The Inspiring Asia Microfilm Festival 2025 wrapped up on 25 October with a night of storytelling, innovation, and social impact. After nearly eight months of selections and preparation, the festival crowned winners in films, projects, and AI-powered storytelling, while recognising regional partners for their contributions to social innovation.
Co-hosted by Channel 8 Mediacorp’s Yang Zhenhua and Eileen Chong from the Asia Philanthropy Circle, the evening brought together filmmakers, social innovators, and mental health advocates for a celebration of creativity with purpose.
A Story of Grief and Resilience Wins Best Microfilm
The Best Microfilm Award went to For Paul, My Baby (Singapore), a poignant documentary directed by Christine Seow. The film tells the story of Alicia, a mother who lost her eldest son Paul to suicide in 2021. Through the support of her community, she gradually found strength and now hopes to help others navigating grief. The film received a USD 50,000 award to continue highlighting important social issues and remind audiences that mental health struggles are real and deserve open conversation.
Best Project Award: Two Initiatives Share the Spotlight
Three finalists pitched their projects live to a panel of six judges from the philanthropy and social impact sectors. In a rare move, two projects shared the Best Project Award, splitting a USD 100,000 grant:
- Bench With Ears (Thailand): Transforms public spaces like park benches into safe zones for emotional support, offering mental health first aid training and volunteer listening services through the Sati app.
- Good Mind and Soul (Mongolia): Empowers peer supporters to help youth struggling with mental health challenges, with support and supervision from professional psychologists.
AI Meets Storytelling
For the first time, the festival partnered with AI innovation leader MiniMax to celebrate AI-driven creativity. The Best AI Microfilm Award went to Ruins (China), directed by Li Yinqian, highlighting how technology can humanize storytelling rather than replace it.
“Technology is no longer cold; it’s a bridge for expressing emotion and care,” said MiniMax’s team.
Regional Partnerships: Recognising Collaborative Impact
The festival also celebrated outstanding regional partners across Asia:
- Mental Health Film Festival Singapore
- China Global Philanthropy Institute
- ECCA Family Foundation
- Lorinet Foundation
- Nguyen-Phuong Family Foundation
- Campaign for Good, Djarum Foundation, Tanoto Foundation
- MiniMax and Hailuo AI
These awards honoured organizations promoting social impact filmmaking and innovation across the region.
Thought-Provoking Forums
Two high-profile roundtables complemented the awards:
1. Public Policy and Grassroots Initiatives
Anthea Ong emphasized that small organizations often identify issues first, and supporting them is crucial for innovation and timely action.
2. Global Lessons for Singapore
Guest Liu Xin shared research showing that up to 70% of new parents in China experience depression due to isolation. She highlighted the importance of parental education and the lifelong journey of “learning to be a parent.”
“The journey doesn’t end at birth. Parents are always learning, growing, and adapting,” Liu noted.
Looking Ahead: Inspiring Asia 2026
At the ceremony’s close, Lionel Li, founder of the Li Foundation and initiator of the festival, announced the theme for 2026: “Community Empowerment.”
“Empowerment isn’t just giving; it’s inspiring, supporting, and awakening inner strength,” Lionel said.
Next year, Inspiring Asia will continue to use film as a bridge, connecting individuals and communities striving for change, and encouraging creators to explore stories of collaboration, resilience, and growth.