The annual Singapore International Film Festival returns for its 31st edition from November 26 to December 6, boasting and incredible line-up that shapes and discovers stories about the Asian identity
If there is one thing that we have learned about the local arts community in the past year, it's that it is a resilient one—full of grit and passion in embracing these unprecedented times. One prime example is the team behind this year's Singapore's International Film Festival (SGIFF), which starts this November in a hybrid format. For one, they remained steadfast in going ahead with the event, adapting and giving cinephiles access to enjoy films from the comfort of their own homes. On top of that, the team worked tirelessly to curate a programme that sought to bring the larger film community together and deepen the appreciation for cinema in Singapore.
"This year is definitely unique, but SGIFF will continue to be a cultural institution that inspires, creates, and shapes the direction of film across the region," shares new executive director Emily J. Hoe. "It was our priority to ensure that the festival programme and budgets were put together, without compromising on artistic integrity or rigour. The unique hybrid line-up curated for the audiences of today has allowed us to remain socially connected through films despite the physical challenges of time, distance and space."
The result is a line-up of over 70 films by auteurs from 49 countries, each that speak for the times that we live in through stories that map our universal search for identity, community, existence and a fundamental desire for change. The in-person screenings will take place across multiple festival venues, including Shaw Lido, Filmgarde Bugis+, Oldham Theatre, The Projector and virtual platform, The Projector Plus. Aside from screenings, both competitions, namely the SGIFF's Asian Feature and Silver Screen Awards' Southeast Asian Short Film competition have received the go-ahead this year. We highlight five works to catch at this year's festival: