‘We Are All Strangers’ Makes History as First Singaporean Film to Compete for Berlin’s Golden Bear

Singapore cinema has reached a historic milestone as We Are All Strangers, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Anthony Chen, becomes the first Singaporean film ever selected for the main competition at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film will vie for the festival’s top honour, the Golden Bear, and will make its world premiere at the Berlinale, which runs from 12 to 22 February 2026.

The Berlin International Film Festival’s main competition is its most prestigious section and has previously crowned globally celebrated films such as Ang Lee’s The Wedding Banquet and Sense and Sensibility, Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, Zhang Yimou’s Red Sorghum, Terence Malick’s The Thin Red Line and Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia. Out of 22 films selected for this year’s competition, We Are All Strangers is one of only two Asian titles, alongside Japanese animated feature A New Dawn by Yoshitoshi Shinomiya.

A Culmination of Anthony Chen’s ‘Growing Up’ Trilogy

Thirteen years after winning the Caméra d’Or at Cannes with Ilo Ilo, Anthony Chen returns to the international spotlight with the long-awaited final chapter of his Singapore ‘Growing Up’ trilogy. We Are All Strangers follows the critically acclaimed Ilo Ilo (2013) and Wet Season (2019), bringing Chen’s exploration of family, belonging and emotional intimacy to a powerful close.

Set over three years in contemporary Singapore, the film traces the lives of a family as they navigate love, loss and responsibility, while learning to live with the imperfect bonds between those we are born to and those we choose. Building on the themes of surrogate families and unconventional relationships that defined the earlier films, Chen deepens his inquiry into human connection with what has been described as an epic yet intimate narrative.

The first two films in the trilogy collectively garnered more than 50 international awards, including 12 Golden Horse Award nominations and five Golden Horse wins, helping to usher Singapore cinema onto the global stage.

Cast, Production and Release Plans

We Are All Strangers stars Chen’s frequent collaborators Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler in the lead roles, with Andi Lim and Regene Lim completing the principal cast. All four actors are set to attend the film’s world premiere in Berlin alongside the director.

Written and directed by Anthony Chen, the film is produced by his production company Giraffe Pictures, with Paradise City Sales handling world sales. The film is slated for release in Singapore and multiple international territories in 2026.

In addition to We Are All Strangers, Giraffe Pictures also has a co-produced title at this year’s Berlinale. Indonesian director Edwin’s Sleep No More will have its world premiere in the Berlinale Special Midnight section, further underscoring the company’s growing presence on the international film festival circuit.

Stills from ‘We Are All Strangers’ film (Credit: Giraffe Pictures)