For the past 30-odd years, the Singapore International Film Festival has been championing local talents while celebrating cinema at its finest. Now back with even more, the SGIFF will mark its anniversary once again with new, exclusive commissions, a coming-of-age feature film, free outdoor movie screenings and plenty of other programmes, from Nov 21-Dec 1.
To kick-off the festival, Wet Season by local filmmaker Anthony Chen, who made his directorial debut with Ilo Ilo, will be screened at the Capitol Theatre, with the director himself and cast in attendance. Widely-anticipated, the flick explores growing pains, and has a similar cinematography to the director’s debut movie. Just sneak a peek through the clip below.
Three short films surrounding the theme of celebration will be making their world premiere at the festival’s opening on Nov 21 too. The first-ever commission series by SGIFF for Southeast Asian filmmakers, find shorts like Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue by Mouly Surya which sees the celebration of a traditional wedding; and Anucha Boonyawatana’s piece Not a Time to Celebrate, about the realities of filmmaking.
A rather lengthy list of programmes will also be presented to engage budding filmmakers and film buffs, like Myth, Dreamscape and Memory in Southeast Asian Cinema, which focuses on the unique storytelling style of Southeast Asian filmmakers. Meanwhile, Storytelling through Episodes will feature guests like writers and showrunners, who’ll share more about their experiences when transitioning from movies to other episodic narratives, what with all the changes in content platforms these days.
But before the festival officially begins, catch three film screenings under the stars for no cost at all, at Gardens by the Bay, thanks to the return of Moonlight Cinema (Oct 25-27). And while you’re there at the gardens enjoying the movies under the stars, don’t forget to pop by Nature’s Playground, held from Oct 25 till the end of the festival, which showcases nature-inspired portrait photographs by nine local storytellers, including filmmaker Yeo Siew Hua and media personality Danny Yeo.
The Singapore International Film Festival will be held from Nov 21-Dec 1. More information and full line-up to be released here.
