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, SGIFF'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.
2023 SGIFF Film Submissions and Film Academy Programmes
34TH SGIFF CALL FOR ENTRY: FEATURE FILM & SHORT FILM SUBMISSIONS
Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) welcomes Asian and Southeast Asian films to be part of its Official Selection and Competition section. The Festival will only consider films that are at least a Singapore premiere, have not been broadcast on TV nor made available on the Internet, or screened publicly in Singapore in any way prior to the Festival. In addition, films must not have premiered earlier than 1 November 2022.
Only Southeast Asian short films, Asian feature-length and mid-length films may be submitted for Festival consideration.
Films in competition will be previewed by an international jury and screened to the public throughout the Festival period, which culminates in the Silver Screen Awards ceremony. First introduced in 1991, the Silver Screen Awards was the first international competition with a specific Asian film category; thus charting the rise of Asian Cinema and recognising the talents of new and upcoming filmmakers, many of whom have become some of the most prominent filmmakers of our time.
All entries must be submitted by 6 August 2023, 6pm (GMT +8).
Early bird submissions from 11 May – 9 July 2023 will enjoy a submission fee waiver.
All submissions from 10 July to 6 August 2023 will have to pay a submission fee of USD$25.
For more information on the film submission, please visit: https://sgiff.com/call-for-entry-2023
SOUTHEAST ASIAN FILM LAB
The Southeast Asian Film Lab provides a nurturing and collaborative space for Southeast Asian filmmakers who are embarking on their first feature-length film project. During the Film Lab, participants will receive personal feedback from three mentors and hear from fellow filmmakers as they share their experiences and insight. The programme will end with the filmmakers pitching to a panel of industry experts. Two participants will be awarded the Most Promising Project and Fellowship Prize at the Silver Screen Awards.
Projects that have emerged from the Southeast Asian Film Lab have also thrived in other prestigious workshops and markets such as Busan's Asian Project Market, Cannes' L'Atelier, Locarno's Open Doors, and TorinoFilmLab.
Previous Southeast Asian Film Lab Mentors include Soros SUKHUM (Thailand), Maggie LEE (Hong Kong, Japan), Vimukthi JAYASUNDARA (Sri Lanka), Terence CHANG (Hong Kong, USA), Anurag KASHYAP (India), Philip LEE (Hong Kong, USA), Yongyoot THONGKONGTOON (Thailand), Michel REIHAC (France), Shozo ICHIYAMA (Japan) and EDWIN (Indonesia).
All applications must be submitted by 6 August 2023, 6pm (GMT+8).
The Southeast Asian Film Lab is part of SGIFF Film Academy.
For more information on the Southeast Asian Film Lab, please visit: https://sgiff.com/southeast-asian-film-lab/
ASIAN PRODUCERS NETWORK
A platform to deepen dialogue and discover opportunities for collaboration, the Asian Producers Network invites emerging producers from the region to share their wealth of knowledge and ideas with one another.
The week-long programme comprises closed-door roundtable discussions, masterclasses, case studies and individual meetings. Participants will address a range of pertinent topics relating to project development, content production in the region as well as support within the international film festival circuit and from funding bodies.
Previous years' guest instructors include Pascal DIOT from Venice Production Bridge, Eddie BERTOZZI from Locarno Film Festival, Elise JALLADEAU from Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Thomas ROSSO from Cannes Critics Week, Raymond PHATHANAVIRANGOON from SEAFIC, Jacob WONG from Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum, Sophie BOURDON from Locarno Open Doors, Lord David PUTTNAM (British Film Producer), IMDA and Film Development Council of the Philippines.
All applications must be submitted by 6 August 2023, 6pm (GMT+8).
The Asian Producer's Network is part of SGIFF Film Academy.
For more information on the Asian Producer's Network, please visit: https://sgiff.com/asian-producers-network/
YOUTH CRITICS PROGRAMME
Open to youths in Singapore, the Youth Critics Programme provides mentorship and encourages critical writing in response to the festival programme. It aims to nurture a new generation of film writers who can contribute to Asian and Southeast Asian film discourse and learn from industry experts on what it means to think and write about cinema.
In an exciting departure from past editions, participants will collectively produce a post-festival publication, Atlas, that will be released online. One of the participants will receive the Youth Critic Award for their originality of writing and for contributing to cinematic discussions in the region.
Previous years' mentors include film researcher and programmer Phoebe PUA (Singapore), film critic Kong RITHDEE (Thailand), film academic Dr. Victor FAN (UK), film academic and curator Dr. May Adadol INGAWANI (Thailand), filmmaker and critic Kevin B. LEE (Germany), film critic Chris FUJIWARA (Japan) and playwright, poet and writer Alfian SA'AT (Singapore).
All applications must be submitted by 6 August 2023, 6pm (GMT+8).
The Youth Critics Programme is part of SGIFF Film Academy.
For more information on the Youth Critics Programme, please visit: https://sgiff.com/youth-critics-programme/
About the SGIFF Film Academy
The SGIFF Film Academy is the region's first holistic training initiative to support Southeast Asian and Asian film talents and nurture film appreciation among audiences. A launchpad for mentorship, exchange of ideas and strengthening film literacy, the developmental programmes aim to enhance the capabilities of the regional film scene collectively.
About the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF)
Founded in 1987, the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is the largest and longest-running film event in Singapore. It has become an iconic event in the local arts calendar that is widely attended by international film critics; and is known for its dynamic programming and focus on ground-breaking Asian cinema for Singapore and the region. Committed to nurturing and championing local and regional talent, its competition component, the Silver Screen Awards, brings together emerging filmmakers from Asia and Southeast Asia while paying tribute to acclaimed cinema legends.
With its mentorship programmes, masterclasses and dialogues with attending filmmakers, the Festival also serves as a catalyst for igniting public interest, artistic dialogue, and culture exchanges in the art of filming. The SGIFF is organised by the Singapore International Film Festival Ltd, a non-profit organisation with Institution of a Public Character (IPC) status.
The 34th edition of SGIFF will return from 30 Nov – 10 Dec 2023.
For more information, please visit: https://www.sgiff.com
