Film buffs, this one’s for you. The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) returns for its 27th edition with 161 feature and short films from across the globe — of which 16 will make their world premieres here. Catch everything from romantic comedies to indie dramas to horror flicks at the screenings, then load up on your film knowledge at masterclasses and dialogue sessions with filmmakers.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the highlights at this year’s SGIFF.
Opening Film: Interchange
The fantasy noir thriller by Malaysian director Dain Iskandar Said makes its Asian premiere here — watch it to find out the film’s take on actual events that took place a century ago, when Norwegian explorer Carl Lumholtz trekked across central Borneo between 1913 and 1917.
Special Presentation: Mrs K, Three Sassy Sisters, The Road to Mandalay
Malaysian director Ho Yuhang’s new film, Mrs K, stars Hong Kong martial arts actress Kara Wai as the titular character, whose average life takes a wild turn when enemies appear from her past. As for The Road to Mandalay by Midi Z, the story highlights the lives of two illegal Burmese migrants and their will to survive. Then there’s Three Sassy Sisters by Nia Dinata — it tells the tale of housewives reimagined into career-focused professionals.
Silver Screen Awards —Asian Feature Films: A Yellow Bird
The Singapore premiere of local filmmaker K Rajagopal’s film follows Siva as he’s released from jail after spending eight years behind bars. Facing rejection from his mother (and society in general), he crosses paths with a Chinese prostitute who he makes a connection with, based on their shared desperation.
Singapore Panorama: 4LOVE, Ariel & Olivia, I’m Coming Up, Siew Lup
Here, local filmmakers showcase titles such as 4LOVE, a collection of love stories; Ariel & Olivia, a coming-of-age story about teenagers trying to find their way in life; I’m Coming Up, a single take glimpse into the interior of an HDB block; and Siew Lup, the second installment in Sam Loh’s femme fatale trilogy.
Asian Vision: Walking Street, The Woman Who Left, Hooly Bible II
In this category, highlights to watch out for include Walking Street, a tale about three Korean misfits in Pattaya; The Woman Who Left, a film that ponders upon the social disparity in pre-millennial Philippines; and Hooly Bible II, a portrait of daily street conversations that displays the roots of apathy in China.
Cinema Today: Notes on Blindness, Eternity, I,Daniel Blake
Eternity is a look at three generations of women as they go through the ups and downs of birth and death over one hundred years; Notes on Blindness takes you into the life of a man who’s forced to come to terms with his blindness; and I, Daniel Blake is a drama about two people trapped in the weak spots of the British welfare system.
Classics: Tiga Dara, The Emerald Jungle (Mya Ganaing)
The 1956 comedy Tiga Dara delves into the stereotypes of opposite sexes in love and dispels them, while the 1934 film The Emerald Jungle sees two ill-fated lovers in the jungles of Myanmar overcoming overwhelming odds to be together.
Of course, you can’t miss out on the dialogue sessions either — especially when Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky is in town to share his experiences on filmmaking. His first feature film, Pi, will be screened as part of An Evening with Darren Aronofsky. There’s also the Future of Cinema forum featuring speakers like film strategist Missy Laney, Anderson Le, the Director of Programming at the Hawaii International Film Festival, and Jared Geller, executive producer at HITRECORD, the company founded by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Plus, the festival will present its Cinema Legend Award to Hong Kong veteran actor Simon Yam for his work in TV and film (he’s appeared in more than 200 movies since 1987).
The 27th Singapore International Film Festival is on from Nov 23-Dec 4 at various venues, including Marina Bay Sands, Capitol Theatre, Shaw Theatres Lido and The Arts House Screening Room. Tickets start from $12; masterclasses have a refundable registration fee of $5.
