Lien Foundation and Dementia Singapore Premiere “A Singapore Dementia Story”, an Anthology of Films Exploring Love, Loss and Hope

A Singapore Dementia Story, an anthology of five short films by local filmmakers, premiered at a private screening at Temasek Shophouse on 22 January 2026. Proudly presented by Lien Foundation and Dementia Singapore, the film collection offers a nuanced and deeply human portrayal of life with dementia, shifting the narrative beyond tragedy to include humour, romance, resilience and empathy.

Among the highlights is What Day Is It?, the directorial debut of local actor Andie Chen. Known for his on-screen work, Chen said many films about dementia tend to veer towards melodrama or overwhelming sadness. His aim was to tell a story rooted in love and hope, framed as a romantic comedy. Written by his wife, actress and host Kate Pang, the short film explores how a couple navigates the early signs of dementia with tenderness, patience and moments of unexpected humour.

Chen’s film is one of five that make up A Singapore Dementia Story, a project that spotlights the perception-bending realities of living with dementia, the unseen emotional and physical labour of caregiving, and the need to challenge prevailing misconceptions surrounding the condition.

Public Screenings Open to the Community

Following its private premiere, A Singapore Dementia Story will be screened for the public on Saturday, 31 January 2026, at Tembusu Canopy on Level 3 of Temasek Shophouse. Two complimentary screenings will be held at 2.30pm and 5.30pm. Interested viewers can register for free tickets when registration opens on 26 January 2026.

The Five Short Films of “A Singapore Dementia Story”

Curated in a deliberate sequence, the anthology presents dementia through a range of genres and perspectives:

Another Go, directed by Gavin Lim, is an uplifting drama inspired by a real-life case study of a couple living with early-onset dementia. The film follows Leon and Georgia Lim as they navigate memory loss together, redefining love as a shared struggle against forgetting. Veteran actress Tan Kheng Hua stars alongside her daughter Lim Shi-An, marking their first on-screen collaboration. The film focuses on everyday resilience and the quiet accumulation of truthful moments rather than a single dramatic turning point.

Really?, directed by Jenny Ng, takes a comedic yet poignant approach. It tells the story of a seemingly devoted son who gives up his job to care for his mother with dementia—or so it appears. Drawing from the production crew’s personal caregiving experiences, the film balances humour with emotional authenticity.

Two Ways to Forget, directed by Raymus Chang, is an animated comedic drama that employs AI-generated visuals, making it the first AI short film of its length. The story contrasts two men facing dementia differently: a high-powered corporate lawyer who hides his struggles, and a mathematics teacher who confronts his decline with optimism. Voice performances by Bernard Lim and Suhaimi Yusof add emotional nuance to this novel and visually vibrant exploration of identity and denial.

The Last Thread, directed by Vikneshwaran Silva, shifts into the thriller genre. The film follows Rajan, a proud retired soldier whose dementia unravels into a haunting confrontation with guilt, grief and a family memory too painful to forget. Award-winning veteran actor A. Panneeirchelvam delivers a powerful performance that places audiences inside the disoriented mind of someone living with dementia, fostering empathy and compassion.

What Day Is It?, directed by Andie Chen, tells the heartwarming story of John and Sophia, a seemingly ordinary Singaporean couple enjoying life together, except John is becoming more forgetful by the day. As Sophia gently guides him through each day, sometimes with patience and sometimes with cheeky, pull-your-pants-down humour, the film explores love, acceptance and joy in the simplest moments. It also examines the fine line between normal fatigue and forgetfulness, and when these signs may signal something more serious.

Grounded in Real Experiences

The anthology is curated and produced by veteran Singaporean film producer Daniel Yun. Drawing from extensive research, real-life experiences and conversations with caregivers and persons living with dementia, many of whom are clients of Dementia Singapore, the films reflect an authentic and compassionate understanding of the condition. By spanning genres such as comedy, romance, drama and thriller, A Singapore Dementia Story aims to spark meaningful conversations about dementia and what it means to build a truly dementia-inclusive society.

Lien Foundation’s Ongoing Commitment to Dementia Care

A Singapore Dementia Story builds on years of collaboration between Lien Foundation and Dementia Singapore to improve the quality of life for persons living with dementia and their caregivers. From 2016 to 2018, the organisations partnered with Khoo Teck Puat Hospital to launch the “Forget Us Not” (FUN) initiative, which focused on building supportive communities that enable persons with dementia to remain active and engaged for as long as possible.

The FUN initiative included a range of entertainment-based productions across theatre, film and even getai performances, and led to the establishment of Singapore’s first dementia-friendly estate in Yishun in 2016, followed by Bishan in 2017.

In 2019, both organisations introduced the Post Diagnostic Support (PDS) programme, designed to equip newly diagnosed individuals and their caregivers with timely information, care connections and personalised care plans. The programme sought to ease the confusion and helplessness often experienced after a dementia diagnosis.

Looking ahead, Lien Foundation and Dementia Singapore are set to launch an enhanced programme, PDS+ (Post Diagnostic Support Plus), in the second quarter of 2026. The updated initiative will strengthen support for Singapore’s growing population of persons living with dementia by integrating palliative care into existing dementia services.