The 27th edition of Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is set to serve up an interesting feast for the senses with a carefully curated selection of films and public programmes to tell the region’s stories and share the art of filmmaking.
As the leading international film platform in Southeast Asia, SGIFF, which is part of the annual Singapore Media Festival (SMF), brings together a rich mix of independent filmmaking talent to showcase the region’s stories through film, throughout Asia and beyond.
SGIFF also allows established and emerging filmmakers and industry players to interact and exchange ideas, ultimately contributing to the growth of the region’s cinema. This year’s SGIFF will present 161 feature and short films from 52 countries, across 13 sections. There will also be 16 world premieres, 9 international premieres and 18 Asian premieres across the various sections of the festival.
The line-up includes the Asian premiere of SGIFF’s opening film at Marina Bay Sands, Interchange (2016) – a noir fantasy thriller by one of Malaysia’s most celebrated filmmakers Dain Iskandar Said. Other noteworthy Malaysian works as part of the line-up comprise Malaysian filmmaker Bradley Liew’s Singing in Graveyards (2016),Voyage to Terangganu (2016) by one of the pioneering filmmakers of the Malaysian new wave, Amir Muhammad and Badrul Hisham Ismail.
Also scheduled to screen are Absent Without Leave (2016) by Malaysian filmmaker Lau Kek-Huat; and Art Through Our Eyes (2016), an omnibus that gathers five Southeast Asian filmmakers including Malaysia’s Ho Yuhang.
Ho Yuhang will also feature his newest film Mrs K (2016) as a Special Presentation Film after its recent world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival 2016 with a sold-out reception.
Starring iconic Hong Kong martial arts actress Kara Wai as the titular character, Hong Kong veteran actor Simon Yam, Malaysian actor Faizal Hussein and Taiwanese rocker Wu Bai, the Malaysia-Hong Kong co-production follows a housewife, whose ordinary life is shaken up when former enemies reappear from her past, and she has to give everything she has to protect her husband and daughter.
Mrs K sees both Ho and Wai collaborating for the second time, after the award-winning At the End of Daybreak (2009), which garnered seven awards for Wai, including Best Supporting Actress at the 46th Golden Horse Awards. Ho, Wai and Wu will be in attendance for the Singapore premiere on 27 November 2016 at the Capitol Theatre.
