Singapore’s longest running film event returns for a 26th edition this November. The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), founded in 1987, is the city’s largest, and this year promises “More Than Just Film,” as part of its festivities.With 150 film screenings and public programs planned, the event aims to give “an insight into the region’s stories and the art of filmmaking” according to the organizers. Running November 26 through December 6, SGIFF is set to open with a heartwarming drama, “Panay,” by directors Cheng Yu-Chieh and Lekal Sumi. From Taiwan, it tells the story of the lives of members of the indigenous community in country, and will be premiered at Marina Bay Sands.SGIFF has established itself as both an event for film-lovers, but also filmmakers, organizing panels and talk shows for the audience to engage in, and a hope to help build the industry in the region. In this year’s edition, some 1,400 submissions were received and 146 feature and short films will be played. That number includes entries from 51 countries, across 11 sections – Opening, Special Presentation, Silver Screen Awards, Singapore Panorama, Asian Vision, Cinema Today, Spotlight on Mexican Cinema, Imagine, Classics, Between Visible and Invisible: Alternative Vision of Chinese Independent Documentary and Tribute to Mohsen Makhmalbaf.Highlights include Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s quirky mix of modern and historical Thailand in “Cemetery of Splendour,” the debut feature film from Singapore’s multi-disciplinary artist Ng Xi Ji titled “Singapore Minstrel,” and a special section dedicated to Mexican cinema in light of recent Academy Awards wins for both Alfonso Cuarón and Alejandro González Iñárritu.Chinese Independent Documentary will also be showcased in the section “Between Visible and Invisible.” It will feature independent documentaries examining the to state-controlled media guidelines of the 1980s and highlight the experiences of minorities in that time. “We are now at the crossroads of a very exciting time for independent cinema and SGIFF meets the growing demand by bringing together a rich mix of filmmakers and showcasing their works,” said SGIFF Festival Director, Zhang Wenjie. “The Festival’s film line-up was carefully curated from over 1,400 submissions received this year. Each film is significant in its cinematic presentation, and inspires with its rich perspective. But when put together in an ensemble, they also reflect the relevance of the festival in giving a voice to these independent storytellers, while identifying fresh approaches and innovation in the filmmaking industry.”
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