Award-winning Singapore filmmaker Anthony Chen, versatile actress Yeo Yann Yann, veteran theatre virtuoso Yang Shi Bin, and rising star Koh Jia Ler took to the red carpet at Capitol Theatre for the opening of the 30th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), to present the highly anticipated drama “Wet Season” (2019). They were joined by local celebrities Andie Chen, Benjamin Kheng, Constance Lau, Felicia Chin, Kate Pang, Chen Tian Wen and Joanna Dong. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat graced the occasion as Guest of Honour.
At the opening, Yeo Yann Yann also received the ‘Inspiring Woman in Film Award', Presented by Swarovski, for her eminent career across the mediums of film, television and theatre. She has already received the Fei Mu Best Actress prize at the 3rd Pingyao International Film Festival for her role in Wet Season.
Set during the monsoon season amidst storm clouds, uncertainties and the warm promise of spring, “Wet Season” contrasts the desires of a woman with that of an adolescent in this stunning bittersweet dual-character study. The scenes sing and rhyme against the diegetic soundscape, where viewers bear witness to the raw and fluttering friendship between a secondary school teacher and her student. The film is Anthony Chen's sophomore directorial feature, a follow-up to his Camera d'Or winning “Ilo Ilo“(2013).
The film will represent Singapore at the 56th Golden Horse Awards on 23 November with six nominations including Best Director, Best Narrative Feature, and Best Original Screenplay. Yeo Yann Yann is also nominated for Best Leading Actress while fellow actors Koh Jia Ler and Yang Shi Bin will be competing in the Best Supporting Actor category.
A leading international film festival in Southeast Asia and a paragon of Singapore's arts and cultural scene, the 30th SGIFF continues to be a discovery ground and champion of independent cinema in the region. Running from 21 November to 1 December 2019, SGIFF will be hosted across multiple Festival venues, including Capitol Theatre, National Museum of Singapore, National Gallery Singapore, Oldham Theatre, The Projector, Filmgarde Bugis+, Golden Village Grand and Objectifs Centre for Photography & Filmmaking.
SGIFF is an event of the Singapore Media Festival (SMF), hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA). SGIFF 2019's Official Sponsors include Official Red Carpet Venue Capitol Theatre; Official Automobile BMW; Official Hotel Shangri-La Hotel Singapore and Official Airline Singapore Airlines.
