Some of the biggest names in the film industry including actresses Zhang Ziyi and Juliette Binoche and auteurs John Woo and Im Kwon-taek graced the opening of the 25th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) on 4th December 2014. A benefit dinner was held in conjunction with the festival where SGIFF board chairman Mike Wiluan, executive director Yuni Hadi and the celebrities mingled with some 130 guests at Cut in Marina Bay Sands, the festival’s presenting sponsor.

The evening saw 12 items - including a Rémy Martin XO Excellence Decanter Cannes Limited Edition autographed by the 2014 Cannes Film Festival jury members, an autographed Zhang Ziyi Limited Edition Special Collection DVD Set (which went to Hendi Widodo) and original script of The English Patient personally signed by Binoche, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film - auctioned off to the collective tune of nearly $200,000.