Singapore International Film Festival

Originally launched to give local audiences an opportunity to watch independent and non-commercial films, the festival is now recognized worldwide by film critics{{cn|date=October 2023}} for its focus on Asian filmmakers and promotion of Southeast Asian films.

The SGIFF was founded by Geoff Malone and Mill Valley Film Festival board member L. Leland Whitney in 1987.{{cite news |last=Lui |first=John |date=21 February 2022 |title=Geoff Malone, architect and co-founder of Singapore International Film Festival, dies after long illness |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/geoff-malone-architect-and-co-founder-of-singapore-international-film-festival-dies-after-long-illness |access-date=24 December 2022 |work=The Straits Times |location=Singapore}}

The 24th edition of SGIFF hekd in 2011 faced issues such as poor organisation and financial woes due to lack of sponsorships.{{Cite web |last=Loh |first=Genevieve Sarah |date=5 December 2013 |title=S’pore film festival to return after 2 years |url=https://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/movies/spore-film-festival-return-after-2-years |access-date=3 December 2024 |website=Today |language=en}} Founder Geoffrey Malone also resigned as the chairman of the Board of Directors with Shaw Soo Wei, former Executive Director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, taking over as the chairman.

The SGIFF went on a hiatus for the next two years and in 2013, Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim announced the 25th edition of the SGIFF will be held in 2014 in combination with the Asia TV Forum and Market, Screen Singapore and the Asian Television Awards in a two-week event.

For the 33rd edition in 2022, the film #LookAtMe, directed by Ken Kwek, was originally scheduled to be screened at the SGIFF but was refused classification by Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), which effectively barred the film from being screened in Singapore for "its potential to cause enmity and social division".{{Cite web |last=Chew |first=Hui Min |date=17 October 2022 |title=Local film #LookAtMe barred from screening in Singapore over potential to cause social division |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/film-lookatme-ken-kwek-religion-homosexuality-pastor-barred-screening-3011331 |access-date=17 October 2022 |website=CNA |language=en}} IMDA, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and Ministry of Home Affairs also stated that the pastor in the film engages "in an act prohibited by his professed religious faiths"; that the depictions of the pastor in the film are "suggestive of a real pastor in Singapore", and the allegations may be "perceived to be offensive, defamatory and contrary to the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act".{{Cite web |title=IMDA refuses classification for local film #LookAtMe for denigrating religious community |url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/imda-refuses-lookatme-film-classification-2021791 |access-date=17 October 2022 |website=TODAY |language=en}} However, even with the ban, SGIFF decided to include the film in its advertised line-up, though the film was marked as unavailable for screening.{{Cite news |last=Lui |first=John |date=26 October 2022 |title=SGIFF 2022 to open with Kazakh film, Ken Kwek's banned #LookAtMe still part of festival programme |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/sgiff-2022-to-open-with-kazakh-film-ken-kwek-s-banned-lookatme-still-part-of-festival-programme |access-date=28 October 2022 |website=The Straits Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Silvia |date=26 October 2022 |title=Singapore film festival stands by banned film '#LookAtMe' (exclusive) |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/singapore-film-festival-stands-by-banned-film-lookatme-exclusive/5175874.article |access-date=28 October 2022 |website=Screen |language=en}}

For the 35th edition in 2024, the SGIFF was managed by a new general manager, Jeremy Chua.{{Cite web |date=4 October 2024 |title=Singapore International Film Festival 2024 to open with Stranger Eyes, Rebecca Lim named first-ever ambassador |url=https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/singapore-international-film-festival-2024-411466 |access-date=2 December 2024 |website=CNA Lifestyle |language=en}} Local actress Rebecca Lim was named as SGIFF's first ambassador for the festival. Daniel Hui's film, Small Hours Of The Night, an official selection for the SGIFF was submitted for classification by IMDA for the festival but was refused classification by IMDA in November. The lack of classification for the film resulted it being unable to screen at the SGIFF.{{Cite web |title=Singapore film about censorship refused classification by IMDA, remains in SGIFF lineup |url=https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/imda-film-refused-classification-small-hours-night-singapore-film-fest-413136 |access-date=8 November 2024 |website=CNA Lifestyle |language=en}} SGIFF programme director Thong Kay Wee continued to support the film and list it as an official selection.

{{main|List of Singapore International Film Festival awards}}

The Silver Screen Awards Competition was introduced in 1991 to encourage advances in Asian film-making standards.{{Cite web |title=Singapore International Film Festival’s Silver Screen Award for Best Film (Singapore Short Film) |url=https://www.roots.gov.sg/Collection-Landing/listing/1165507 |access-date=22 December 2023 |website=www.roots.gov.sg}} Every year, a selection of Asian feature and short films take part in the competition. In 2014, the Southeast Asian Short Film category was introduced, replacing the Singapore Short Film category. The first Southeast Asian Film Lab was introduced in 2015.{{Cite web |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |date=15 July 2014 |title=Singapore Film Fest to Launch Southeast Asian Film Lab |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/singapore-film-fest-launch-southeast-718581/ |access-date=22 December 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Silver Screen Awards for Best Film}}

Category:Film festivals in Singapore

Category:Film festivals established in 1987

Category:1987 establishments in Singapore