It’s a time for film buffs to rejoice – the Singapore International Film Festival is back for its 28th edition this week!
Held from November 23 to December 3, the 2017 Singapore International Film Festival is Singapore’s biggest and longest running (since 1987) film event.
Throughout the 11 days, more than 100 films will be screened, including 18 world premieres and 6 Asian premieres.
If you enjoy unconventional story lines spread across a myriad of genres, as well as lesser-known work from award-winning filmmakers, this is one festival that you ought to check out.
We’ve curated the highlights of each category for the 2017 Singapore International Film Festival:
Festival Opening
The festival opens with a bang, starting with the second feature from Chinese director Vivian Qu, titled Angels Wear White.
The story follows a group of underprivileged women and their unheard voices, set in modern-day China.
With 3 nominations at the 54th Golden Horse Awards (the Chinese equivalent of the Oscars) in three major categories (Best Feature, Best Director, and Best Leading Actress) to boot, this is one film that you should definitely not miss.
Special Presentation
The Special Presentation section showcases some of the most anticipated films from up and coming directors.
Most notably, we have Josh Hartnett in a leading role in Atusko Hiranayagi’s Oh Lucy! The cast and director will be in town for this one so keep your eyes peeled for Mr Harnett if you want to catch a glimpse of him.
Cinema Today
Besides leading man Josh Harnett, you will also be able to spot Nicole Kidman (The Killing of a Sacred Deer), William Dafoe (The Florida Project), and Oscar winner Elizabeth Moss of Mad Men fame (The Square) in the Cinema Today section.
Singapore Panorama
What would the Singapore International Film Festival be without a Singapore section – enter Singapore Panorama, where our very own local talent have been showcasing their work since its introduction in 2008.
Singapore Panorama will also be celebrating the 15th anniversary of Jack Neo’s I Not Stupid and Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen’s Talking Cock The Movie with a screening respectively.
Asian Vision
Moving on, we have Asian Vision, a section which puts the spotlight on both up and coming and renowned filmmakers of Asian cinema.
Don’t let the foreign names fool you – there are stories with interesting premises like that of Ajji, a story about a grandmother who is out for justice, armed with a butcher knife, no less.
Midnight Mayhem
For horror and thriller buffs, there is the Midnight Mayhem section, a new section that is filled with the grim and manic thrills of horror, violence, and suspense – if that is your cup of tea.
We recommend Mayhem, which stars Steven Yeun from The Walking Dead.
Classics: Secret Spies Never Die!
If you are into anything old school, then the Classics: Secret Spies Never Die! section should be right up your alley.
This section is dedicated to heritage spy films from the 1950’s to 1980’s. The films are mostly from Asia, including Singapore’s very own Gerak Kilat (1966).
Offscreen
Offscreen there are Masterclasses, In Conversation series and Panel Discussions to look forward to.
These feature presentations and talks with festival guests, including Josh Hartnett and Shekhar Kapur who is known for his biopics including the two Elizabeth movies – perfect for fans and film students alike.
There is also the Silver Screen Awards, an annual event that celebrates excellence in Singapore and Asian cinema.
What we are really looking forward to are the 112 films that will be screened at this festival. If 112 films sound overwhelming to you, SGIFF has a search and filter function on their website which narrows down the selection according to genre, mood, and quick-picks.
For more information on SGIFF, click here.
