The Singapore International Film Festival kicked off its 36th edition with international star Shu Qi’s directorial debut, making it the most successful opening in the event’s history.
The festival opened on November 26 at the Sands Theater in Marina Bay Sands with a performance of Hsu Qi’s semi-autobiographical drama Girl, set in 1980s Taipei. The director was joined by lead actor Bai Xiaoying and actor-singer 9m88, as well as festival ambassador Rebecca Lim and guest of honour, Singapore’s Minister of Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo.
Ticket sales soared 52% compared to the same period last year, with 33 screenings sold out to date. This is four times the number in 2024. The film festival is on track to achieve the highest box office success in its 36-year history.
Much of the buzz centered on Hong Kong film icon Tony Leung’s appearance at a special presentation of “Silent Friend.” Both that screening and his “In Conversation With Tony Leung” session sold out within 10 minutes of tickets going on sale, ranking them among the most popular tickets in SGIFF history.
Local works also attracted a lot of interest. Singapore films “The Old Man and His Car” and “Sandbox” sold out within a day. Japanese titles such as “Kokuho,” “Two Seasons: Two Strangers,” and “Bring Me Down to Portable Size” were among the fastest-selling foreign films. All titles related to Shu Qi, such as “Girl” and “Resurrection,” are sold out.
“The response this year has been truly overwhelming,” said SGIFF General Manager Jeremy Chua. “The energy we saw from our audiences underscores the value of the collective experience of cinema. This has been a challenging year for Singapore’s film industry, but what we are witnessing through SGIFF is proof that there is demand for cinema.”
The festival will run until December 7 and will screen more than 120 films from more than 45 countries, including more than 30 Singapore-made and co-produced films. The lineup focuses on stories of identity, resilience, and rediscovery.
This year’s In Conversation With series features Honorary Film Award-winning filmmaker Deepa Mehta. Oscar-winning actor Yoon Yoo-jung won the Screen Icon Award. and Chin Hung, a Singaporean actor based in Hollywood.
Marina Bay Sands continues its partnership with the festival, hosting the opening film and two “In Conversation With” sessions. Paul Town, chief operating officer of Marina Bay Sands, said the integrated resort’s venues provide the ideal environment to celebrate art and film.
Shu Qi, who has frequently collaborated with Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien, decided to make the film at his suggestion. Girl premiered in Venice and won the Best Director award at the Busan International Film Festival. The film follows 10-year-old Xiao Li in 1980s Taipei as she overcomes family dysfunction and develops a friendship with a precocious transfer student.
As an actor, Hsu Qi has appeared in more than 90 films, including three collaborations with Hou: “Assassin,” “Millennium Mambo,” and “Three Times.” She has won the Golden Horse Award twice and the Hong Kong Film Award three times.
The red carpet on the opening night attracted some of the biggest names in Singapore’s entertainment industry, including Chin Han, Tan Cheng Hua, Lim Kei Tong, Hong Hui Huang, Jack Neo, Chee You Woo, Yvonne Lim, Tai Ping Hui, Janet Oh, Lim Yu Ben, Irene Ang, Nathan Hartono and Benjamin Keng.
The Singapore International Film Festival is part of the Singapore Media Festival 2025, organized by the Infocomm Media Development Authority.
