- The Singapore International Film Festival returns for its 34th edition from 30 November – 10 December 2023, and kicks off with its Call for Entry for film submissions and Film Academy programmes until 6 August 2023.
- Opportunity to submit your feature-length film or short film for free for selection in the festival’s 2023 official programme. Early bird submissions end on 9 July 2023.
- Apply to the SGIFF Film Academy to receive mentorships by industry experts and the opportunity to network and participate in a collaborative learning environment with other regional practitioners.
SINGAPORE, 11 MAY 2023 – The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is excited to kickstart its 34th edition, which will run from the 30th November to 10th of December, with a call for entries for feature films from Asia, and short films from Southeast Asia, until the 6th of August. Applications for its Film Academy programmes, the Asian Producers Network, Southeast Asian Film Lab, and Youth Critics Programme are also open to industry professionals and aspiring film writers.
Screen your film alongside the region’s best
In 2022, SGIFF saw more than 100 film titles from 55 countries over 11 days of film screenings, alongside a slate of off-screen programmes that celebrated and showcased the best of independent cinema from the region.
“Now in its 34th edition, SGIFF continues to be a key arts event that showcases the best of global independent cinema to local audiences. Cinematic talent from Singapore, Southeast Asia and the wider Asian region is going from strength to strength and our two competition sections focus on emerging filmmakers from Asia, giving them recognition and an international platform for screenings, as well as a deeper dialogue with the audience and their industry peers. We are thrilled to continue to be able to bring the best of independent film to the silver screen, highlighting the power of strong, diverse cinematic storytelling that can transport, transform and inspire, and elevate Southeast Asian cinema to new heights,” says Ms. Emily J. Hoe, SCHIFF’s Executive Director.
Be inspired and learn at the heart of Southeast Asia
SGIFF Film Academy offers three key programmes each year; the Asian Producers Network, which invites emerging producers to share knowledge and ideas with each other, the Southeast Asian Film Lab, which provides a nurturing and collaborative space for mentorship to first-time feature-length filmmakers, and the Youth Critics Programme that encourages youth to respond to the film programme and develop skills in film criticism. The SGIFF Film Academy is the region’s first holistic training programme that supports Asian and Southeast Asian film talents and film appreciation among audiences to collectively develop the regional film scene.
Previous mentors at SGIFF Film Academy include film directors Edwin (Indonesia), Vimutkthi Jayasundara (Sri Lanka), film producer Soros Sukhum (Thailand), film critic and curator Maggie Lee (Hong Kong/ Japan), and local playwright, poet and writer Alfian Sa’at (Singapore). Alumni from the Southeast Asian Film Lab, including Makbul Mubarak (Indonesia), Martika Ramirez Escobar (Philippines), and Sorayos Prapapan (Thailand), have seen their work progress to other markets and festivals like Cannes Film Festival, Busan’s Asian Project Market, Cannes’ L’Atelier, Locarno’s Open Doors, SEAFIC and TorinoFilmLab.
Submissions for film entries and programme applications are open from now till 6 August 2023 at https://sgiff.com/call-for-entry. For film entries, early bird submissions received by 9 July 2023 will enjoy a submission fee waiver. Thereafter, a submission fee of USD$25 will be applicable from 10 July to 6 August 2023.
