Has it already been six years since Anthony Chen’s award-winning Ilo Ilo? The director, famed for being extremely fastidious, has opted to reunite his cast from Ilo Ilo – the “mother and son” duo comprising of the excellent Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler respectively – in the gentle and slow-moving Wet Season. Only thing is, six years later, Koh, now 18, plays a student who has a crush on Yeo’s teacher, who’s constantly sidelined, be it in the subject she teaches (Mandarin) or at home, where the husband is constantly away for work.

Nov 21, 8pm

Capitol Theatre

Winner of the Queer Palm at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a French historical drama set in the 18th century that’s been garnering rave reviews internationally. Just check out what Vincent Quek, founder of independent film distributor Anticipate Pictures and one of the local film industry’s most discerning players, had to say about this work: “A sensuous, tender and honest portrayal of the budding friendship and love between two souls in 18th century patriarchal France. This is Call Me By Your Name meets The Piano for the L in LGBTQ. The film is gorgeous – a painting in literal motion. My personal top film of the festival.”

Nov 23, 9.30pm (Filmgarde Bugis+)

Nov 30, 10pm (Oldham Theatre)

Any film by Taiwanese auteur Hou Hsiao-hsien is always a treat and Flowers of Shanghai (1998) is often considered to be one of his best and most visually captivating. It’s set in the pleasure quarters of 19th century Shanghai, focusing on five courtesans and the complicated, semi-monogamous relationships they have with their patrons. Did we also mention Tony Leung is the leading man in this film?

Nov 30, 4.15pm

Filmgarde Bugis+

An early work by Cannes winner Bong Joon-ho (you’re probably familiar with Okja and his latest work Parasite, is a must-watch), Memories of Murder was based on Korea’s first serial murders. The film follows a pair of detectives who attempt to crack the case but to little payoff, due to their inexperience at handling a case of such magnitude.

Nov 23, 2pm

The Projector

Selected as Sweden’s entry to next year’s Oscars, the film zeroes in on the rivalry between newcomer Irakli and aspiring dancer Merab, who hails from a family of dancers. They’re both aiming for a spot in the prestigious national ballet but somewhere along the way, rivalry gives way to something softer and more ambiguous.

Nov 22, 6.30pm (The Projector)

Nov 24, 10.15pm (The Projector)

Essentially a hard and discomforting look at how young women actors are exploited in order to get a leg up in the entertainment industry, the titular Nina Wu, a young-ish actress finally gets the call she’s been waiting for – the lead role in a promising film. Her rise to fame is not without cost though – she soon starts to have mental breakdowns and becomes increasingly unstable.

Nov 24, 8pm

Capitol Theatre

Palme d’Or winner Hirokazu Kore-eda has directed nearly 20 films but The Truth is his first set outside of his native Japan. Set around a top actress Fabienne (Catherine Deneuve) and the new release of her memoir, her daugher Lumir (Juliette Binoche), with whom she has long had a contentious relationship, arrives to confront her regarding what was set out in the book.

Dec 1, 7pm

Golden Village Grand