 2017: Freedom Film Festival (FFF) event.
  • November 19, 2017: Freedom Film Festival (FFF) Fringe event.
  • December 29, 2017: F8 Christmas celebration.

2018

  • January 13, 2018: FFF Fringe event: Screening of “Please remember me” (2015) 我衹认识你.
  • February 23, 2018: 20th session of the Changing Worlds Series: “Operation Coldstore and the Cold War.”
  • March 24, 2018: Discussion on the political prisoner Tan Mei Hua.
  • April 5, 2018: Exploration of Said Zahari’s journalistic, literary, and political contributions.
  • May 5, 2018: Focus on Press Freedom and Fake News in Singapore.
  • June 10, 2018: FFF Fringe event: Private screening of “Between Pudukkotai & Singapore.”
  • June 10, 2018: Seminar on the future of democratic change in Malaysia and its impact on CSOs in Southeast Asia.
  • June 23, 2018: Discussion on “CareShield: A Different Approach and Interpretation.”
  • July 14, 2018: Delving into “Judging the Judiciary: The Unsaid and the Unsayable.”
  • September 14, 2018: Private event: Book launch of “The Sarawak Report.”
  • September 23, 2018: The 10th anniversary memorial for Mr. Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam (JBJ).
  • November 2, 2018: Participation in the ACSC / APF 2018 ASEAN Peoples’ Forum Plenary session.
  • November 2-4, 2018: ACSC / APF 2018 Programme – Film screenings, including “To Singapore With Love” and “Enforced Disappearance: Sombath.”
  • November 23, 2018: FFF Fringe screening: “Ask the Sexpert.”
  • November 24, 2018: Book launch: “Creatures Big and Small.”
  • November 30, 2018: FFF Fringe screening: “The Judge.”
  • December 5, 2018: Discussion on “Ordinary Women Extraordinary Lives.”
  • December 8-9, 2018: Freedom Film Festival (FFF) and SGAAB, including a dinner for volunteers and a year-end party.
  • December 28, 2018: Screening of “The Enforced Disappearance of Sombath Somphone” and F8 year-end party.

2019

  • February 16-23, 2019: Community Classroom Conversations with Civil Society participants.
  • March 10, 2019: FFF Fringe screening: “Rising from Silence” & “Five Tigers.”
  • April 21, 2019: FFF Fringe screening: “Trailer Boys” & “May 13.”
  • April 28, 2019: Dialogue on citizens’ concerns over proposed POFMA.
  • May 18, 2019: FFF Fringe screening: “Black Code” and 24th Changing World Series: “POFMA: More Harm Than Good.”
  • August 20, 2019: Changing Worlds #25: “The Singapura from the Malay Annals.”
  • August 31 – September 7, 2019: #citizencinema 2019: filmlab.
  • November 2-3, 2019: Freedom Film Festival (FFF) Day 1 & Day 2.
  • November 26, 2019: Changing Worlds #26: “Munshi Abdullah and His Role in Colonial Singapore.”
  • December 21, 2019: Film Screening and Year-End Party.
  • December 23, 2019: Changing Worlds Series #27: “Deconstructing Raffles from Java to Singapore (1811- 1824).”

2020

  • February 10, 2020: Fringe screening #1: “50 Years of Silence.”
  • February 21, 2020: Fringe screening #2: “An Online Citizen.”
  • March 13, 2020: Fringe screening #3: “PUSH.”

2022

  • March 30, 2022: Book launch – “Ridiculous: Untold Tales of Singapore.”
  • May 21, 2022 (Saturday): Gathering to commemorate the 35th Anniversary of Operation Spectrum and Launch of Said Zahari’s book, “Poems from Prison.”
  • June 11, 2022: Leong Sze Hian shared about his libel case
    昨日、今时的社会运动 Forum: Social and political movement of the past and present – Wuyi
  • November 12, 2022: Sharing at Orange & Teal by Teo Soh Lung, Low Yit Leng
  • 19-20 November 2022: Showcase at The Projector
    • Program 1: Singaporean Spaces (SG Showcase)
    • Film: “There to Document” (R21, 2021) – Director: Celeste Tan
    • Panel: “Space and Spirit” – Fong Hoe Fang (Function 8), Dione Keh (Glass Hut), 3rd panelist TBC
    • Film: “Three Ways to Falter” (PG13, 2021) – Director: Rachelle Lee Xin Yi
    • Film: “Second Prison” (PG, 2020) – Director: Kueh Yong Peng
    • Chat: Directors of “Three Ways to Falter” and “Second Prison”
    • Program 2: The Right to Live with Dignity
    • Film: “Grey Scale” (PG, 21 mins, 2022) – Director: Evelyn Teh
    • Film: “Peluang Kedua” (Second Chance, 15 mins, 2022) – Director: Mohammad Alshatri
    • Chat: “Reframing the Narrative” – Capturing Stories around the Death Penalty
  • Day 2 – Sunday, 20 November 2022: Archiving Stories & Youth Activism
    • Program 3: Archiving Our Own Stories (Orang Asli Spotlight)
    • Film: “Klinik Ku Hutan” (The Forest, My Clinic) (PG, 14 mins, 2020) – Directors: Arni Natasya, Azie Suzana
    • Film: “Rahsia Rimba” (Secrets of the Forest Guardians) (PG, 5 mins, 2022) – Directors: Aireen July, Analisa Atong
    • Film: “Selai Kayu Yek” (Roots of My Land) (PG, 12 mins, 2020) – Directed by the collective Apa Kata Wanita Orang Asli (Voices of Orang Asli Women)
    • Panel: “Archiving Our Own Stories” – Shahrom Taha, Firdaus Sani, representative from Apa Kata Wanita Orang Asli (Voices of Orang Asli Women). Moderated by Umi Kalthum Ismail
  • Program 4: Dream Beyond the Domestic (Domestic Worker Rights)
    • Film: “Homebound” (PG, ~17 mins, 2022) – Directed by Ismail Fahmi Lubis
    • Film: “Rasa & Asa” (PG, 27 mins, 2021) – Directed by Okui Lala, Nasrikah
    • Panel: “Dream Beyond the Domestic” – Jaya Anil Kumar, Senior Research and Advocacy Manager at NGO HOME, Okui Lala (Director of “Rasa & Asa”), representative Novia from domestic worker group IPPMI Singapura
  • Program 5: Youth Activism and Change
    • Film: “Padauk: Myanmar Spring” (M18, 56 mins, 2021) – Directors: Jeanne Marie Hallacy & Rares Michael Ghilezan
    • Panel: “Youth Activism and Change”
  • December 4, 2022: F8 participates in Ethos Books Festive Sale at The Cathay.
  • December 18, 2022 (3-5 PM): “RIDICULOUS: Untold Tales of Singapore” – Meet the Author and Legal Observer.

2023

  • January 14, 2023: TACS hosted FreedomFilmFest Fringe screening featuring “2023: Second Chance & Second Prison.”
  • February 2, 2023: TACS press conference to observe the 60th anniversary of Operation Coldstore.
  • February 18, 2023: Collaborating with Manifestival, TACS organised an event titled “Their Struggle is Ours To Continue.” This event commemorated 60 years since Operation Coldstore, where more than 120 Singaporean heroes were detained without trial.