The curtains have closed on the 35th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), marking a record-breaking year for the beloved celebration of Asian cinema. With ticket sales surging 10% higher than the previous edition, SGIFF once again solidified its position as a premier platform for storytelling and creativity.
The festival’s grand finale, the prestigious Silver Screen Awards, spotlighted exceptional talent across Asia. A total of 14 awards and 3 Special Mentions were presented, with Chiang Wei Liang’s Mongrel taking home Best Asian Feature Film for its raw portrayal of migrant workers in Taiwan. In the newly introduced Audience Choice Award, viewers selected Lou Ye’s COVID-themed docufiction, An Unfinished Film, as their favorite.
Thai director Thaweechok Phasom’s poetic Spirits of the Black Leaves clinched Best Southeast Asian Short Film, while Singaporean animator Calleen Koh captured hearts with My Wonderful Life, earning Best Singapore Short Film for her heartfelt portrayal of a burnt-out mother rediscovering herself.
Celebrating Asian Cinema’s Diversity
This year’s lineup showcased 105 films from 45 countries, with an impressive 80% hailing from Asia. The Asian Feature Film Competition highlighted bold visions from emerging directors, including Mongrel and Việt and Nam, a queer love story by Trương Minh Quý, who won Best Director.
Other standout winners include Li Rongkun, awarded Best Performance for his debut in The Great Phuket, and Dea Kulumbegashvili’s April, which received Best Screenplay for its poignant narrative of a doctor moonlighting as an abortionist.
Southeast Asian Short Films Shine Bright
The Southeast Asian Short Film Competition offered a vibrant showcase of 24 cinematic gems. Highlights include Đàm Quang Trung’s Elephants by the Roadside, which earned Best Director and the inaugural ARRI Award for Best Cinematography. Actor Sasa Cabalquinto won Best Performance for Vox Humana, and The Nature of Dogs by Pom Bunsermvicha took Best Screenplay.
Special Honors and Industry Support
Trailblazing Taiwanese actors Lee Kang-sheng and Yang Kuei-mei received the Screen Icon Award, celebrating decades of artistic collaboration. Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi was honored with the Cinema Honorary Award, attending the festival in person after the lifting of his travel ban.
SGIFF also introduced the ARRI Award for cinematography, while local sponsors like True Colour Media Group pledged support for budding Singaporean filmmakers.
Encore Screenings
Missed the winning films? Encore screenings will be held on December 14 at The Projector, featuring:
- My Wonderful Life and An Unfinished Film at 1 PM
- Spirits of the Black Leaves and Mongrel at 4 PM
Tickets are available now. Visit SGIFF’s website for more details.
