So many stories never make it to the screen. Lost in Transmission aims to change that by backing community storytellers & emerging creators with stories that often stay quiet, unnoticed, or unspoken.
Function8 supports and funds films and documentaries that blend creative and factual approaches to capture moments of resilience, identity, and collective life in Singapore.
Theme: Technology Meets Life
Under this year’s theme of “Technology Meets Life”, we’re seeking films that explore the unspoken side of the digital age. We are looking for creative factual stories that dig deeper and reveal how technology transforms our relationships, communities, and survival. Can technology help bring about a more just & equal world?
Grant Details
SG$2,500 per film (up to 2 projects will be selected)
Mentorship from Singapore filmmaking professionals like Tan Pin Pin, Yusri “Shaggy” Sapari.
Film will be premiered at FreedomFilmFest Singapore 2026
(In the process of decluttering, Teo Soh Lung found the text of a speech she delivered at the launch of the new edition of Comet in Our Sky on 9 August 2015. Below is her speech.)
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When the first edition of Comet in Our Sky was launched in Kuala Lumpur in 2001, I did not attend because I was not aware of it. I only came to know about the book when Tan Jing Quee (its editor) asked me to help him sell some copies. And that was the first time that I read about Lim Chin Siong.
Let me tell you how important that book was to me then and now.
I was educated in an English school, a Catholic school. Even though my school was located along Middle Road, I knew nothing about the activities that went on at the trade union along the same road. I lived in another world.
I remember when I was in school, buses occasionally did not run because the drivers had gone on strike. I was very happy when that happened because it gave me the opportunity to walk home with my brother and sister, stopping by the Singapore River to watch the boats! I didn’t know the planning of the strikes originated in Middle Road.
My father managed a photo studio not too far from Middle Road. He was effectively trilingual and I used to see the Chinese daily on the table in the reception hall. Operation Coldstore took place when I was 14 years old but I have no recollection of the horrendous incident in history. My father would have read about that incident but he said nothing at home. He and my eldest brother who helped him in the studio probably thought that it was best to remain neutral. I am quite sure they were aware of the arrests in 1963 and even those in the 1950s because their studio specialized in portraiture and was popular with university graduates who took their graduation photographs there. I have seen advertisements in the students’ publication Fajar.
Looking back, I think my father didn’t want any of his English educated children to be involved in politics because he probably knew that politics was dangerous especially when you are on the opposite side of the PAP! He rather preferred to be neutral and minded his own business, taking photographs of Lee Kuan Yew, David Marshall, Dr Lee Siew Choh and British officials like Sir William Goode, the attorney general and several colonial judges.
I had the good fortune of meeting Lim Chin Siong in the early 1980s when I think he was then working with his brother and Jing Quee in nearby Colombo Court. It was my misfortune that I didn’t know Singapore history then and hence missed the opportunity of conversing intelligently with the great man.
So you see, unlike Chinese educated students of my time, I lived in total ignorance. And so it was absolutely important that decades after the incident, Tan Jing Quee and K S Jomo published Comet in Our Sky in 2001. It was the first time I learned about the intrigues and cruelty of politics and the dishonesty of the British.
Re reading the chapters in the book today depresses me. I don’t remember feeling depressed when I read the first edition of Comet in Our Sky. But now, re reading it depresses me and I had to read the chapters with many breaks. I am no longer able to remain detached and uninvolved like historians digging out the past or lawyers fighting the causes of their clients because I have come to know many of the survivors of Operation Coldstore who have spent decades in prison. What they and their families went through was uninmaginable. I only wish that the younger PAP leaders would read more books like Comet so that they too will learn about the ugly side of PAP’s history and reflect on the evil deeds of Lee Kuan Yew and his colleagues.
To know the life of Lim Chin Siong, and here I am very grateful that Jing Quee has written such an eloquent piece about him in the book and M K Rajakumar had given us a more detached description of Lim and analysed his strength and weaknesses, comparing him with the savvy Lee Kuan Yew who was networking with people in high places, is not only to know his humility, oratorical skill, greatness and courage but also the depth of depravity of Lee Kuan Yew. For his personal glory and power, Lee was prepared to carry out grave injustices to his comrade and his family and colleagues. Lee was a bully, taking advantage of Lim Chin Siong who was ten years younger than him. I cannot fathom the cruelty of the man when he acted as Lim’s lawyer during his imprisonment for the purpose of betraying him. Lim said in his manuscript which is translated by his brother, Chin Joo that he was kept isolated from the rest and was not informed of what happened outside. Jing Quee told me that he was kept in the refractory block, close to the death row prisoners.
Before the publication of Comet in Our Sky in 2001, there was a coffee table book published by Melanie Chew in 1996 which contains an interview with Lim Chin Siong. But that book cost $200 and few could afford it.
It took 38 years after Coldstore for Comet in Our Sky to be published and to be launched in KL and quietly sold in Singapore. It tells a great deal. We can say that it was fear that prevented the left from writing about the past. But I’d like to say that it speaks a lot about the courage and foresight of Jing Quee and Jomo to bring this book to light.
It is important for young Singaporeans to read this book and to understand why Singapore is what she is today. We were once a vibrant society until Lee Kuan Yew came to power and destroyed everything that was anathema to him.
We are very fortunate that Dr Poh Soo Kai has finally edited and published this new edition after a decade of it running out of print. Dr Poh works very hard. At the age of 84, he should be relaxing. Instead, he is working harder than a man half his age. Maybe this is to compensate for the loss of 17 long years in prison!
We applaud his determination and stamina to show up the government that it has not been telling the truth because they just want to be in power. “Truth”, Dr Poh said to the BBC recently “is on his side and he must explain that for future generations and for history.” We salute Dr Poh.
Comet in Our Sky (new edition) is available at all good bookstores e.g City Book Room and as an ebook from Amazon, Kobo, National Library, and other online outlets.
Function 8 ended 2025 the Singaporean way! Meeting old friends and supporters too busy with work, family and activities during normal times. We chatted, joked, ate and sang songs, sentimental and activist songs and songs that even reminded several former ISA prisoners of prison days. Donna Donna, a song about a poor calf bound for slaughter reminded one of them about those unjust days that made singers of all those locked up within grey concrete walls. Bad experiences never really go away. They are buried deep in the mind and emerge when least expected.
Donna Donna sung at the gathering
The gathering did not forget two of the many who are now in self exile, namely Roy Ngerng and Terry Xu. How can a government deprive citizens of their country when all they did was to disagree with its policies? How can it enact and implement draconian laws against opponents? Roy Ngerng had criticised the CPF scheme and Terry Xu had steadfastly given voice to the voiceless in his online journal The Online Citizen. So our singers sang All I Want For Christmas Is My CPF(the link is to an earlier version from our previous gathering at The Agora) for them.
Among the guests were survivors of Operation Coldstore. They sang I Love Malaya.
Will the young PAP leaders attempt to know their history, dedication and contribution towards the independence of Singapore? They have made Malaya their home in their youth and many had been detained without trial.
Returning to the present troubled side of Singapore, Iris Koh reminded us of M. Ravi whose courageous and controversial life had sparked expressions of both love and hate. She dedicated Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now to M. Ravi.
Life is already very difficult to live to the fullest. Why would a government which has the duty to ensure a better life for its citizens, bully them and demand conformity? Why crush their lives?
So while we enjoyed a great year end party, we are also reminded of the troubled times we face today and days gone.
Sign up for F8’s next Changing Worlds talk by Jamus Lim
As the world retreats from globalisation and fractures into distinct regional poles, geopolitical considerations—which used to be secondary to economic developments—have returned to the fore, and often even drive economic policymaking. In this talk, we will explore the phenomenon of deglobalisation and a multipolar world economy, what this means for the political economy of trade, finance, and immigration policy, and how citizens, businesses, and governments can adapt to this changing environment.
A reflection after watching a thought-provoking documentary co-created by Palestinians and Israelis.
Thanks to Function 8 — a collective that facilitates the sharing of social, political and economic experiences, I had the opportunity to watch ‘No Other Land’, a documentary produced by a collective of Palestinians and Israelis. It was part of a FreedomFilmFest (FFF) Fringe Screening Series.
Screening by Function 8 (Photograph by Author)
The film was co-created by Palestinian filmmakers Basel Adra and Hamdan Ballal, and Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. Anchored by the personal story of Basel and Yuval, it traces their friendship in deeply challenging circumstances. We journey with them as Yuval hung out with Basel’s community, joined them during forced demolitions, and shared vulnerable conversations in low moments.
The Film The 95-minute documentary was a masterclass in storytelling. It honestly captures the everyday lives of people in Masafer Yatta, a group of Palestinian villages in the West Bank. The families there live under constant stress of eviction from their homes and ancestral land.
They had appealed against the military’s plan to seize the land for training purposes. After two decades, the court ruled in favour of the military. The people did not leave — where could they go?
Their families lived on the land since the 19th century, yet this was not officially recognised. It was heartrending to watch Israeli forces walk into homes, tell families to evacuate, and then proceed to demolish their homes. Cooking pots, clothes, shoes, toys, and other belongings were taken away or crushed under the rubble. Families were not given time to pack.
Even the school that was hand-built by the community was not spared. Playgrounds were fenced off. The electricity generator was taken away. The forces would claim the families had no permits. These families were not allowed to apply for permits in the first place.
How could they live a dignified life when shelter, water, electricity, education, and freedom of movement were not available to them?
The families asked the military forces if they felt shame. There was little that they could do but to see their home being destroyed. After each demolition, they would salvage what they could, move to a nearby cave, and rebuild from scratch.
It was the quiet, familiar moments that tugged most at my heart. Children asking for more time to play. Families at the playground. A mum in tears, feeling helpless. A mother, after relocating to a cave, kissing her child and reminding her she was loved. And that tomorrow would be a new day.
Even when life appeared ‘normal’, forced eviction loomed.
Their resilience is extraordinary. Despite everything, they chose to stay — and this is despite repeated trauma and grief of seeing their homes being destroyed, seeing their children cry, and even witnessing their family members being left seriously injured. Basel’s family eventually decide to relocate, but they only did this after enduring unimaginable hardship.
Friendship Across Divide Given the challenging history of Israeli and Palestinians, it was striking to witness the friendship between Basel and Yuval, and how easily Yuval was welcomed by Basel’s community.
At times, a community member would question if Yuval should still be welcomed. While Yuval had refused to serve the Israeli forces, how would he feel if a friend or family member was part of the forces that brought such suffering?
Their lives were shaped by unequal realities. Yuval could drive a car that Palestinians were not allowed to drive. He could leave West Bank and return home. Israeli forces went to his home but they didn’t demolish it.
Raw, Cinematic, Deeply Moving The filming is both raw and cinematic. Scenes are beautifully composed — even in dimly lit streets or during moments of chaos. Large cameras would have to be deployed and I wondered how the filmmakers managed to do this. I want to give the film a 10/10 rating for bringing such an essential narrative with the world.
Reading the news, Palestine is one of the places that feels far away. Through this film, I felt like I’d been invited to a Palestinian’s home. A home with people I could relate to, even though our lives are shaped by different realities. I felt a deeper sense of empathy and connection.
Patience in the Midst of Constant Strain In the film, Basel told Yuval that while their online articles did not get many views, they must be patient. “The occupation has lasted for decades and you want it to end in ten days,” he pointed out.
That moment stayed with me.
For those of us who long for a world where war is a thing of the past and everyone can thrive, it’s natural to wish for swift, peaceful solutions. What might be a realistic hope when the struggle has lasted for generations?
Basel, who is from a family of activists, admitted that he was tired. Who wouldn’t? Homes were repeatedly destroyed. Rebuilding supplies were taken away. Water supply was cut. Wells were sealed with concrete. A community member was seriously injured.
The weight of it all.
When Change Do Happen A brief but revealing moment in the film highlighted a seven-minute visit by Tony Blair, a former UK prime minister. Through short, his presence had a positive impact: forced demolition plans of the houses he visited were cancelled.
This speaks volumes about the imbalance of power and who gets heard.
What Do We Speak Up About? There is so much going on in the world today that I often wonder: What I should speak up about? When I do, do I know enough?
‘No Other Land’ communicated what headlines and news articles could not — the humans who can barely survive because the terrain they live in is unjust. It showed what happens when people’s rights to shelter, water, education, safety, and dignity are ignored. It showed that what is legal is not always just.
On 4th April 2025, Function 8 hosted the screening of Above and Below the Ground, a powerful film directed by Emily Hong, documenting the everyday lives of communities implicated by the Myitsone Dam in Kachin. The screening was followed by a Q&A session with the director, offering insights into the creative and political reflections behind the documentary.
The film opens with an image of Myanmar rendered as a thumping heart of Southeast Asia. The Irrawaddy River pulses through the landscape, representing both a figurative and literal source of culture, sustenance, and life for communities. The film features indigenous women and environmental activists who are challenging the construction of the dam—a joint venture between Myanmar’s military junta and a Chinese-owned megacorporation. The dam has since displaced thousands, removing them from their livelihoods, and bound to submerge villages, causing ecological damages along the Irrawaddy.
Capturing ongoing local resistance through music and karaoke, everyday conditions, protests, and legal confrontations, the film offers a poetic and political disruption to extractive narratives of hydro-dam projects that often position indigenous communities as idle and necessitating modernization. The film importantly puts its audience into rethinking the wider consequences of green developmental projects in the region, and how transnational capital and global corporate interest work at the expense of life.
During the Q&A session, participants asked about how Singaporeans can show solidarity with the environmental movement in Myanmar, especially in the aftermath of the earthquake that rattled through Sagaing and Mandalay. Director Hong emphasizes the possibilities and importance of transnational solidarities and getting engaged with local initiatives that support communities on the ground. In reflecting on the dialogues from the session, Singaporeans must ground solidarities through active accounting for and refusal of our own complicities in extractive investments and to center indigenous voices as vital sources of knowledge for shaping regional projects.
