Freedom to focus: director Kelvin Tong is elated to have been given free reins to direct his latest feature. The former film critic talks to Asia Image about 'Love Story', a Singapore production funded by Focus Film's Asia-wide initiative.(profile)

Kelvin Tong is no stranger to accolades. Beginning in 1995 with a quirky short film, Moveable Feast, Kelvin's film career has not looked back since. Moveable Feast garnered a Special Mention at France's 1996 Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival, the Cannes of short films. The short film also enjoyed the honor of being the first and, to date, only piece of Singapore cinema to be showcased at the prestigious Museum Of Modern Art in New York. In 1999, Kelvin made his feature directorial debut with Eating Air. His direction and original screenplay won The Young Cinema Award at the 2000 Singapore International Film Festival and the FIPRESCI prize at the 2000 Stockholm International Film Festival.

Even more remarkable is Kelvin's most recent triumph, marked by his entry into the ultra-exclusive club of Singapore filmmakers who actually made it to the top of the local box office--a fraternity for which even Canneslauded Eric Khoo was denied membership. In its opening weekend, his 2005 genre flick 'The Maid' raked in S$758,000, no slouch considering that it costs S$1.5 million in all to make. With a Hollywood remake purportedly in the offing--rumor has it that actor Brad Pitt's company is keen on buying filming rights to 'The Maid'--KelvinTong must be basking in the afterglow of his newfound success. Not really. Before critics can finish saying the words "flash-in-the-pans", Kelvin has already completed a new feature film, titled 'Love Story'.

The film represents onesixth of a HD film …