One of the most popular events at the 34th Singapore International Film Festival (Sgiff) was a panorama event where six of the country’s leading indie film lights shared a panel to discuss opportunities and challenges.
Opportunities are plentiful, with the festival world embracing Singaporean films and filmmakers warmly. Hong Kong-based Anthony Chen has had a stellar year with his directorial efforts “Drift” and “The Breaking Ice” which premiered at Sundance and Cannes, respectively. The latter was selected as Singapore’s entry to the 2024 Oscars.
Among Chen’s fellow panelists, Jow Zhi Wei’s “Tomorrow is a Long Time” premiered at the Berlinale this year; Nicole Midori Woodford’s “Last Shadow at First Light” at San Sebastian; and Nelson Yeo’s “Dreaming & Dying” won two major awards at Locarno.
Also on the panel were Kelvin Tong and Chai Yee Wei whose “A Year of No Significance” and “Wonderland,” respectively,...
Opportunities are plentiful, with the festival world embracing Singaporean films and filmmakers warmly. Hong Kong-based Anthony Chen has had a stellar year with his directorial efforts “Drift” and “The Breaking Ice” which premiered at Sundance and Cannes, respectively. The latter was selected as Singapore’s entry to the 2024 Oscars.
Among Chen’s fellow panelists, Jow Zhi Wei’s “Tomorrow is a Long Time” premiered at the Berlinale this year; Nicole Midori Woodford’s “Last Shadow at First Light” at San Sebastian; and Nelson Yeo’s “Dreaming & Dying” won two major awards at Locarno.
Also on the panel were Kelvin Tong and Chai Yee Wei whose “A Year of No Significance” and “Wonderland,” respectively,...
- 12/10/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Starring Cynthia Erivo and Alia Shawkat, the upcoming indie drama, “Drift,” a film by filmmaker Anthony Chen (“Ilo Ilo“), from the producers of “Call Me By Your Name” and “Nomadland” opens in early 2024. Two-time Academy Award nominee Erivo stars as Jacqueline, a woman who escapes her war-torn country to a Greek island. There, she meets an unmoored tour guide and the two become close as they each find hope in the other.
Continue reading ‘Drift’ Trailer: Cynthia Erivo’s Acclaimed Sundance Film Opens In February 2024 at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Drift’ Trailer: Cynthia Erivo’s Acclaimed Sundance Film Opens In February 2024 at The Playlist.
- 10/25/2023
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
On the final weekend of a bustling 18-day event, the in-person edition of this year’s Melbourne Film Festival has drawn to a close with an awards ceremony that saw a whopping $300,000 Aud in prize money handed out across six categories. The biggest individual award of $140,000 Aud was presented to the winner of the fest’s international Bright Horizons competition: “Banel & Adama,” an arresting debut feature by Franco-Senegalese filmmaker Ramata-Toulaye Sy.
It’s a notable coup for a small-scale rural love story that turned heads — but won no prizes — when it premiered in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival in May, and is still seeking distribution in the U.S. and other major territories. Reviewing the film out of Cannes, Variety critic Jessica Kiang commended the “subtly seductive power” of a “striking debut [that] revolves with graceful poetry around the inner experiences of a curious, unknowable woman.”
Its win came...
It’s a notable coup for a small-scale rural love story that turned heads — but won no prizes — when it premiered in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival in May, and is still seeking distribution in the U.S. and other major territories. Reviewing the film out of Cannes, Variety critic Jessica Kiang commended the “subtly seductive power” of a “striking debut [that] revolves with graceful poetry around the inner experiences of a curious, unknowable woman.”
Its win came...
- 8/19/2023
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
Strand Releasing has snatched up North American distribution rights to Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen’s recent Cannes favorite The Breaking Ice. The film made its world premiere in May in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section, with The Hollywood Reporter‘s critics later selecting it as one of the 20 best films screened at the festival this year.
The Breaking Ice tells the story of an unlikely, fleeting friendship formed between three restless young people in China’s far northeastern border city of Yanji. It is headlined by a star-studded ensemble of young Chinese talent, including Zhou Dongyu (Oscar-nominated Better Days), Liu Haoran (the Detective Chinatown franchise) and Qu Chuxiao (The Wandering Earth).
Chen previously won Cannes’ Caméra d’Or award with his debut feature Ilo Ilo (2013), which was later submitted by Singapore as its entry to the Oscars’ best international film race. His second feature Wet Season premiered in Toronto and his English-language debut,...
The Breaking Ice tells the story of an unlikely, fleeting friendship formed between three restless young people in China’s far northeastern border city of Yanji. It is headlined by a star-studded ensemble of young Chinese talent, including Zhou Dongyu (Oscar-nominated Better Days), Liu Haoran (the Detective Chinatown franchise) and Qu Chuxiao (The Wandering Earth).
Chen previously won Cannes’ Caméra d’Or award with his debut feature Ilo Ilo (2013), which was later submitted by Singapore as its entry to the Oscars’ best international film race. His second feature Wet Season premiered in Toronto and his English-language debut,...
- 7/24/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘The Breaking Ice’ Review: An Unusually Even-Sided Love Triangle Gently Thaws a Winter of Discontent
Over the course of his first three features — “Ilo Ilo,” “Wet Season” and this year’s “Drift” — Singaporean director Anthony Chen has developed a signature style. It is a graceful, lucid classicism, a mode that in its straightforward sincerity is not fashionable in our abrasive moment, but can yield significant satisfactions. That is certainly true of his second film of 2023, “The Breaking Ice,” which describes, in a trio of perfectly judged performances, the burgeoning, momentous and yet fleeting connection between three differently lonely people — a love triangle with rounded, snowdrift corners.
Yu Jing-Pin’s lovely photography contrasts wintry wides and warm close-ups, as writer-director Chen carves out three characters against the frozen landscapes of Yanji, a small Chinese town in shouting distance of the North Korean border. This is the current home of Nana an unfulfilled bus-tour guide who switches on her ready smile for her passengers — and switches it...
Yu Jing-Pin’s lovely photography contrasts wintry wides and warm close-ups, as writer-director Chen carves out three characters against the frozen landscapes of Yanji, a small Chinese town in shouting distance of the North Korean border. This is the current home of Nana an unfulfilled bus-tour guide who switches on her ready smile for her passengers — and switches it...
- 6/15/2023
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
Cynthia Erivo stars, alongside Alia Shawkat, Honor Swinton Byrne.
MetFilm Distribution has acquired UK-Ireland distribution rights to Drift, the English-language feature debut of filmmaker Anthony Chen, which stars in and is produced by Cynthia Erivo.
Adapted from Alexander Maksik’s novel A Marker To Measure Drift by Susanne Farrell and Maksik, Drift is a character study of a refugee – played by Erivo – who is struggling to eke out a living on a Greek island, while traumatised by memories of her war-torn country.
Alia Shawkat and Honor Swinton Byrne star alongside Erivo. Memento Films International handles worldwide sales on the title.
MetFilm Distribution has acquired UK-Ireland distribution rights to Drift, the English-language feature debut of filmmaker Anthony Chen, which stars in and is produced by Cynthia Erivo.
Adapted from Alexander Maksik’s novel A Marker To Measure Drift by Susanne Farrell and Maksik, Drift is a character study of a refugee – played by Erivo – who is struggling to eke out a living on a Greek island, while traumatised by memories of her war-torn country.
Alia Shawkat and Honor Swinton Byrne star alongside Erivo. Memento Films International handles worldwide sales on the title.
- 6/12/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Cynthia Erivo stars, alongside Alia Shawkat, Honor Swinton Byrne.
MetFilm Distribution has acquired UK-Ireland distribution rights to Drift, the English-language feature debut of filmmaker Anthony Chen.
Adapted from Alexander Maksik’s novel A Marker To Measure Drift by Susanne Farrell and Maksik, Drift is a character study of a refugee – played by Cynthia Erivo – who is struggling to eke out a living on a Greek island, while traumatised by memories of her war-torn country.
Alia Shawkat and Honor Swinton Byrne star alongside Erivo. Memento Films International handles worldwide sales on the title.
Drift debuted in the Premieres strand of Sundance Film Festival in January.
MetFilm Distribution has acquired UK-Ireland distribution rights to Drift, the English-language feature debut of filmmaker Anthony Chen.
Adapted from Alexander Maksik’s novel A Marker To Measure Drift by Susanne Farrell and Maksik, Drift is a character study of a refugee – played by Cynthia Erivo – who is struggling to eke out a living on a Greek island, while traumatised by memories of her war-torn country.
Alia Shawkat and Honor Swinton Byrne star alongside Erivo. Memento Films International handles worldwide sales on the title.
Drift debuted in the Premieres strand of Sundance Film Festival in January.
- 6/12/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Anthony Chen’s well-regarded Mainland China-set “The Breaking Ice” has found favor with multiple European and Asian buyers in the few days since its Sunday premiere as part of the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard.
The film narrates a love triangle story among China’s lost youth generation and is set in the middle of winter in Yanji, a town that is heavily populated by ethnic Koreans. It is headlined by a star-studded Chinese cast of Zhou Dongyu (“Better Days”), Liu Haoran (“Detective Chinatown” franchise) and Qu Chuxiao (“The Wandering Earth”).
“The Breaking Ice” has been newly licensed to Challan for release in South Korea, Trigon-Film for Switzerland, One From the Heart for Greece, Tucker Film for Italy and Edko Films for Hong Kong.
Rights sales are handled by Rediance, Mainland China’s leading indie sales company, which reports that addition territory deals are currently being negotiated.
The film narrates a love triangle story among China’s lost youth generation and is set in the middle of winter in Yanji, a town that is heavily populated by ethnic Koreans. It is headlined by a star-studded Chinese cast of Zhou Dongyu (“Better Days”), Liu Haoran (“Detective Chinatown” franchise) and Qu Chuxiao (“The Wandering Earth”).
“The Breaking Ice” has been newly licensed to Challan for release in South Korea, Trigon-Film for Switzerland, One From the Heart for Greece, Tucker Film for Italy and Edko Films for Hong Kong.
Rights sales are handled by Rediance, Mainland China’s leading indie sales company, which reports that addition territory deals are currently being negotiated.
- 5/26/2023
- by Patrick Frater and Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Editor’s note: This review was originally published at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Strand Releasing releases the film in New York City theaters on Friday, January 19 and in Los Angeles theaters on Friday, January 26.
A sweet and shimmeringly beautiful film about how life can flow and then freeze and then thaw into something entirely new if you let it, Anthony Chen’s “The Breaking Ice” finds hope in the most frigid of places. In this case, that place is the small Chinese border city of Yanji during the depths of its endless winter, when people’s breath is as thick as the gray fumes that spew out of the factory smokestacks, and the snowy peak of Changbai Mountain looks closer to heaven than it does to Pyongyang. More than half a million people live there (many of them ethnic Koreans), but few of them seem to think of it as home.
A sweet and shimmeringly beautiful film about how life can flow and then freeze and then thaw into something entirely new if you let it, Anthony Chen’s “The Breaking Ice” finds hope in the most frigid of places. In this case, that place is the small Chinese border city of Yanji during the depths of its endless winter, when people’s breath is as thick as the gray fumes that spew out of the factory smokestacks, and the snowy peak of Changbai Mountain looks closer to heaven than it does to Pyongyang. More than half a million people live there (many of them ethnic Koreans), but few of them seem to think of it as home.
- 5/21/2023
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
In June of 2021, Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen, acclaimed for his intimate, realist dramas Ilo Ilo (2013) and Wet Season (2019), was invited to serve on the jury of the Shanghai International Film Festival. As part of his participation in the event, he was asked to give a round of interviews to local Chinese journalists and critics. During one of these sessions, a Chinese writer began by praising the director’s family dramas by describing them as uncommonly “mature and precise” for a filmmaker of his age — Chen is 39 today, but was just 29 when he became the first Singaporean to win Cannes’ Camera d’Or prize with Ilo Ilo in 2013 — but he also challenged Chen by asking, “What do you think your films would be like if you let go of control and worked with a freer spirit?”
As the filmmaker wrapped up his time in Shanghai and flew back to London, where...
As the filmmaker wrapped up his time in Shanghai and flew back to London, where...
- 5/20/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ten years after winning the Camera d’Or in Cannes for “Ilo Ilo,” director Anthony Chen is back with “The Breaking Ice.”
The film, which premieres in Un Certain Regard on May 21, is set in Yanji, a border city in north China, and follows a budding relationship between three 20-somethings as they spend a few days together. Nour Films has acquired the pic for France, while Rediance are handling worldwide sales.
Chen became the first Singaporean to win an award at Cannes with his short film “Ah Ma” in 2007. In 2013, he won the Camera d’Or for his debut feature “Ilo Ilo.” His sophomore film “Wet Season” was nominated for the Platform Prize at Toronto. Chen made his English-language debut with “Drift,” starring Cynthia Erivo, which premiered at Sundance in January.
“The Breaking Ice” marks Chen’s first film shot in mainland China. Watch a clip from the movie below:...
The film, which premieres in Un Certain Regard on May 21, is set in Yanji, a border city in north China, and follows a budding relationship between three 20-somethings as they spend a few days together. Nour Films has acquired the pic for France, while Rediance are handling worldwide sales.
Chen became the first Singaporean to win an award at Cannes with his short film “Ah Ma” in 2007. In 2013, he won the Camera d’Or for his debut feature “Ilo Ilo.” His sophomore film “Wet Season” was nominated for the Platform Prize at Toronto. Chen made his English-language debut with “Drift,” starring Cynthia Erivo, which premiered at Sundance in January.
“The Breaking Ice” marks Chen’s first film shot in mainland China. Watch a clip from the movie below:...
- 5/15/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
China’s Rediance Reveals First-Look Images For Cannes Un Certain Regard Selection ‘The Breaking Ice’
Beijing-based sales agent Rediance has revealed first look stills for Anthony Chen’s The Breaking Ice, which has been selected for the Un Certain Regard section of this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Produced by China’s Canopy Pictures, the film is the first mainland Chinese production directed by Chen, a Singaporean filmmaker who won the Camera d’Or at Cannes in 2013 with his debut feature Ilo Ilo.
Set in Yanji, a border city in the north of China, The Breaking Ice follows the blossoming relationship among three young adults in their twenties over a short few days of heavy winter snowfall.
The cast is headed by Zhou Dongyu (Better Days), Liu Haoran (Detective Chinatown franchise) and Qu Chuxiao (The Wandering Earth). Zhou previously starred in Chen’s segment of omnibus film, The Year Of The Everlasting Storm, which premiered at Cannes in 2021.
The Breaking Ice
China’s Huace Pictures...
Produced by China’s Canopy Pictures, the film is the first mainland Chinese production directed by Chen, a Singaporean filmmaker who won the Camera d’Or at Cannes in 2013 with his debut feature Ilo Ilo.
Set in Yanji, a border city in the north of China, The Breaking Ice follows the blossoming relationship among three young adults in their twenties over a short few days of heavy winter snowfall.
The cast is headed by Zhou Dongyu (Better Days), Liu Haoran (Detective Chinatown franchise) and Qu Chuxiao (The Wandering Earth). Zhou previously starred in Chen’s segment of omnibus film, The Year Of The Everlasting Storm, which premiered at Cannes in 2021.
The Breaking Ice
China’s Huace Pictures...
- 4/13/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen wears his producers hat at the Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf) shepherding two projects from debut directors.
Chen’s feature directorial debut “Ilo Ilo” (2013) won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes. His most recent film as director, “Drift,” bowed at Sundance earlier this year. As a producer, Chen’s recent credits include Locarno selection “Arnold Is a Model Student” and Busan selection and Red Sea winner “Ajoomma.”
First up is the English-language animated feature “Skin Coat,” directed by Singapore’s Tan Wei Keong. Set in the 16th century, it will follow a son who returns to his village to see his aging parents, and his male lover has to put on a woman’s skin coat to accompany him back home.
“‘Skin Coat’ is a story that explores identity, alter egos, and love that endures against all odds. As a gay person who grew...
Chen’s feature directorial debut “Ilo Ilo” (2013) won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes. His most recent film as director, “Drift,” bowed at Sundance earlier this year. As a producer, Chen’s recent credits include Locarno selection “Arnold Is a Model Student” and Busan selection and Red Sea winner “Ajoomma.”
First up is the English-language animated feature “Skin Coat,” directed by Singapore’s Tan Wei Keong. Set in the 16th century, it will follow a son who returns to his village to see his aging parents, and his male lover has to put on a woman’s skin coat to accompany him back home.
“‘Skin Coat’ is a story that explores identity, alter egos, and love that endures against all odds. As a gay person who grew...
- 3/12/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Drift director Anthony Chen is gearing up to direct his first US-set project, Heartbeat: A New York Story, about the rarely-told experiences of the Asian gay community during the AIDS epidemic in 1980s New York.
The English-language feature is based on a short story Tea For Two, by acclaimed Taiwanese writer Pai Hsien-yung, and is described as “an emotional and affecting story of self-discovery, grief and hope through the eyes of a Taiwanese gay man.” Singaporean playwright Joel Tan has adapted the short story for the screen.
Singapore-born Chen recently made his English-language debut on Drift, produced by Emilie Georges, Peter Spears and Naima Abed, which filmed in Greece and the UK and received its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival. Heartbeat: A New York Story, which he hopes to start shooting next year, will be his first project filmed in the U.S.
Chen’s Giraffe Pictures will...
The English-language feature is based on a short story Tea For Two, by acclaimed Taiwanese writer Pai Hsien-yung, and is described as “an emotional and affecting story of self-discovery, grief and hope through the eyes of a Taiwanese gay man.” Singaporean playwright Joel Tan has adapted the short story for the screen.
Singapore-born Chen recently made his English-language debut on Drift, produced by Emilie Georges, Peter Spears and Naima Abed, which filmed in Greece and the UK and received its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival. Heartbeat: A New York Story, which he hopes to start shooting next year, will be his first project filmed in the U.S.
Chen’s Giraffe Pictures will...
- 3/12/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Everything slowly falls apart and deteriorates in the life of the Lim family. Anthony Chen’s “Ilo Ilo” follows the characters in their trying attempt at holding on to their middle-class stature in Singapore in the time of economic crisis. The family’s patriarch (Chen Tianwen) is made redundant; the mother (Yann Yann Yeo), and simultaneously the most tragic character, is few months into her pregnancy; whilst their son Jia Le (Jia Ler Koh) is a troublemaking brat who really struggles to behave in class.
“Jiseok” is screening at Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema
The film is set during the economic crisis of 1997 that struck many Asian countries, Singapore included. One of the few elements that signal the timeframe is Tamagotchi, a handheld game that Jia Le plays. Apart from being a marker of the past, it becomes a symbol of the boy’s escapism. The depressed, overworked couple make for terrible parents,...
“Jiseok” is screening at Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema
The film is set during the economic crisis of 1997 that struck many Asian countries, Singapore included. One of the few elements that signal the timeframe is Tamagotchi, a handheld game that Jia Le plays. Apart from being a marker of the past, it becomes a symbol of the boy’s escapism. The depressed, overworked couple make for terrible parents,...
- 3/4/2023
- by Olek Młyński
- AsianMoviePulse
It’s Cynthia Erivo’s first time in Park City, Utah for the Sundance Film Festival. It’s a remarkably short trip — about 48-hours, not including flying time, as she takes a quick break from filming “Wicked” in London. But it’s a particularly momentous occasion: Erivo is celebrating the debut of her latest movie “Drift,” the first film she’s ever produced.
“It’s really cool to go with a film that I’m in and producing — apparently that is a rare thing for your first film to do that — so I’m quite pleased,” Erivo tells Variety, sounding a bit like a proud parent.
“Drift” could be considered Erivo’s first child, as the inaugural film from her “Edith’s Daughter” production company, which she launched in 2020 and runs with Solome Williams.
Directed by Anthony Chen, “Drift” is based on Alexander Maksik’s critically acclaimed 2013 novel “A Marker to Measure Drift.
“It’s really cool to go with a film that I’m in and producing — apparently that is a rare thing for your first film to do that — so I’m quite pleased,” Erivo tells Variety, sounding a bit like a proud parent.
“Drift” could be considered Erivo’s first child, as the inaugural film from her “Edith’s Daughter” production company, which she launched in 2020 and runs with Solome Williams.
Directed by Anthony Chen, “Drift” is based on Alexander Maksik’s critically acclaimed 2013 novel “A Marker to Measure Drift.
- 1/22/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
The Singapore Film Commission has selected He Shuming’s Singapore-Korea co-production Ajoomma as its submission to the best international feature category at the Oscars.
The film, which is He’s feature directorial debut, traces a middle-aged widow’s obsession with Korean pop culture and her journey to self-discovery on a trip to Korea. Chen is a director-producer, with directing credits including Ilo Ilo and Wet Season.
Billed as the first Singapore-Korea co-production, Ajoomma is making its world premiere in the New Currents competition of the Busan International Film Festival, which kicks off tomorrow (October 5-14).
Produced by Chen’s Giraffe Pictures and co-produced by Korea’s Lee Joonhan, the film was supported by Infocomm Media Development Authority (Imda)’s New Director grant. China’s Rediance is handling international sales.
It received four nominations for the upcoming Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan including Best New Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Leading...
The film, which is He’s feature directorial debut, traces a middle-aged widow’s obsession with Korean pop culture and her journey to self-discovery on a trip to Korea. Chen is a director-producer, with directing credits including Ilo Ilo and Wet Season.
Billed as the first Singapore-Korea co-production, Ajoomma is making its world premiere in the New Currents competition of the Busan International Film Festival, which kicks off tomorrow (October 5-14).
Produced by Chen’s Giraffe Pictures and co-produced by Korea’s Lee Joonhan, the film was supported by Infocomm Media Development Authority (Imda)’s New Director grant. China’s Rediance is handling international sales.
It received four nominations for the upcoming Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan including Best New Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Leading...
- 10/4/2022
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Jack Neo, who is by far Singapore’s most commercially successful filmmaker, has begun production on “King of Musang King,” a comedy that he envisages being ready for release at Chinese New Year in January. The narrative gives prominent position to durians, the smelly Southeast Asian fruit that most people either love or hate.
Neo will co-star, direct and produce through his J Team Productions. The film will be presented by J Team, mm2 Entertainment and Cathay Cineplexes.
The story revolves around a man (played by Mark Lee), his abandoned Malaysian wife (played by Yeo Yann Yann), and childhood friend Mao Shan (played by Jack Neo).
Dumped by the man for a Vietnamese lady, the wife continues to tend to the durian plantation left to her by her late father while she single-handedly raises her three children. The woman wants to pass down the business to her children but there...
Neo will co-star, direct and produce through his J Team Productions. The film will be presented by J Team, mm2 Entertainment and Cathay Cineplexes.
The story revolves around a man (played by Mark Lee), his abandoned Malaysian wife (played by Yeo Yann Yann), and childhood friend Mao Shan (played by Jack Neo).
Dumped by the man for a Vietnamese lady, the wife continues to tend to the durian plantation left to her by her late father while she single-handedly raises her three children. The woman wants to pass down the business to her children but there...
- 9/9/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Production has wrapped on the long-gestating “Ajoomma,” a feature film that delves into the fascination that Korean pop culture holds for middle-aged women in Asia.
The story, said to be based on the mother of director He Shuming, involves a K-drama-obsessed widow from Singapore who tries to find new purpose in life and instead ends up getting lost in Korea. The script was co-written by He and Kris Ong.
” ‘Ajoomma’ very nicely touches upon a phenomenon that has been taking place across Asia for over a decade – the fascination of middle-aged women across the region with South Korean culture and media,” Chen told Variety. “Now K-drama and culture has literally exploded all over the world.”
“Ajoomma” filmed principally in Seoul, Korea, at the beginning of the year and has now completed its final leg of production in Singapore. Post-prod has begun, putting the film on course for a delivery in the autumn.
The story, said to be based on the mother of director He Shuming, involves a K-drama-obsessed widow from Singapore who tries to find new purpose in life and instead ends up getting lost in Korea. The script was co-written by He and Kris Ong.
” ‘Ajoomma’ very nicely touches upon a phenomenon that has been taking place across Asia for over a decade – the fascination of middle-aged women across the region with South Korean culture and media,” Chen told Variety. “Now K-drama and culture has literally exploded all over the world.”
“Ajoomma” filmed principally in Seoul, Korea, at the beginning of the year and has now completed its final leg of production in Singapore. Post-prod has begun, putting the film on course for a delivery in the autumn.
- 4/5/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Canopy’s first film The Breaking Ice’ has just wrapped in China.
Ilo Ilo director Anthony Chen has wrapped production in China of The Breaking Ice, the first in a slate of film and TV projects he is developing through his new Beijing and Shanghai-based outfit Canopy Pictures.
China’s Huace Pictures is a co-investor of the film, and is handling distributioin in China. Xie Meng’s sales outfit Rediance is taking on worldwide sales. Xie is also a partner with Chen in Canopy Pictures.
The Breaking Ice was filmed in China’s northern Jilin province, and stars Zhou Dongyu,...
Ilo Ilo director Anthony Chen has wrapped production in China of The Breaking Ice, the first in a slate of film and TV projects he is developing through his new Beijing and Shanghai-based outfit Canopy Pictures.
China’s Huace Pictures is a co-investor of the film, and is handling distributioin in China. Xie Meng’s sales outfit Rediance is taking on worldwide sales. Xie is also a partner with Chen in Canopy Pictures.
The Breaking Ice was filmed in China’s northern Jilin province, and stars Zhou Dongyu,...
- 2/9/2022
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen has wrapped shooting of his first Mainland Chinese feature “The Breaking Ice.”
Hailed as one of Asia’s brightest young directors, Chen competed in the shorts competition at Cannes in 2007 with “Grandma” and won the Camera d’Or with his debut feature “Ilo Ilo” in 2013. His sophomore feature “Wet Season” premiered in competition at the Toronto International Film Festival. Both films were selected as Singapore’s official submissions to the Oscars.
Headlining the star-studded Chinese cast of “The Breaking Ice” are Zhou Dongyu (“Better Days”), Liu Haoran (the Detective Chinatown franchise) and Qu Chuxiao (“The Wandering Earth”). Zhou and Liu previously collaborated on “Fire on the Plain” which competed at San Sebastian in 2021.
Written and directed by Chen, the film follows the blossoming relationship among three young adults in their twenties, set over a short few days in the winter snow.
The film is produced by...
Hailed as one of Asia’s brightest young directors, Chen competed in the shorts competition at Cannes in 2007 with “Grandma” and won the Camera d’Or with his debut feature “Ilo Ilo” in 2013. His sophomore feature “Wet Season” premiered in competition at the Toronto International Film Festival. Both films were selected as Singapore’s official submissions to the Oscars.
Headlining the star-studded Chinese cast of “The Breaking Ice” are Zhou Dongyu (“Better Days”), Liu Haoran (the Detective Chinatown franchise) and Qu Chuxiao (“The Wandering Earth”). Zhou and Liu previously collaborated on “Fire on the Plain” which competed at San Sebastian in 2021.
Written and directed by Chen, the film follows the blossoming relationship among three young adults in their twenties, set over a short few days in the winter snow.
The film is produced by...
- 2/9/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
What did you do during the coronavirus lockdown of 2020? Grow a beard? Make bread? Write the Great American Novel? For creative types cooped up during the pandemic, the pressures to adapt to the moment felt enormous, but so did the limitations.
Premiering at Cannes 2021, “The Year of the Everlasting Storm” springs from those competing and seemingly contradictory reactions — to express oneself, or to retreat inward and wait it out — empowering seven filmmakers from different corners of the globe to do what they do best — to make films — during the historic tsunami of uncertainty and fear that was 2020. While the world was in lockdown, this portmanteau project achieved something remarkable, giving artists ranging from Jafar Panahi to Apichatpong Weerasethakul the opportunity to unlock their imaginations.
Panahi, who came aboard early and also served as an executive producer, is no stranger to shooting in restrictive conditions, having directed a film — 2012’s Cannes-selected...
Premiering at Cannes 2021, “The Year of the Everlasting Storm” springs from those competing and seemingly contradictory reactions — to express oneself, or to retreat inward and wait it out — empowering seven filmmakers from different corners of the globe to do what they do best — to make films — during the historic tsunami of uncertainty and fear that was 2020. While the world was in lockdown, this portmanteau project achieved something remarkable, giving artists ranging from Jafar Panahi to Apichatpong Weerasethakul the opportunity to unlock their imaginations.
Panahi, who came aboard early and also served as an executive producer, is no stranger to shooting in restrictive conditions, having directed a film — 2012’s Cannes-selected...
- 7/14/2021
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
“Havoc,” an action thriller starring Tom Hardy and Forest Whitaker, has rounded out its cast.
In addition to the previously announced Hardy and Whitaker, the Netflix movie will also feature Timothy Olyphant, “Training Day” and “The Umbrella Academy” actor Justin Cornwell, star of the upcoming Edgar Wright horror film “Last Night in Soho” Jessie Mei Li and Malaysian actress Yeo Yann Yann. Supporting cast members include Quelin Sepulveda, “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia” actor Luis Guzmán, “Headshot” star Sunny Pang, and UFC mixed martial artist Michelle Waterson.
“Havoc” takes place after a drug deal gone wrong and centers on a bruised detective who must fight his way through a criminal underworld to rescue a politician’s estranged son, while unraveling a deep web of corruption and conspiracy that ensnares his entire city.
Gareth Evans is writing and directing the movie as part of his recently announced deal to produce and direct...
In addition to the previously announced Hardy and Whitaker, the Netflix movie will also feature Timothy Olyphant, “Training Day” and “The Umbrella Academy” actor Justin Cornwell, star of the upcoming Edgar Wright horror film “Last Night in Soho” Jessie Mei Li and Malaysian actress Yeo Yann Yann. Supporting cast members include Quelin Sepulveda, “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia” actor Luis Guzmán, “Headshot” star Sunny Pang, and UFC mixed martial artist Michelle Waterson.
“Havoc” takes place after a drug deal gone wrong and centers on a bruised detective who must fight his way through a criminal underworld to rescue a politician’s estranged son, while unraveling a deep web of corruption and conspiracy that ensnares his entire city.
Gareth Evans is writing and directing the movie as part of his recently announced deal to produce and direct...
- 6/28/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin and Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Submitted by Singapore to the Academy Awards as its candidate for Best International Feature Film, Wet Season did not garner a nomination, but that has not halted release plans. The film is heading to U.S. theaters on April 23, courtesy of Strand Releasing. Our own Kwenton Bellette saw it last year as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival. He began his review with a very helpful introduction: "Singapore Director Anthony Chen returns after six years with his sophomore feature Wet Season. His first film Ilo Ilo (2013) is a tender, masterfully shot race-class drama set during the 90s Asian recession. It follows a Malaysian native maid and her role in a Singaporean household with precision period detail. In Wet Season the lens is more...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 4/6/2021
- Screen Anarchy
"Can you please tell me what's going on here?" Strand Releasing has unveiled an official US trailer for an award-winning Singaporean drama titled Wet Season, the second feature film from filmmaker Anthony Chen (also of Ilo Ilo). This first premiered at the 2019 Toronto Film Festival, but is just now getting a VOD release this spring. A teacher and student at a Singapore high school form a special, self-affirming bond. Ling is a Chinese language teacher, whose marriage and school life are fraying apart because she is unable to bear a child. But an unlikely friendship with a student helps her reaffirm her identity as a woman. Starring Yann Yann Yeo and Jia Ler Koh, with Christopher Lee and Shi Bin Yang. This won a a few awards, including Best Screenplay in Torino and Best Actress at the Golden Horse Film Festival. It looks quite good. Here's the official US trailer...
- 3/10/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Fox’s free streaming service, Tubi, offers over 30,000 movies and TV shows from nearly every major studio and is available on over 25 devices including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Comcast Xfinity, and more. The service offers free movies to residents of Canada and the USA with intermittent commercials when streaming content.
With a huge collection of foreign-language film Tubi has plenty to offer for those who want watch a movie in honor of the Lunar New Year. You can browse the their collection of foreign titles over at Tubi.tv. We have highlighted a few titles currently available below.
Ip Man: The Final Fight (2013) by Herman Yau
“Ip Man : The Final Fight” is a kung-fu melodrama following Ip Man’s move to Hong Kong in 1949. The story is told in a series of vignettes, sketching out incidents and dramas of Ip Man’s time in Hong Kong, entwined with the stories of his students.
With a huge collection of foreign-language film Tubi has plenty to offer for those who want watch a movie in honor of the Lunar New Year. You can browse the their collection of foreign titles over at Tubi.tv. We have highlighted a few titles currently available below.
Ip Man: The Final Fight (2013) by Herman Yau
“Ip Man : The Final Fight” is a kung-fu melodrama following Ip Man’s move to Hong Kong in 1949. The story is told in a series of vignettes, sketching out incidents and dramas of Ip Man’s time in Hong Kong, entwined with the stories of his students.
- 2/11/2021
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Exclusive: Filmmaker Anthony Chen is re-uniting with his Ilo Ilo and Wet Season stars Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler on the third film in his ‘growing up’ trilogy, We Are All Strangers.
Today we can reveal details about the pandemic-set drama, which was recently announced for the Berlinale Co-Production Market 2021.
Singaporean filmmaker Chen, the 2013 Cannes Caméra d’Or winner, is due to begin production on the movie in spring, 2022. The film will continue the director’s exploration of domestic relations and familial dynamics and touch on themes of privilege, class, and inequality as they are brought into sharper relief by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The film grew out of Chen’s concern for his young actor Jia Ler as he faces the brutality of the adult world. Shooting can only commence once the actor completes his mandatory military service. The feature will likely be ready for festivals a decade...
Today we can reveal details about the pandemic-set drama, which was recently announced for the Berlinale Co-Production Market 2021.
Singaporean filmmaker Chen, the 2013 Cannes Caméra d’Or winner, is due to begin production on the movie in spring, 2022. The film will continue the director’s exploration of domestic relations and familial dynamics and touch on themes of privilege, class, and inequality as they are brought into sharper relief by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The film grew out of Chen’s concern for his young actor Jia Ler as he faces the brutality of the adult world. Shooting can only commence once the actor completes his mandatory military service. The feature will likely be ready for festivals a decade...
- 1/26/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Strand Releasing has acquired all North American rights to Anthony Chen’s “Wet Season,” which represents Singapore in the Oscar race for best international feature film.
The movie world premiered in the Platform section at the Toronto International Film Festival, and is being represented in international markets by Memento Films International.
Penned and directed by Chen, “Wet Season” revolves around a Chinese language teacher whose marriage and school life are falling apart because she’s unable to bear a child. An unlikely friendship with a student helps her reaffirm her identity as a woman.
“Wet Season” marks Chen’s sophomore outing. His feature debut, “Ilo Ilo,” world premiered at Cannes in 2013 and earned him the prestigious Camera d’Or award for best first film. “Ilo Ilo” went on to win more than 40 awards around the world, including the Sutherland Award at BFI London Film Festival, and four Golden Horse Awards...
The movie world premiered in the Platform section at the Toronto International Film Festival, and is being represented in international markets by Memento Films International.
Penned and directed by Chen, “Wet Season” revolves around a Chinese language teacher whose marriage and school life are falling apart because she’s unable to bear a child. An unlikely friendship with a student helps her reaffirm her identity as a woman.
“Wet Season” marks Chen’s sophomore outing. His feature debut, “Ilo Ilo,” world premiered at Cannes in 2013 and earned him the prestigious Camera d’Or award for best first film. “Ilo Ilo” went on to win more than 40 awards around the world, including the Sutherland Award at BFI London Film Festival, and four Golden Horse Awards...
- 12/21/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Bookmark this page for all the latest international feature submissions.
Submissions for the best international feature film award at the 2021 Academy Awards have started to come in, and Screen is keeping a running list of each film below.
The 93rd Academy Awards is set to take place on April 25, 2021. It was originally set to be held on February 28, before both the ceremony and eligibility period were postponed for two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Submitted films must have been released in their respective countries between the expanded dates of October 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020. (Last year it was October-September).
In another change to the eligibility rules,...
Submissions for the best international feature film award at the 2021 Academy Awards have started to come in, and Screen is keeping a running list of each film below.
The 93rd Academy Awards is set to take place on April 25, 2021. It was originally set to be held on February 28, before both the ceremony and eligibility period were postponed for two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Submitted films must have been released in their respective countries between the expanded dates of October 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020. (Last year it was October-September).
In another change to the eligibility rules,...
- 10/14/2020
- by Ben Dalton¬Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Bookmark this page for all the latest international feature submissions.
Submissions for the best international feature film award at the 2021 Academy Awards have started to come in, and Screen is keeping a running list of each film below.
The 93rd Academy Awards is set to take place on April 25, 2021. It was originally set to be held on February 28, before both the ceremony and eligibility period were postponed for two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Submitted films must have been released in their respective countries between the expanded dates of October 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020. (Last year it was October-September).
In another change to the eligibility rules,...
Submissions for the best international feature film award at the 2021 Academy Awards have started to come in, and Screen is keeping a running list of each film below.
The 93rd Academy Awards is set to take place on April 25, 2021. It was originally set to be held on February 28, before both the ceremony and eligibility period were postponed for two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Submitted films must have been released in their respective countries between the expanded dates of October 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020. (Last year it was October-September).
In another change to the eligibility rules,...
- 10/13/2020
- by Ben Dalton¬Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Bookmark this page for all the latest international feature submissions.
Submissions for the best international feature film award at the 2021 Academy Awards have started to come in, and Screen is keeping a running list of each film below.
The 93rd Academy Awards is set to take place on April 25, 2021. It was originally set to be held on February 28, before both the ceremony and eligibility period were postponed for two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Submitted films must have been released in their respective countries between the expanded dates of October 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020. (Last year it was October-September).
In another change to the eligibility rules,...
Submissions for the best international feature film award at the 2021 Academy Awards have started to come in, and Screen is keeping a running list of each film below.
The 93rd Academy Awards is set to take place on April 25, 2021. It was originally set to be held on February 28, before both the ceremony and eligibility period were postponed for two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Submitted films must have been released in their respective countries between the expanded dates of October 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020. (Last year it was October-September).
In another change to the eligibility rules,...
- 10/13/2020
- by Ben Dalton¬Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Singaporean actor and comedian Mark Lee has been nominated for best leading actor for the upcoming Golden Horse Awards.
Nominations for the Taiwanese award ceremony were announced via a live-streamed ceremony on Wednesday, September 30th, in which the 51-year-old Lee received the nod for his role as a drag queen in the film “Number 1”. The film, directed by Ong Kuo Sin, has not yet opened in cinemas.
In an Instagram story posted on Wednesday, Lee said he was “very happy to be nominated” and thanked the judges for recognising his work, while he also added, “Thanks everyone. I have not got over the news yet”.
Other actors competing for the Best Actor prize are Liu Kuan-ting for “My Missing Valentine”, Austin Lin for “I WeirDo“, Mo Tzu-yi for “Dear Tenant” and Lam Ka-tung for “Hand Rolled Cigarette”.
According to a 2018 story by Lianhe Zaobao, Lee plays a general manager who...
Nominations for the Taiwanese award ceremony were announced via a live-streamed ceremony on Wednesday, September 30th, in which the 51-year-old Lee received the nod for his role as a drag queen in the film “Number 1”. The film, directed by Ong Kuo Sin, has not yet opened in cinemas.
In an Instagram story posted on Wednesday, Lee said he was “very happy to be nominated” and thanked the judges for recognising his work, while he also added, “Thanks everyone. I have not got over the news yet”.
Other actors competing for the Best Actor prize are Liu Kuan-ting for “My Missing Valentine”, Austin Lin for “I WeirDo“, Mo Tzu-yi for “Dear Tenant” and Lam Ka-tung for “Hand Rolled Cigarette”.
According to a 2018 story by Lianhe Zaobao, Lee plays a general manager who...
- 10/2/2020
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Singapore Director Anthony Chen returns after six years with his sophomore feature Wet Season. His first film Ilo Ilo (2013) is a tender masterfully shot race-class drama set during the 90s Asian recession. It follows a Malaysian native maid and her role in a Singaporean household with precision period detail. In Wet Season the lens is more focused this time round, focusing on a unique relationship and power dynamic, far more understated and tender in its critique of ethnic relations in the time of the mid-2000s. Malaysian-Chinese immigrant Ling (Yann Yann Yeo) teaches Mandarin, looks after her workaholic husband’s invalid father (Shi Bin Yang), and has been trying for eight years to conceive a child. Dissatisfied, she rarely shows it, hiding her resentment and sadness...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 8/8/2020
- Screen Anarchy
Everything slowly falls apart and deteriorates in the life of the Lim family. Anthony Chen’s “Ilo Ilo” follows the characters in their trying attempt at holding on to their middle-class stature in Singapore in the time of economic crisis. The family’s patriarch (Chen Tianwen) is made redundant; the mother (Yann Yann Yeo), and simultaneously the most tragic character, is few months into her pregnancy; whilst their son Jia Le (Jia Ler Koh) is a troublemaking brat who really struggles to behave in class.
The film is set during the economic crisis of 1997 that struck many Asian countries, Singapore included. One of the few elements that signal the timeframe is Tamagotchi, a handheld game that Jia Le plays. Apart from being a marker of the past, it becomes a symbol of the boy’s escapism. The depressed, overworked couple make for terrible parents, and in an attempt at containing the ongoing crisis,...
The film is set during the economic crisis of 1997 that struck many Asian countries, Singapore included. One of the few elements that signal the timeframe is Tamagotchi, a handheld game that Jia Le plays. Apart from being a marker of the past, it becomes a symbol of the boy’s escapism. The depressed, overworked couple make for terrible parents, and in an attempt at containing the ongoing crisis,...
- 4/10/2020
- by Olek Młyński
- AsianMoviePulse
Malaysia’s Yeo Yann Yann wiped away tears that weren’t purely of joyous triumph just minutes after receiving the 2019 Golden Horse Award for best actress in Singaporean director Anthony Chen’s “Wet Season.” The film plays in the New Chinese Cinema section of this week’s International Film Festival & Awards (Iffam).
Emotion welled up as she spoke to a handful of reporters backstage in the bowels of Taipei’s Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall about her fellow actresses back home in Malaysia and Singapore, countries with fiilm industries that are still small.
“Everyone struggles a lot. There are very few opportunities and Chinese-language roles, and lots of actresses who all have so much passion and want to be in this profession. There’s a bit of a feeling of being stranded there. I’m one of the lucky ones,” she said in Mandarin.
She recalled her last Golden Horse victory...
Emotion welled up as she spoke to a handful of reporters backstage in the bowels of Taipei’s Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall about her fellow actresses back home in Malaysia and Singapore, countries with fiilm industries that are still small.
“Everyone struggles a lot. There are very few opportunities and Chinese-language roles, and lots of actresses who all have so much passion and want to be in this profession. There’s a bit of a feeling of being stranded there. I’m one of the lucky ones,” she said in Mandarin.
She recalled her last Golden Horse victory...
- 12/6/2019
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Singapore cinema will claim a share of the spotlight at the ongoing Asia TV Forum & Market, where some 80 local media companies are promoting their wares at the Singapore Pavilion. The crop of local movies for 2020 looks substantial.
Local powerhouse mm2 Entertainment leads the way with a line-up from several genres. Ong Kuo Sin’s musical comedy “Number 1” follows a laid-off white-collar worker who finds an unexpected alternate career as a drag performer. From the same director is “One Headlight,” a co-production with Byleft Productions and Vividthree Productions, where the young protagonist seeks to reunite his niece with her elusive father after the death of his sister. Also with Vividthree is Sam Loh’s “Hell Hole,” in which a mother and son seek revenge from the afterlife.
Taipan Films’ “Circle Line” directed by Chua Jing Du, Singapore’s first monster film, is set against the backdrop of a faulty underground train system,...
Local powerhouse mm2 Entertainment leads the way with a line-up from several genres. Ong Kuo Sin’s musical comedy “Number 1” follows a laid-off white-collar worker who finds an unexpected alternate career as a drag performer. From the same director is “One Headlight,” a co-production with Byleft Productions and Vividthree Productions, where the young protagonist seeks to reunite his niece with her elusive father after the death of his sister. Also with Vividthree is Sam Loh’s “Hell Hole,” in which a mother and son seek revenge from the afterlife.
Taipan Films’ “Circle Line” directed by Chua Jing Du, Singapore’s first monster film, is set against the backdrop of a faulty underground train system,...
- 12/5/2019
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
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,...
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,...
- 11/22/2019
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Local stars and talents from Asia studded the opening night red carpet event of the Singapore International Film Festival on Thursday. They were lead by hometown filmmaker Anthony Chen, who made a global impact with debut feature “Ilo Ilo,” and is again making a splash with “Wet Season.”
For its 30th edition, the festival runs as part of the Singapore Media Festival for 11 days with over 90 feature films from 40 countries, and a strong emphasis on the South East Asia region.
On opening night, fans and film buffs gathered at the city’s 86-year-old Capitol Theater to see and grab a photo of local celebrities and stars walking the red carpet.
Internationally-known Singaporean independent filmmakers Tan Pin Pin and Boo Junfeng (“Apprentice”), who are also executive members of the festival, trod the red carpet. Other stars included Singaporean actresses Hong Ling, Patricia Mok, actor Andie Chen and his wife Kate Pang,...
For its 30th edition, the festival runs as part of the Singapore Media Festival for 11 days with over 90 feature films from 40 countries, and a strong emphasis on the South East Asia region.
On opening night, fans and film buffs gathered at the city’s 86-year-old Capitol Theater to see and grab a photo of local celebrities and stars walking the red carpet.
Internationally-known Singaporean independent filmmakers Tan Pin Pin and Boo Junfeng (“Apprentice”), who are also executive members of the festival, trod the red carpet. Other stars included Singaporean actresses Hong Ling, Patricia Mok, actor Andie Chen and his wife Kate Pang,...
- 11/21/2019
- by Sonia Kil
- Variety Film + TV
The 30th Singapore International Film Festival (Sgiff) kicks off on Nov. 21 with more than 90 films across its program and a focus also on just how much impact the event has had on the city over the past three decades.
Filmmaker Anthony Chen believes he’s a living example of the latter, having started out his film “career” working as an Sgiff volunteer, selling t-shirts and helping as a translator for guests, before developing acclaimed short films and then the Camera d’Or winner Ilo Ilo (2013).
Chen returns home this year with the opening film, Wet Season, a richly textured ...
Filmmaker Anthony Chen believes he’s a living example of the latter, having started out his film “career” working as an Sgiff volunteer, selling t-shirts and helping as a translator for guests, before developing acclaimed short films and then the Camera d’Or winner Ilo Ilo (2013).
Chen returns home this year with the opening film, Wet Season, a richly textured ...
- 11/19/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The 30th Singapore International Film Festival (Sgiff) kicks off on Nov. 21 with more than 90 films across its program and a focus also on just how much impact the event has had on the city over the past three decades.
Filmmaker Anthony Chen believes he’s a living example of the latter, having started out his film “career” working as an Sgiff volunteer, selling t-shirts and helping as a translator for guests, before developing acclaimed short films and then the Camera d’Or winner Ilo Ilo (2013).
Chen returns home this year with the opening film, Wet Season, a richly textured ...
Filmmaker Anthony Chen believes he’s a living example of the latter, having started out his film “career” working as an Sgiff volunteer, selling t-shirts and helping as a translator for guests, before developing acclaimed short films and then the Camera d’Or winner Ilo Ilo (2013).
Chen returns home this year with the opening film, Wet Season, a richly textured ...
- 11/19/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Singapore-born Anthony Chen studied in film schools in Singapore and the UK. His short film “Ah Ma” was awarded the Special Mention for Short Film at Cannes, the first time a Singapore film was awarded at Cannes. His debut feature “Ilo Ilo” won the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, while his sophomore feature “Wet Season” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
On the occasion of “Wet Season” screening at Thessaloniki International Film Festival, we speak about his absence from feature filmmaking, casting the same actors again, Singaporean society and many other topics
The first question is the inevitable one. What took you so long?
It takes me very long to write a film. “Ilo Ilo” took me two years to write, this one took me three years. It takes me very long to prepare a film as well. I spent a whole year casting and then another year prepping the film,...
On the occasion of “Wet Season” screening at Thessaloniki International Film Festival, we speak about his absence from feature filmmaking, casting the same actors again, Singaporean society and many other topics
The first question is the inevitable one. What took you so long?
It takes me very long to write a film. “Ilo Ilo” took me two years to write, this one took me three years. It takes me very long to prepare a film as well. I spent a whole year casting and then another year prepping the film,...
- 11/10/2019
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
For its 30th edition the Singapore International Film Festival has avoided programming novelty and instead focused on assembling excellence – mostly indie titles — from Asia and further afield.
The festival, which previously announced local filmmaker Anthony Chen’s second feature “Wet Season” as its opening night gala presentation, announced the balance of its programming on Tuesday. Other galas are set to include “Downton Abbey,” and “Nina Wu.” Hirokazu Koreeda’s “The Truth” was named as the closing film. The festival runs Nov. 21 – Dec. 1.
The nine-film competition section includes: “Dwelling in The Fuchun Mountains”; Indian animation, “Bombay Rose”; Indonesia’s “The Science of Fictions,” and “Verdict,” all of which have received favorable reception elsewhere on the festival circuit.
Prizes for the competition will be decided by a jury that includes India’’s Anurag Kashyap, Indonesia’s Nia Dinata, Singapore’s Amir Muhammad, and Hong Kong’s Pang Ho-cheung.
One sidebar section includes Asia-Pacific festival favorites including “Balloon,...
The festival, which previously announced local filmmaker Anthony Chen’s second feature “Wet Season” as its opening night gala presentation, announced the balance of its programming on Tuesday. Other galas are set to include “Downton Abbey,” and “Nina Wu.” Hirokazu Koreeda’s “The Truth” was named as the closing film. The festival runs Nov. 21 – Dec. 1.
The nine-film competition section includes: “Dwelling in The Fuchun Mountains”; Indian animation, “Bombay Rose”; Indonesia’s “The Science of Fictions,” and “Verdict,” all of which have received favorable reception elsewhere on the festival circuit.
Prizes for the competition will be decided by a jury that includes India’’s Anurag Kashyap, Indonesia’s Nia Dinata, Singapore’s Amir Muhammad, and Hong Kong’s Pang Ho-cheung.
One sidebar section includes Asia-Pacific festival favorites including “Balloon,...
- 10/22/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
New films by Anthony Chen, Heiward Mak and Kongdej Jaturanrasmee in New Asian Cinema competition. You are invited to the presentation of the full programme on 24 October!
Heartwarming “Fagara”, bitter-sweet “To Live to Sing”, subtle “Wet Season” and lyrical “Where We Belong” together with challenging “Heavy Craving” complete the list of films to be presented in the New Asian Cinema competition. As every year, the Five Flavours viewers will receive a perfect mixture of sincere emotions, affecting topics and interesting formal choices – so that each screening became an unforgettable experience.
The main award will be granted by People’s Jury – a group of amateurs and semi-professionals whose sincere love of cinema and Asia combined with advanced journalistic skills allow them to make competent assessment of the competition films and choose the winner of the Festival.
Presentation of the programme
On 24 October at 4.15 p.m. viewers and journalists are invited to...
Heartwarming “Fagara”, bitter-sweet “To Live to Sing”, subtle “Wet Season” and lyrical “Where We Belong” together with challenging “Heavy Craving” complete the list of films to be presented in the New Asian Cinema competition. As every year, the Five Flavours viewers will receive a perfect mixture of sincere emotions, affecting topics and interesting formal choices – so that each screening became an unforgettable experience.
The main award will be granted by People’s Jury – a group of amateurs and semi-professionals whose sincere love of cinema and Asia combined with advanced journalistic skills allow them to make competent assessment of the competition films and choose the winner of the Festival.
Presentation of the programme
On 24 October at 4.15 p.m. viewers and journalists are invited to...
- 10/17/2019
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
The Pingyao International Film Festival on Wednesday crowned “The Fever” by Maya Da-Rin as best film in its international category and “Wet Season” by Anthony Chen as the top title in its Chinese-language section.
The Roberto Rossellini Awards at the festival go to the top international directorial debuts or second features. Taking to the stage at the awards ceremony, Brazil’s Da-Rin said the prize was “a great honor.”
“This film has been made through seven years of a lot of work of a lot of people — people who give their lives to cinema and believe that through cinema we can think about our world,” she said. “The Fever” also won Best Actor and the Fipresci prize at Locarno this year.
Two other Roberto Rossellini Awards were handed out: the jury award to Chinese helmer Liang Ming for his debut, “Wisdom Tooth,” and the prize for best director to the...
The Roberto Rossellini Awards at the festival go to the top international directorial debuts or second features. Taking to the stage at the awards ceremony, Brazil’s Da-Rin said the prize was “a great honor.”
“This film has been made through seven years of a lot of work of a lot of people — people who give their lives to cinema and believe that through cinema we can think about our world,” she said. “The Fever” also won Best Actor and the Fipresci prize at Locarno this year.
Two other Roberto Rossellini Awards were handed out: the jury award to Chinese helmer Liang Ming for his debut, “Wisdom Tooth,” and the prize for best director to the...
- 10/16/2019
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
The tender, impassioned drama ”Wet Season” by Singapore writer-director Anthony Chen will open the 30th Singapore International Film Festival (Sgiff) on 21 November 2019 at Capitol Theatre. The introspective feature was the sole Asian entry in competition at the 44th Toronto International Film Festival’s Platform competition, and marked the first time a Singaporean film was selected for the section. ”Wet Season” has also received six nominations in this year’s Golden Horse Awards including Best Narrative Feature, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
A bated sophomore feature after Chen’s Camera d’Or-winning ”Ilo Ilo” (2013), ”Wet Season” continues with the contemporary theme of unlikely friendships, burrowing under the skin of a restless, budding Singapore. Set during the monsoon season, the double character study follows the plight of a Malaysia-born Chinese language secondary school teacher, Ling, and her curious, self-affirming relationship with a student, Wei Lun.
Ling finds little respect wherever she is.
A bated sophomore feature after Chen’s Camera d’Or-winning ”Ilo Ilo” (2013), ”Wet Season” continues with the contemporary theme of unlikely friendships, burrowing under the skin of a restless, budding Singapore. Set during the monsoon season, the double character study follows the plight of a Malaysia-born Chinese language secondary school teacher, Ling, and her curious, self-affirming relationship with a student, Wei Lun.
Ling finds little respect wherever she is.
- 10/6/2019
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Anthony Chen’s “Wet Season” has been set as the opening title of the 30th edition of the Singapore International Film Festival. The Singapore-set title will play at the Capitol Theater on Nov 21.
Having previously competed in Cannes with his 2007 short film “Grandma,” London-based Chen became Singapore’s most talked about director when he won the Camera d’Or at Cannes with 2013 effort “Ilo Ilo.”
“Wet Season” is his second feature, and again adopts very personal themes. “Ilo Ilo” stars Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler band together once again, this time over an unlikely, blossoming friendship between a woman teacher and a student.
The film was the sole Asian entry in competition at the 44th Toronto International Film Festival’s Platform competition, and marked the first time a Singaporean film was selected for the section.
The festival, which this year runs Nov. 21- Dec. 1, positions itself as a champion of,...
Having previously competed in Cannes with his 2007 short film “Grandma,” London-based Chen became Singapore’s most talked about director when he won the Camera d’Or at Cannes with 2013 effort “Ilo Ilo.”
“Wet Season” is his second feature, and again adopts very personal themes. “Ilo Ilo” stars Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler band together once again, this time over an unlikely, blossoming friendship between a woman teacher and a student.
The film was the sole Asian entry in competition at the 44th Toronto International Film Festival’s Platform competition, and marked the first time a Singaporean film was selected for the section.
The festival, which this year runs Nov. 21- Dec. 1, positions itself as a champion of,...
- 10/2/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Chinese indie films and Indian fare dominate the lineup of the Pingyao International Film Festival. The main selection for the festival’s third edition will include 28 world premieres, organizers said. The event will screen 52 films from 26 countries and territories, with all of them having their China debut.
The opening film is set as the world premiere of Indian director Tushar Hiranandani’s biographical film, “Bull’s Eye.” It tells the story of two real-life female sharpshooters from the same village who learned to shoot late in life, but went on to achieve national fame. The women are now in their 80s.
Chinese films that will have their world premieres at the festival include: “Summer Is the Coldest Season” by Zhou Sun; “Wisdom Tooth” by Liang Ming; “Single Cycle” by Zhang Qi; “Blood Daisy” by Xu Xiangyun; “An Insignificant Affair” by Ning Yuanyuan; “A Trophy on the Sea” by Ju Anqi...
The opening film is set as the world premiere of Indian director Tushar Hiranandani’s biographical film, “Bull’s Eye.” It tells the story of two real-life female sharpshooters from the same village who learned to shoot late in life, but went on to achieve national fame. The women are now in their 80s.
Chinese films that will have their world premieres at the festival include: “Summer Is the Coldest Season” by Zhou Sun; “Wisdom Tooth” by Liang Ming; “Single Cycle” by Zhang Qi; “Blood Daisy” by Xu Xiangyun; “An Insignificant Affair” by Ning Yuanyuan; “A Trophy on the Sea” by Ju Anqi...
- 9/17/2019
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
With the bittersweet drama “Wet Season,” Singapore writer-director Anthony Chen again proves himself a perceptive observer of life and social class in his tropical nation-state and a sensitive chronicler of issues confronting women. , and directed with striking maturity and restraint. Like his 2013 debut, the Cannes Camera d’Or-winner “Ilo Ilo,” this sophomore feature draws on details from his personal life and further benefits from the casting of two of that film’s leading players: the luminous Yann Yann Yeo as the vulnerable educator and the vibrant Koh Jia Ler as her student. Further festival action and niche art-house play should follow the world premiere in Toronto’s Platform competition.
Modest, dignified and caring, the late-thirtysomething Ling (Yeo), a native Malaysian, teaches Mandarin to teens at a top boy’s academy, where both she and her subject are undervalued in favor of math and science. In advance of the grade 4 O-levels,...
Modest, dignified and caring, the late-thirtysomething Ling (Yeo), a native Malaysian, teaches Mandarin to teens at a top boy’s academy, where both she and her subject are undervalued in favor of math and science. In advance of the grade 4 O-levels,...
- 9/11/2019
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
Asian video streaming platform Hooq has inked a three-year, first-look and co-production deal with award-winning Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen.
Chen made his feature debut with 2013’s “Ilo Ilo,” which won the Camera D’Or at Cannes, and went on to win a plethora of prizes around the world. The same year, he was chosen as one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch.
Chen’s sophomore feature, “Wet Season” will have its world premiere in competition at Toronto’s Platform segment on Sept. 8. Produced by Giraffe Pictures in association with Hooq, Rediance and New Century Influence Films, the film follows a Chinese-language teacher whose marriage and school life are falling apart as she struggles to conceive a child, but an unlikely friendship with a student helps reaffirm her identity. The cast includes “Ilo Ilo” alumni Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler.
The deal with Hooq will include film, television and...
Chen made his feature debut with 2013’s “Ilo Ilo,” which won the Camera D’Or at Cannes, and went on to win a plethora of prizes around the world. The same year, he was chosen as one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch.
Chen’s sophomore feature, “Wet Season” will have its world premiere in competition at Toronto’s Platform segment on Sept. 8. Produced by Giraffe Pictures in association with Hooq, Rediance and New Century Influence Films, the film follows a Chinese-language teacher whose marriage and school life are falling apart as she struggles to conceive a child, but an unlikely friendship with a student helps reaffirm her identity. The cast includes “Ilo Ilo” alumni Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler.
The deal with Hooq will include film, television and...
- 9/7/2019
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Sarah Gavron’s “Rocks,” Julie Delpy’s “My Zoe,” Alice Winocur’s “Proxima” and Darius Marder’s “Sound of Metal” are among the 10 films that will make up the competitive Platform section at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, Tiff organizers announced on Wednesday.
“Rocks,” a coming-of-age story of a teenage girl living alone with her younger brother in London, is the third feature from “Suffragette” and “Brick Lane” director Gavron, and will be the section’s opening-night film.
Italian director Pietro Marcello’s “Martin Eden,” an adaptation of the 1909 novel by Jack London, will close the section.
Also Read: Mister Rogers, the Joker and Judy Garland Are All Headed to Toronto Film Festival
Other films will include “My Zoe,” in which actress-director Delpy stars with Richard Armitage and Daniel Bruhl; “Promixa,” starring Eva Green and Matt Dillon; “Sound of Metal,” with Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke; “Wet Season,...
“Rocks,” a coming-of-age story of a teenage girl living alone with her younger brother in London, is the third feature from “Suffragette” and “Brick Lane” director Gavron, and will be the section’s opening-night film.
Italian director Pietro Marcello’s “Martin Eden,” an adaptation of the 1909 novel by Jack London, will close the section.
Also Read: Mister Rogers, the Joker and Judy Garland Are All Headed to Toronto Film Festival
Other films will include “My Zoe,” in which actress-director Delpy stars with Richard Armitage and Daniel Bruhl; “Promixa,” starring Eva Green and Matt Dillon; “Sound of Metal,” with Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke; “Wet Season,...
- 8/7/2019
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
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