The Singapore International Film Festival’s Junior Explorers programme pairs three films from Chile, Ireland and Japan with sensory-friendly screenings and hands-on activities, while its new Parallax programme looks at how technology is reshaping the future of filmmaking.
A first trip to the cinema can be more than an introduction to the big screen. It can open up new worlds, spark questions about growing up and give families a chance to talk about things that may be difficult to put into words.
This is the idea behind Junior Explorers, a programme at the 37th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) designed to help young audiences discover cinema through stories about family, belonging and the courage to be different.
Featuring three films from Chile, Ireland and Japan, the programme follows young protagonists as they venture into unfamiliar territory, form unexpected friendships and learn more about themselves and the people around them. Selected screenings will take place in a relaxed, sensory-friendly environment, with hands-on activities that invite children and their parents to continue exploring the films’ themes together.
Opening the programme is Brave Cat, a Chilean animated adventure directed by Gabriel Osorio Vargas, whose short film Bear Story won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
The film follows Kona, a young cat whose mother is taken by a mysterious human who abducts forest animals and forces them to join a circus. Years later, Kona sets out to find her mother, travelling through unfamiliar landscapes with Colin, a puppy abandoned by the guard dogs because of his disability, and Bernard, a bear who repeatedly escapes from the circus.
As the trio face danger and navigate strange environments, their shared longing to reunite with their families brings them together. Blending adventure with themes of loss, forgiveness and human rights, Brave Cat offers young viewers a story about finding the courage to keep going — and the strength that can come from standing together.
Another animated feature, Julián, turns the spotlight on self-expression. Directed by Irish filmmaker Louise Bagnall, whose credits include the Oscar-nominated short Late Afternoon, the film follows seven-year-old Julián during a summer spent with his grandmother, Carmela, in New York City.
As Julián discovers more about his Caribbean heritage and the lively Brooklyn community around him, he dreams of dressing as a mermaid for the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. With Carmela’s help, he begins making his costume, even as he encounters people who do not understand or support his ambition.
Adapted from the award-winning picture book Julián Is a Mermaid, the film uses a colourful 2D animation style inspired by marker and coloured pencil. Its story invites children to celebrate their individuality and consider what it means to make room for others to express themselves.
The third selection, Japanese live-action family adventure The Invisibles, explores identity and family through a fantastical premise. Directed by Ryo Takebayashi, the film centres on widower Manabu and his three daughters, who live on a secluded island to protect a family secret: the youngest daughter, Hikari, was born invisible.
The spirited sisters dream of filmmaking and acting, making home movies inspired by their maternal grandmother, a celebrated horror-film performer. When their grandmother is suddenly hospitalised in Tokyo, the family embarks on a road trip that brings unexpected encounters, comic mishaps and candid conversations. Their journey forces Manabu to confront his anxieties about protecting Hikari, while the sisters begin to navigate the risks and possibilities of a world beyond their island home.
Together, the three films offer different entry points into conversations about growing up: coping with loss, embracing self-expression and understanding the people we love.
For Junior Explorers, the experience does not end when the credits roll. Selected screenings pair the films with relaxed, sensory-friendly arrangements and post-screening activities designed to help children engage with the stories through creativity, movement and play.
After Brave Cat, children can turn moments of frustration into decorated paper planes before launching them together — a playful way of exploring the idea of letting go. Following Julián, children and parents can celebrate what makes them different through self-decoration and personal storytelling. They will then translate their stories into gestures before coming together for a group dance.
The activities are designed to give families a shared experience they can reflect on afterwards, helping children express ideas and feelings in ways that may be easier than simply talking about them.
Both Brave Cat and Julián will have relaxed screenings with post-screening activities for audiences aged five and above on 25 October at the National Museum of Singapore’s Gallery Theatre. Both films will screen again on 1 November at Golden Village Bugis+. For older children, The Invisibles will screen on 31 October at Golden Village Bugis+, for audiences aged 10 and above.
While Junior Explorers introduces younger audiences to the possibilities of storytelling on screen, SGIFF is also inviting the wider public to consider how cinema itself is changing. Its new Parallax programme explores the intersection of filmmaking, artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive technology, offering an industry-focused look at the tools and ideas shaping the future of moving images.
Taking place at Esplanade, the free public programme includes virtual reality demonstrations from Korea’s Ubac Studio and French VR companies, alongside panel discussions featuring technologists and innovation leads from organisations including Amazon MGM Studios, Adobe and Studio Realive, part of SM Entertainment Group.
Through demonstrations, artist talks and critical discussions, Parallax examines questions of authorship, ethics and the place of technology in human creativity. It offers audiences a chance to look beyond the finished film and consider the decisions, innovations and debates shaping how stories are created and experienced. From a child discovering the confidence to be different to a filmmaker exploring new creative tools, both programmes reflect SGIFF’s invitation to approach cinema with curiosity and an open mind.
The 37th SGIFF runs from 21st October to 1st November 2026. More information and lineup available via their website here
