The 36th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) returns from 26 November to 7 December 2025, bringing a powerful line-up of over 120 films from more than 45 countries. As part of the Singapore Media Festival 2025 hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), this year’s SGIFF shines a spotlight on female-driven stories, restored classics, and daring contemporary voices that explore identity, resilience, and self-discovery.
Women at the Forefront of Cinema
For the first time, SGIFF will honour a female recipient of the Cinema Honorary Award, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Deepa Mehta, and present the Screen Icon Award to its first South Korean honouree, Oscar-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung. Both women embody SGIFF’s 2025 theme of fearless storytelling and creative excellence.
The festival opens on 26 November with “Girl”, the directorial debut of international star Shu Qi, a poetic coming-of-age tale set in 1980s Taipei. Shu Qi, along with lead actor Bai Xiao-Ying and actor-singer 9m88, will attend the red-carpet screening, one of the festival’s most anticipated moments. Shu Qi will also join Rebecca Lim for an “In Conversation” session on 27 November.
Spotlight on Singapore’s Creative Voices
Local cinema takes centre stage with over 30 feature and short films from Singaporean filmmakers, double the number of local shorts from last year. Featured in the Southeast Asian Short Film Competition and Singapore Panorama, these works, such as Sandbox, At Home with Work, and Cendol, offer a vivid look at the nation’s evolving cultural and social landscape.
Celebrating Global Perspectives
Renowned Argentinian filmmaker Lucrecia Martel leads the Asian Feature Film Competition jury, which now welcomes filmmakers at all career stages. Highlights include A Useful Ghost (Thailand), Always (China), Amoeba (Singapore), and Cactus Pears (India), showcasing the diversity and dynamism of Asian cinema.
Honouring Legends of the Screen
Deepa Mehta in Focus, part of the festival’s Landmark section, will feature her iconic Elements trilogy Fire, Earth, and Water as well as Funny Boy (2020). Mehta will also join audiences for an “In Conversation” session on 5 December at the National Gallery Singapore.
Meanwhile, the Screen Icon Award will celebrate Youn Yuh-jung, whose trailblazing performances from Woman of Fire (1971) to Minari (2020) have redefined Asian cinema. Audiences can look forward to an exclusive dialogue session with Youn on 6 December, offering insights into her remarkable five-decade career.
Rediscovering Female Pioneers and Genre Cinema
This year’s female-driven Landmark section revisits restored classics by Asia’s first women directors, including The Arch (1968) by T’ang Shushuen, Gehenu Lamai (1978) by Sumitra Peries, and The Razor’s Edge (1985) by Jocelyne Saab.
The Foreground section celebrates popular cinema and imagination, headlined by two red-carpet events: This City Is A Battlefield (Perang Kota) on 5 December, featuring director Mouly Surya and cast members, and Arco, a hand-drawn French animated feature, on 27 November, co-presented with the vOilah! French Film Festival.
Expanding Access to Cinema
SGIFF is working with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth to include local film programmes under the SG Culture Pass, making the arts more accessible to all Singaporeans. The festival’s Industry Days also return this year, providing networking and learning opportunities for regional film professionals.
Ticket Details
- Early Bird Presales: From 12PM, 27 October 2025
- Public Sales: From 12PM, 31 October 2025
