2 Nov – The 27th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is happening this month, with more than a hundred movies lined up for this year's screening. A total of 161 features and short films will be screened at SGIFF, with 16 world premieres, 9 international premieres and 18 Asian premieres. The Asian premieres include Malaysian directors Dain Iskandar Said's "Interchange", which will make its debut first at SGIFF before opening in Malaysian cinemas next month, and Ho Yuhang's "Mrs K", the Malaysia-Hong Kong co-production starring Hong Kong martial arts actress Kara Wai, Malaysian actor Faizal Hussein and Taiwanese rocker Wu Bai. The two aforementioned movies are part of the six Malaysian titles that will be screened at the film festival, the other four being Bradley Liew's "Singing in Graveyards", Amir Muhammad and Badrul Hisham Ismails' "Voyage to Terengganu", Lau Kek-Huat's "Absent Without Leave", and the omnibus "Art Through Our Eyes" from five Southeast Asian filmmakers including Ho Yuhang. Meanwhile, Singapore will shine the spotlight on three of its local filmmakers. K. Rajagopal's first feature film, "A Yellow Bird", will be competing in the Asian Feature Film Competition at the SGIFF Silver Screen Awards.
Gladys Ng, winner of SGIFF Silver Screen Awards' Best Singapore Short Film 2015, will have the world premiere of "The Pursuit of A Happy Human Life", her SGIFF commissioned short film, on 23 November. A special section called "For Nizam: A Film Retrospective" will be a tribute to the late Abdul Nizam to celebrate his works and contribution to the industry. "They are undeniably talented storytellers and we respect their fierce commitment to engaging aspects of Singapore we don't often see in film and TV," said Yuni Hadi, SGIFF Executive Director, in a statement. Other highlights of SGIFF 2016 include screenings of Fruit Chan's movies as a tribute to the Hong Kong filmmaker, who is also the recipient of this year's Honorary Award which will be presented at the Silver Screen Awards; talks from Singapore's own Jack Neo, Boo Junfeng and Sanif Olek; and more. SGIFF, founded in 1987 by Geoffrey Malone and L. Leland Whitney, is the largest and longest-running film event in the country and this year will bring 12 days of film screenings, masterclasses, talks, and community gatherings to moviegoers. The 27th Singapore International Film Festival is taking place from 23 November until 4 December 2016.