SGIFF 2026 to open with Korean film The Assassin(s), with Bollywood star Aamir Khan among guests

The SGIFF Film Fund is also returning after a hiatus, with two grants supporting Southeast Asian filmmakers.

SEA-SHORTS will support emerging short-film filmmakers, while SEA-DOC will focus on feature documentaries that have reached the later stages of editing or post-production. Applications for both run from Nov 5 to Dec 5.

For Chua, part of the festival experience remains what happens when filmmakers and audiences are in the same room.

“A film is finished the first time an audience meets it,” he told CNA Lifestyle. “The part I look forward to most is the live encounters: the forums, the dialogue sessions, the Q&As after screenings. That’s when a film stops being a private experience and acquires substance.”

“An international festival isn’t just about screening great films, it’s about creating a shared space where our audience grows alongside our programming, discovering new artistic perspectives together,” Thong added.

Early-bird presales for SGIFF begin at noon on Friday (Sep 25), with general ticket sales starting at noon on Sep 28. Singaporeans can also use SG Culture Pass credits for eligible local film programmes during general ticket sales. More information is available on the official SGIFF website.