Credit: Asian Movie Pulse
For Eric Khoo and his mother, the saying “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” rings true.
A devoted cinephile, she often took Eric and his younger sister Jackie to the cinema to watch horror films, where he discovered his passion for filmmaking.
Classics like The Exorcist, The Omen, and It’s Alive became a familiar part of Eric’s childhood. He vividly recalls how the 4pm shows felt like a magical journey, as he watched the films in the darkened theatre with a flickering screen.
Now a critically acclaimed filmmaker, Eric has won multiple accolades for his films. His films have also been featured at the Cannes Film Festival, adding to his growing international recognition.
Vintage Radio catches up with Eric as he reflects on his career. Tune in to this digital streaming station, available online or through its mobile app for exclusive interviews and nostalgic hits.
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Eric Khoo: Early Childhood and Family
Besides being a big fan of horror movies, Eric’s mother also enjoyed reading comic books and magazines on filmography. He recalls his first introduction to filmography.
"It was a magazine named Famous Monsters of Film Land, and one of the issues taught stop motion photography like King Kong. What I did with my mother's Canon camera was to film the guy by releasing frames, almost like animation, but stop motion. I showed that to the adults and they went, wow this is amazing, how did you do that?"
Credit: Vintage Radio
Eric attended Anglo-Chinese School and later the United World College of South East Asia, where it became clear that sports was not his strong suit.
However, he discovered a talent for drawing. During recess, he would sketch for his classmates, charging 10 to 20 cents per drawing.
Eric Khoo: Early Film Career
After graduating from school, Eric began pursuing filmmaking more seriously, submitting his short works to competitions where some earned nominations and awards. His growing recognition as a filmmaker eventually took him to foreign film festivals.
A central theme in Eric’s movies revolves around anti-hero characters—protagonists who may lack traditional heroic qualities yet must navigate and conform to society’s rules and regulations.
In 1994, Eric created a short film titled Pain, which was nominated for the Singapore Film Festival. However, he was informed that the film had been banned from being screened due to its violent content, though it could still compete in the festival. Despite this setback, Eric went on to win both the Best Director Award and the Special Achievement Award.
Credit: Vintage Radio
Featuring a story about an isolated noodle seller and his obsession with a prostitute, Eric was awarded
Best New Asian Director at the 1st Busan International Film Festival in September 1996 with this film.
Eric’s foray into filmmaking in the 1990s proved to be timely, as Singapore had been without local films for over 20 years. His work helped spark a new wave of local cinema, revitalising the arts scene in Singapore.
Two years later, Eric directed 12 Storeys, a film that captures a day in the lives of several households living within the same HDB block. The film put Singapore on the world map, premiering at the Singapore International Film Festival before being showcased at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, where it became the first Singapore-made film to be officially invited to the festival.
After 12 Storeys, Eric submitted a white paper calling for the formation of a Singaporean film commission, which was approved four months later. This marked a turning point for Singaporean cinema, offering filmmakers crucial funding and resources – a contrast to the earlier days when Singaporean filmmakers had to fund their own films.
For the next decade, Eric focused mainly on producing more light-hearted films, catering to the tastes of a broader audience. This included Films like The Movie: Liang Po Po, a horror comedy about an 85-year-old woman who runs away from her retirement home in search of a new life, and 881, a Singaporean musical comedy-drama.
In 2007, former President S.R. Nathan awarded Eric the Cultural Medallion Award for film.
Credit: National Arts Council
In addition to directing, Eric also writes the scripts for his films, though he humbly refers to his writing as “lazy writing.”
2024 marked another milestone for Eric, propelling him into the international spotlight with his film Spirit World.
Collaborating with fashion powerhouse Chanel as well as French movie icon Catherine Deneuve and Japanese star Yutaka Takenouchi, the film tells the story of a musician who dies and transforms into a yokai (a spirit in Japanese folklore) and embarks on a journey in the afterlife.
Chanel provided outfits and jewellery for the film’s production. Spirit World was also selected to be the closing film at the Busan International Film Festival, one of Asia’s leading film festivals.
Eric Khoo: Carrying on his Legacy
In 1997, Eric married Kim Eun Choo, and together, they have four boys. Like Eric, his children have shown a passion for pursuing filmmaking as a career.
Eric’s first and second sons, Edward and James Khoo, both pursued film studies and are active in the film industry, while his third son is working in a media company. His youngest son is studying political science. He reflects on how, even with the same influences growing up, each child has carved out their own unique path.
This content was originally aired on Vintage Radio. To listen to the complete podcast, click here.
