The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is expanding its offerings for audiences of different ages with Junior Explorers, a programme introducing children to cinema through stories about family, belonging and self-expression, and Parallax, a free public programme exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive technologies are shaping the future of filmmaking.
Supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the 37th edition of SGIFF invites audiences to discover new perspectives through films, interactive activities and discussions about emerging technologies in the film industry.
Junior Explorers features three films that follow young protagonists as they navigate unfamiliar situations, form unexpected connections and learn more about themselves and the people around them. Designed as an introduction to cinema for children, the programme includes relaxed, sensory friendly screenings and post screening activities at selected sessions, allowing families to engage with the stories beyond the screen.
Opening the programme is Brave Cat, a Chilean animated adventure directed by Gabriel Osorio Vargas. The film follows a young cat searching for its mother and will make its Southeast Asian premiere at SGIFF.
Another Southeast Asian premiere is Julián, an animated fantasy directed by Louise Bagnall and set in New York City. The story explores a child’s discovery of self-expression and the confidence to embrace individuality.
Completing the selection is The Invisibles, a Japanese live action family adventure directed by Ryo Takebayashi. The film follows a father and his three daughters as they venture beyond their secluded island home.
Both Brave Cat and Julián will screen twice during the festival. Relaxed screenings of both films, accompanied by post screening activities for children aged five and above, will take place on 25 October at the National Museum of Singapore’s Gallery Theatre. The films will return on 1 November at Golden Village Bugis+.
The Invisibles will screen on 31 October at Golden Village Bugis+ for audiences aged 10 and above.
The activities accompanying selected screenings encourage children to express themselves through creativity and play. After watching Brave Cat, children can decorate paper planes as a way of expressing frustration before launching them together in a symbolic gesture of letting go.
Following Julián, children and their parents can explore what makes each person unique through personal storytelling and self-decoration. Participants will then translate their stories into gestures before coming together for a group dance.
Through these experiences, Junior Explorers aims to give families opportunities to discuss the films’ themes, from perseverance and self-expression to the complexities of family relationships.
For audiences interested in the intersection of cinema and technology, Parallax offers a different perspective on how films, series and social media entertainment are created and experienced.
The free public programme will take place at Esplanade and feature technical demonstrations, artist talks and discussions examining filmmaking, AI and immersive technology. Topics include authorship, ethics and the role of technology in human creativity.
Visitors can attend free virtual reality (VR) demonstrations presented by South Korea’s Ubac Studio and established French VR companies. Panel discussions will also feature technologists and innovation leaders from companies including Amazon MGM Studios, Adobe and Studio Realive, part of SM Entertainment Group.
Together, Junior Explorers and Parallax reflect SGIFF’s efforts to engage audiences through different forms of cinematic discovery, from helping children develop an appreciation for storytelling to examining the technologies influencing the future of the medium.
Tickets for the 37th Singapore International Film Festival are now on sale.
