Preview: SGIFF 2016 Opening Film + Special Presentation – Interchange + The Pursuit of A Happy Human Life

The 27th SGIFF starts off with a bang, beginning with the Asian premiere of visionary Malaysian director Dain Iskandar Said’s new film Interchange. Set in a modern metropolis, Interchange explores the seedy depths of the subterranean underworld, a modern neo-noir playing on the supernatural and mythology of Southeast Asia. Come see the dark side of the modern Asian city, with intense, rarely seen views of streetwalker lined … Continue reading Preview: SGIFF 2016 Opening Film + Special Presentation – Interchange + The Pursuit of A Happy Human Life

Preview: French Film Festival 2016

The annual French Film Festival is back again! We’re huge lovers of French cinema, and the selection this year is very exciting, with a well curated set of films from the last few years. Organized by Institut Français Singapour, the French Embassy and Alliance Française, the 2016 French Film Festival presents a selection of 18 films, ranging from cult classics to all new films fresh … Continue reading Preview: French Film Festival 2016

Review: Your Name dir. Makoto Shinkai

Hot off the 2016 London Film Festival, Your Name is the latest from director Makoto Shinkai, whose previous works include 5 Centimeters Per Second (2007) and Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011). I’ve personally always loved Shinkai’s work ever since catching Voices of A Distant Star ages ago, and it’s incredible how Your Name has become one of the highest grossing anime films in Japan, second only to films by animation giant Studio Ghibli. Your Name brings … Continue reading Review: Your Name dir. Makoto Shinkai

Preview: Singapore International Film Festival 2016 – Telling Our Stories

The Singapore International Film Festival enters its 27th year, and as always, brings together some of the very best of new independent cinema to our little red dot. This time around, it’s going to have a fiercely Asian theme, courtesy of the team headed by festival Executive Director Yuni Hadi and Programme Director Zhang Wenjie. This year, the festival will screen 161 carefully curated feature length … Continue reading Preview: Singapore International Film Festival 2016 – Telling Our Stories

London Film Festival 2016: The Wedding Ring dir. Rahmatou Keïta

In this rare film from Niger, and a female directed film at that, Rahmatou Keïta has crafted a fresh, honest look at a different side of Africa. In The Wedding Ring, you won’t find the Western stereotypes of starving children and violence, rather, a quiet look at Nigerien culture through the eyes of a young girl. The Wedding Ring stars Magaajyia Silberfeld as Tiyaa, a young woman … Continue reading London Film Festival 2016: The Wedding Ring dir. Rahmatou Keïta

London Film Festival 2016: Magnus dir. Benjamin Ree (+Interview!)

Magnus Carlsen is a chess prodigy, specifically speaking, becoming a World Champion in 2013 at the age of 22. I’m no chess expert myself, but I’ve always associated chess with old fogeys in the park taking forever to make their next move, and not dapper young men with crowds cheering for them as they enter the arena. Benjamin Ree’s Magnus seeks to change the view of chess. … Continue reading London Film Festival 2016: Magnus dir. Benjamin Ree (+Interview!)

London Film Festival 2016: Lion dir. Garth Davis

Lion, originally titled A Long Way Home, is one of the latest films from the Weinstein Company, and is based off a book by Saroo Brierley. Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman headline this ‘based on a true story’ film. Lion follows Saroo’s life, lost from his family in India at the age of five and adopted by an Australian family, and later on reuniting with his real family using Google Earth, … Continue reading London Film Festival 2016: Lion dir. Garth Davis

London Film Festival 2016: The Tower dir. Keith Maitland

1 August 1966 is a date that will stay with you long after viewing this documentary. Tower’s release marks the 50th anniversary following one of the worst mass shootings in American history. The deed was done by ex-Marine Charles Whitman, who took control over the school clocktower at the University of Texas, armed with ammunition and guns and shot 49 people, before being shot dead by the … Continue reading London Film Festival 2016: The Tower dir. Keith Maitland

London Film Festival 2016:We Are X dir. Stephen Kijak (+Interview)

X Japan is probably one of the biggest bands you’ve never heard of. And no wonder, as you’d probably only know of them if you happen to be into the J-rock scene. We Are X is here to change that, and shines a light on the quirky, weird and wonderful people that make up X Japan. We Are X opens on X Japan’s Madison Square Garden gig in … Continue reading London Film Festival 2016:We Are X dir. Stephen Kijak (+Interview)

London Film Festival 2016: David Lynch: The Art Life dir. Jon Nguyen (+Interview!)

David Lynch is probably one of the most intriguing directors of the time, with a career of spectacular films that defy interpretation and continue to fascinate even today. His last film (Inland Empire) was last made in 2008, and the one before that in 2001 (Mulholland Drive). To feed Lynch fever then, one can only turn to documentaries and interviews such as this one. As … Continue reading London Film Festival 2016: David Lynch: The Art Life dir. Jon Nguyen (+Interview!)