For the uninitiated, the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is the most prestigious entity on Singapore’s crowded film festival scene – there’s one practically every week of the year. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the festival, which runs from Nov 21 to Dec 1 across multiple venues (Capitol Theatre, National Museum of Singapore, National Gallery Singapore, The Projector, Filmgarde Bugis+, Golden Village Grand and Objectifs)
More than 90 contemporary and classic films from 40 countries will be screened in total – out of which 17 are local works (both features and shorts). If you’re a film buff, you’ve probably heard that acclaimed director Anthony Chen will be opening the festival with the Singapore debut of Wet Seasons, his second feature film after 2013’s Ilo Ilo.
Film talents to be honoured at this year’s festival include Japanese auteur Takashi Miike, who has directed more than 100 films, including Ichi The Killer (2001) and 13 Assassins (2010). The Cinema Icon Award will be going to Chinese actress and activist Yao Chen while the Inspiring Woman in Film Award, presented by Swarovski, will be presented to Malaysian actress Yeo Yann Yann, leading lady of both Ilo Ilo and Wet Seasons. Above, some films that caught our eye that you’d do well to get cracking on.
All film stills courtesy of SGIFF.