Leon Cheo
Production
Biography
Leon Cheo is an award-winning director whose short film “SIN-SFO” won Best Live Action and Best Director at the 2019 National Youth Film Awards in Singapore. His web series “People Like Us” won ‘Best Short TV Drama’ at the 2016 ITVFest (Vermont), ‘Best Web Drama Series’ at the Formosa Festival of International Filmmaker Awards, and ‘Best Supporting Actor – Drama’ at the 2017 Indie Series Awards. The series is distributed in the United States on premium LGBT cable channel HereTV. Leon’s short films have screened at festivals in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Seoul, Bangkok, Tokyo, Tehran, Germany, Italy, and more. Highlights include “The Three Sisters” which won ‘Best Short Film’ at the 2012 NETPAC-Jogja Asian Film Festival and “Move Out Notice” which broadcast on the Lifetime (Asia) channel. His short film “Nuts” received honorable mention for the YOMYOMF Interpretations 2.0 competition, founded by Justin Lin (“Fast & Furious”, “Star Trek: Beyond”) to foster and develop Asian American voices in entertainment and the arts. A graduate of Chapman University with a BFA in Creative Producing, and Ngee Ann Polytechnic with a diploma in Film, Sound & Video, Leon Cheo is also an alumnus of Outfest InFusion (2016), Berlinale Talents (2014), Asian Film Academy (2013) and Tokyo Talent Campus (2012).
Known For
A former military officer makes a film about a man he encountered in Tanjong Rhu, a secluded cruising ground.
The Casuarina Cove
An emotive anthology by seven of Singapore's most illustrious filmmakers, celebrating SG50 through the lives and stories of Singaporeans. Directed by Eric Khoo, Jack Neo, K. Rajagopal, Royston Tan, Tan Pin Pin, Boo Junfeng, Kelvin Tong.
7 Letters
As they drive to San Francisco, married couple Angie and Danny debate a decision which will change their lives forever.
SIN-SFO
A valet attendant dresses up as his late sister to help his mother deal with grief, and prove that he’s the most filial son.
The 25th Filial Exemplar
Guohui and Peiling were childhood sweethearts who met again after years of being apart and became a couple. On an idyllic island south of Singapore, they spend their last moments together as their relationship falls apart. The film is about the impossibility to know what has made people change. Through the ever-changing landscape, Guohui and Peiling realise that what is transitory is also eternal.
As You Were
First gay online series in Singapore gives a glimpse into the lives of gay men in a country where sex between two men is still a crime
People Like Us
A few weeks after Wei Long and Daniel have broken up, Daniel asks Wei Long to meet him once more.
Swing
Based on a true experience, the film is about an officer cadet who declares his homosexuality during his National Service in late-2000s Singapore.
302
Wei, 21, has not clashed with her real estate agent mother for over a year since they started a new system – “talking” to each other solely through cheerful-looking notes. However, when Wei clumsily announces that she is moving out to live independently, her obstinate mother declares war.
Move Out Notice
Yoke Sim, Poh Sim and Choy Sim are three elderly sisters setting out for a pleasant evening at the Opera. They will however only come face to face with their own demons – each other.
The Three Sisters
In 1970s Singapore when families were pressured and incentivised to have no more than two children, a newly pregnant Teochew mother contemplates keeping her third child despite facing overwhelming financial constraints, social stigma and state disincentives.
Two Is Enough
In 1960s’ Singapore Chinatown, hard-boiled detective Lee Kian Hock is hired by Mrs Chan to look into her millionaire husband’s extramarital affair. But when he finds Mr Chan murdered in a seedy hotel room and meets his enigmatic daughter, Michelle, a web of lies, intrigue and betrayal begins to unravel as each of the characters pursues their own agendas ruthlessly, in search of love and money.