Singaporean director Chai Yee Wei's short film depicting Singapore's rapid development and a boy's sexual awakening has won the top award, known as the George Lucas Award, at the Tokyo Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia 2018.

The festival is one of the qualifying festivals for the US Academy Awards, so Chai's film will be eligible for nomination at next year's Oscars.

Chai told the audience on Monday he was grateful for the win, especially as the 15-minute film includes issues which are sensitive in Singapore.

He wanted wanted to capture the "moment of epiphany and sexual awakening" in what he said was "in honour" of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual) community in Singapore.

According to the Straits Times, Chai told reporters later: "I wouldn't even dare to imagine myself to be on the same league, and to be referenced that way – I'm just grateful. In the end we all just want to tell truthful stories and regardless of where stories come from, if you are able to tell them in a truthful manner, that is the most important thing."
Watch his speech below:

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