Main Image Credit: Spirituality & Practice
Most visitors reading this article will have already caught Crazy Rich Asians while the local cinema line-ups are looking pretty shabby thank goodness for a bit of hollywood glitz...
But not to despair, an adventurous crop of film festivals are about to expode onto Singapore screens across the Island. You will get a good selection this coming few months with indies, award-winning documentaries, art house films and more. Enjoy what's on offer and be adventorous, Singapore has plenty to offer over the coming months.
CANA Film Festival until September 30 2018
The third edition of the CANA Film Festival promises a line-up of documentaries and independent feature films sure to impress, regardless of whether or not you can appreciate the festivals focus on Catholic social teachings.
On Saturday 8 September you can experience a series of Singaporean shorts exploring the notion of home - I Want To Go Home, A Day’s Reunion and Shelter, or alternatively catch a heartwarming documentary on the dangerous rescue of elephants in Thailand, Love and Bananas.
On Sunday 9 September 2018 secure your ticket for a documentary fthat follows a trauma counsellor on the remote outpost, Christmas Island, Island of the Hungry Ghosts. Come Saturday 15 September Summer in the Forest will be screened, a tale of spirit and hope about four people with intellectual disabilities who create a commune at the brink of a Parisian forest.
Then, closing the festival is a film on everyone's list, Pope Francis: A Man of His Word (Thursday 13 September and Saturday 22 September).
MINDS Film Festival September 15 until October 7 2018
Marathon
For an international film showcase with a message, make a date with the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) Film Festival, held in partnership with the Singapore Film Society.
Returning for its third edition, the festival aims to raise awareness for persons with intellectual disability (PWIDs), and will screen six films from South Korea, Ireland, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore.
A first for the festival, two original short films commissioned by MINDS and produced by Royston Tan’s Chuan Pictures will have their premiere, as shorts screened before the start of the six films, Rehearsal showcases the talented Taiko drummers from MINDS, while Layang-Layang Terbang Melayang (which translates to ‘The Kite Soars High’) spotlights a caregiver’s demise.
The six full-length features include Swim Team, a documentary chronicling the rise of a competitive swim team of teenagers on the autism spectrum; Korean film Marathon on an autistic youth training to become a marathon runner; comedy drama Sanctuary that probes at love between two PWIDs; and Singaporean film The Wayang Kids, which tackles the topic via primary school kids preparing for a Chinese opera performance.
Argentine Film Festival September 20-23 2018
Here we have another cool film festival screening at The Projector. This time, it’s the inaugural Argentine Film Festival, with six acclaimed films from Argentina covering animation to comedy.
Opening the festival is The German Doctor Wakolda on Thursday 20 September, on the true story of Nazi war criminal Joseph Mengele as he found refuge with a Patagonian family under a secret identity.
All About Asado Saturday 22 September 2018 spotlights the country’s tradition of barbecue which is quite the meaty affair; animated adventure Underdogs Sunday 23 September about the players of a soccer foosball team coming to life; and Wild Tales also screening on Sunday 23 September, an anthology of six dark but hilarious, apocalyptic narratives of revenge.
Malaysian Film Festival September 28-30 2018
They may be across the Causeway, but wow can they make movies. The Arts House celebrates the very best of Malaysian cinema in one filmed up weekend.
Curated by Malaysian filmmaker Hassan Muthalib, or the Father of Malaysian Animation, this second edition of the festival features six films spanning the genres of action, comedy, horror and drama.
For something light, there’s comedy film Nasi Lemak 2.0 Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 September 2018 that dives into the symbolism of our shared national dish; or Haunted Hotel Sunday 30 September 2018 if you’re looking to extend the Hungry Ghost Month mood.
Women in Film October 10-13 2018
Objectifs’ annual Women in Film and Photography showcase returns for its fourth year, with the Singapore premieres of four international feature films and a free short film programme.
While last year’s edition focused on works exploring domesticity and family, this year’s will take on the theme of collective power, a timely focus after movements like #MeToo and #TimesUp of the past year.
There’s the documentary On Her Shoulders, which follows survivor of the 2014 Yazidi genocide Nadia Murad as she’s forced to become a public face for survivors on a global stage.
Waru presents eight Maori female perspectives on the complexity of child abuse; coming-of-age film Ava spotlights personal, emotional growth in the conservative and patriarchal society of Tehran.
Finally, A Better Man is a fresh, real-life look at abuse, through director Attiya Khan’s true story of domestic violence, years later when she meets up with the man she once fled from. A series of shorts will also be screened on loop for free at the Lower Gallery.
B.Y.O Cinema (Through Nov 10)
Homerun
The Singapore Film Commission is celebrating its 20th anniversary with five free pop-up film screenings from now till November.
All uniquely Singaporean, the five films cover the themes Laugh, Dream Scream, Heart, and Makan.
The first has been screened, getai comedy drama 881 (Sep 1), Jack Neo classic Homerun Saturday 22 September, Malaysian-Singaporean horror flick 23:59 Saturday October 13 about spooks in the army, the award-winning family drama Ilo Ilo Saturday 20 October 2018, and Eric Khoo’s food porn fantasia Ramen Teh on Saturday 10 November 2018.
The films will be screened at locations including Fort Canning Park and Botanic Gardens, where there’ll also be free popcorn and the occasional food truck.
Pack a picnic rug and lap up the Singapore evening breeze outdoors at these film screenings.
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Image courtesy Nutmeg & Clove Singapore FaceBook page
