SINGAPORE: If you believe everything that has been written about it, you would think that the Singapore International Film Festival (Siff) — which is into its 21st year — has been in its death throes the past two years.

But tell that to Siff founder Geoff Malone and full-time festival director Philip Cheah and you get a "ho-hum, heard that before" look from Cheah and a sunshine-y, toothy grin from Malone.

"I'm not a man for grand visions. I just want to make good as we can!" said the 60-something Malone. "I would like to do a nice glitzy opening, red carpets, stretch limos, big auditoriums … I would love to have our own cinema. I wish we could get Jon Stewart to host the Silver Screen Awards."

Optimistic yes, but a little bit out-of-touch, perhaps?

The recent turn of events for these Siff lords was anything but pleasant: Last year, it lost long-time main sponsor Swissotel The Stamford Singapore. Then, two core members, Teo Swee Leng and Lesley Ho, resigned. Its budget of around S$800,000 has also been halved this year.

But the stern-faced Cheah preferred to dwell on movies rather than figures.

As a tag-team, Malone and Cheah are as night and day. ("Geoff takes soup at lunch, I have to have noodles," deadpanned the 50-year-old Cheah.)

Malone — an Australian who has lived here for 27 years and is married to a Singaporean — is an extremely busy guy who admits that he watches movies mostly while on a plane. He's also a sci-fi buff.

"The first sci-fi movie that I ever watched was Forbidden Planet by Fred Wilcox, a B-grade movie that got out of control! And I like Stephen Chow films!"

As for what Cheah likes … well, just go to any Siff: What you see is what he likes.

But the two are so obsessed with movies you could call them the Don Quixotes of cinema here, as they battle the windmills of censorship and commercialism.

But if you thought they would have a one-shot all-out commercial season of Thai horror films, Bollywood flicks, Chinese kungfu fare, and chick flicks from Korea — you know, just to shake things up — you would be disappointed.

Judging from this year's programme of some 200 films (of which 60 per cent are from the region), they would rather look for their proverbial Dulcinea elsewhere — somewhere that's more cutting edge, independent and obscure, and untouched and untainted by Hollywood.

"If you realise how much of Asia is framed with reference to the West, you would do what I do, which is to learn to speak for ourselves," explained Cheah.

So, should we listen to these two men who keep pushing for obscure documentaries from Iran or Indonesia rather than the latest high-profile indie film with (insert Hollywood star); who keep showing films by Singaporean directors; and who would rather bring in director Wayne Wang and that guy who taught Zhang Yimou how to hold a camera (Wu Tianming, by the way) instead of obviously more popular people like, er, Steven Seagal or Bai Ling?

"Yeah, you get stars at other festivals — if you think that of Steven Seagal," shrugged Malone. "But festivals like the Bangkok International Film Festival don't have the depth of programme we do."

So, whether they are crazy or not, you would be crazy not to listen to them.

The 21st Singapore International Film Festival runs from April 4 to 14. Tickets are available from Sistic outlets. For more details, visit www.filmfest.org.sg. - TODAY/ra