Film Fanatic: Local CNY comedy film Reunion Dinner marks opening with star-studded premiere at Sands Theatre

Local Chinese New Year comedy movie, Reunion Dinner 《团圆饭》, held its Gala Premiere in Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands on 18th January. In attendance at the star-studded event were Director Ong Kuo Sin, ensemble cast including Lawrence Wong, Mark Lee, Xiang Yun, Guo Liang, Zhu Hou Ren and Das DD.

Supporting actors of the movie Joel Choo, Ferlyn G, and other local celebrities including Golden Horse Best Actress Yeo Yann Yann, Desmond Tan, celebrity couple Zheng Ge Ping and Hong Hui Fang, Maxi Lim, Henry Thia, Jaspers Lai, Jeffrey Xu and Andie Chen also attended. Minister for Communications and Information Mrs Josephine Teo graced the Gala Premiere as Guest-of-Honour and gave an opening address before the screening commenced.

Reunion Dinner is the first local film to be conceptualised, produced and released wholly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also the first local film to hit the cinemas in 2022.

Reunion Dinner‘s director Ong Kuo Sin shared his excitement, “I’m honoured to be able to premiere my first Chinese New Year movie at Sands Theatre in the presence of Minister Josephine Teo and many distinguished guests from our movie industry during these trying times. I hope this comedy movie can bring a smile to the audience after they step out of the cinemas and also remind ourselves to remain hopeful and optimistic about the future.”

Lim Teck, Managing Director of Clover Films and Executive Producer of the movie says, “This movie is the movie version of a Pandemic baby. We conceived, developed and delivered the movie after the Pandemic started. We are very proud of how the movie turned out and want to thank all our partners, sponsors, Director Ong Kuo Sin, the entire cast and production team. We are overwhelmed by the reaction from the audience last night at the Sands Theatre and hope more people can catch our movie!”

Song Jia, vice president of iQIYI, sent her congratulations to Reunion Dinner‘s Gala Premiere, “I feel honoured to take part in the creation of the stories. I’m glad to see that the audience can watch the movie at the most important Chinese festival, the Spring Festival. And I want to thank our partners, especially Clover Films for their spirit of good cooperation. Reunion Dinner will also be released on iQIYI soon. I wish this film a great success.”

“We are indeed excited to be supporting and sharing this heart-warming yet fun-filled CNY movie with fellow Singaporeans and viewers from other parts of Asia. It is also our hope that the Reunion Dinner movie will bring good cheer and joy to one and all during this Lunar New Year as we celebrate with our families and loved ones,” said Mr Ricky Ong, founder and CEO of Holistic Way, a multi-award winning health supplement brand of JR Life Sciences.

“Marina Bay Sands is excited to usher in the Year of the Tiger by hosting the premiere of this heartwarming film that signifies a collaboration between creative talents across Singapore and China. The movie REUNION DINNER portrays the importance of familial ties during this holiday season, a sentiment that echoes the underlying mission of our property, which is to bring people together. So from our family at Marina Bay Sands to yours, we wish you a prosperous Lunar New Year,” said Jeremy Bach, Chief Marketing Officer, Marina Bay Sands.

Starring Lawrence Wong, Cya Liu, Mark Lee, Mediacorp artistes Xiang Yun , Guo Liang, and Zhu Hou Ren; Mimi Chooand Das DD, Reunion Dinner follows the story of co-workers Chaoyang (Lawrence Wong) and Zi Hong (Cya Liu) who have been dating for more than a year, with marriage on the cards. When a client requests for a livestream of their reunion dinner to promote his products, the couple realises that neither have met the other’s family. Zi Hong is excited to finally get to meet Chaoyang’s mother, unaware of the latter’s estranged relationship with his mother. Embarrassed by his mother Yan Ling’s (Xiang Yun) occupation as a mama-san, Chaoyang decides to engage the help of a friend, Wei (Mark Lee), to “rent-a-family”, resulting in a series of mishaps and hilarity. 

The carefully constructed sham falls to pieces when the lie is eventually exposed over the reunion dinner on livestream. Will Chaoyang be able to repair the broken relationship with his mother and reconcile his differences with Zi Hong? 

Reunion Dinner opens 20th January 2022 at Golden Village cinemas.