Film Bulletin // THU, 17 SEPT - WED, 23 SEPT 2026

        
          
          
            FILMBULLETIN.SG // SHOWTIMES // #25
THU, 17 SEPT - WED, 23 SEPT 2026

          

            How to Divorce During the War (2026)
(blank), a new experimental film festival, debuts this weekend this Saturday. Your only chance to catch some avant-garde work both new and old.
AFA's Past Time programme continues this weekend, with a sold out house packed into Oldham Theatre to watch Wang Bing's extremely long Tie Xi Qu. For those that didn't manage to secure tickets, or didn't dare subject themselves to such runtimes, may I suggest the much shorter News From Home (89 min!) from acclaimed director Chantal Akerman. My podcast, Deep Cut, also has an episode discussing the film here, alongside other episodes on Akerman's films.
We also have two regional film festivals this weekend: The Austrian Film Festival that is playing at Shaw and the Nordic Film Festival that is hosted at Filmhouse.
Singapore Film Society continues their SFS Showcase with How to Divorce During the War, set during early days of Russian's invasion of Ukraine, probably your only chance to see this film in the cinema.
Filmhouse also continues showing Linklater's Before Trilogy, with the sequel Before Sunset, which I recommend for its realtime dialogue driven narrative.
Phew, that's a lot of recommendations and options this week, and I'll see y'all on the other side of Wang Bing's behemoth 10 hour epic! 🫡
—Ben from Filmbulletin
 

          

            LISTINGS
(blank) Experimental Film Festival 2026
Singapore’s only experimental film festival debuts with 21 avant-garde works from Southeast Asia and Spain. Join panels with international guests and explore the future of moving-image practice.
10 Square
SAT SEPT 19 / 12:00 [Special Event, Q&A, Talk]
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
Dir: Sergio Leone
Amidst the chaos of the Civil War, three men hunt for a hidden fortune in gold. This iconic Western pits a loner, a hitman, and a bandit against each other in a high-stakes search for wealth.
Capitol Theatre
WED SEPT 23 / 19:00
MINDS FILM FESTIVAL
Please Stand By (2017)
Dir: Ben Lewin
A young autistic woman escapes her caregiver to deliver a Star Trek script to a Hollywood competition. Guided by the spirit of Mr. Spock, she embarks on a heartwarming journey into the unknown.
SAFRA Choa Chu Kang Atrium
SAT SEPT 19 / 10:00 [Free]
Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre, The Great Hall
SUN SEPT 20 / 10:00 [Free]
Super Wang Wang (2025)
Dir: Kong Ling Shou
Raised in the forest, a young boy with intellectual disability discovers his talent for speed skating and joins a Special Olympics team, overcoming prejudice and setbacks in pursuit of his dreams.
SAFRA Choa Chu Kang Atrium
SAT SEPT 19 / 14:00 [Free]
Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre, The Great Hall
SUN SEPT 20 / 14:00 [Free]
ASIAN FILM ARCHIVE
News From Home (1976)
Dir: Chantal Akerman
Chantal Akerman’s minimalist masterpiece meditates on her estrangement from her mother. Through stark voiceovers and melancholic New York cityscapes, she captures a profound sense of dislocation.
Oldham Theatre
FRI SEPT 18 / 20:00
Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks (2002)
Dir: Wang Bing
Wang Bing’s monumental documentary captures the decline of China’s industrial Tie Xi District. Through long, immersive takes, he reveals the monotony and eventual collapse of a blue-collar world.
Oldham Theatre
SAT SEPT 19 / 11:00
Mundane History (2009)
Dir: Anocha Suwichakornpong
A wealthy, handicapped man forms an evolving bond with his nurse in a grand Bangkok manor. This atmospheric drama uses a non-linear structure to explore existential questions of rebirth and time.
Oldham Theatre
SUN SEPT 20 / 14:00
AUSTRIAN FILM FESTIVAL
The Blood Countess (2026)
Dir: Ulrike Ottinger
A vampire countess and her maid hunt for the elixir of life and a dangerous book. They are pursued by a motley crew of vampirologists, a police inspector, and a vegetarian nephew with his therapist.
GV Vivocity
FRI SEPT 18 / 19:00
The Souffleur (2025)
Dir: Gastón Solnicki
Lucius Glantz, a veteran hotel manager in Vienna, fights to save his beloved establishment from a scheming realtor’s plan to demolish it, leading to a clash of wills that even affects the hotel’s renowned soufflé recipe.
GV Vivocity
SAT SEPT 19 / 19:00
Sleeping with a Tiger (2024)
Dir: Anja Salomonowitz
Anja Salomonowitz presents a unique biopic of Austrian painter Maria Lassnig. The film captures her inner struggles and artistic evolution, featuring a lead actress who portrays her across every decade.
GV Vivocity
SUN SEPT 20 / 16:00
SINGAPORE FILM SOCIETY
Earthquake (1974)
Dir: Mark Robson
When a catastrophic earthquake strikes Los Angeles, residents struggle to survive the chaos. Amidst the destruction, personal dramas and affairs unfold as the city faces relentless, deadly aftershocks.
GV Cineleisure
THU SEPT 17 / 19:30
WED SEPT 23 / 19:30
King of Hawkers (2024)
Dir: Kelvin Sng
When a multinational corporation threatens their livelihoods, a group of local hawkers must unite to protect their recipes and legacy. It is a heartwarming story of community, food, and resilience.
GV Cineleisure
FRI SEPT 18 / 19:30 [Q&A]
The Hopeless 10 (2026)
Dir: Hiroyasu Kitagawa
In a fractured future, a stolen fortune triggers a violent hunt involving killers and swordsmen. Ten desperate souls face off in this wild, dark comedy about greed, survival, and human worth.
GV Cineleisure
SAT SEPT 19 / 13:30
How to Divorce During the War (2026)
Dir: Andrius Blaževičius
Executive Marija chooses the worst possible moment to ask for a divorce: one day before Russia invades Ukraine. The couple must navigate their separation amidst a personal and geopolitical crisis.
GV Funan
SAT SEPT 19 / 13:30
Itam: A Sun Bear Story (2025)
Dir: Raymond Tan
This immersive documentary follows the rehabilitation and rewilding of Itam, a rescued sun bear in Malaysia. It combines scientific inquiry with cinematic storytelling to highlight conservation efforts.
GV Cineleisure
SAT SEPT 19 / 16:00
The Old Man and His Car (2025)
Dir: Michael Kam
A widowed man prepares to migrate to join his son, but must first sell his cherished car. An unexpected encounter leads him on a poignant journey to confront his past and an uncertain future.
GV Cineleisure
SAT SEPT 19 / 19:30
Finding Mojo (2026)
Dir: Lim Siu Min
When a viral cow mascot is stolen, a young executive goes undercover in his former village to recover her. He soon faces a choice between corporate loyalty and the community that shaped him.
GV Cineleisure
SUN SEPT 20 / 16:00
Paris, Texas (1984)
Dir: Wim Wenders
A man wanders out of the desert not knowing who he is. His brother finds him, and helps to pull his memory back of the life he led before he walked out on his family and disappeared four years earlier.
GV Cineleisure
SUN SEPT 20 / 19:30
FILMHOUSE
Tony (2026)
Dir: Matt Johnson
Before he was a culinary icon, Anthony Bourdain was a dishwasher finding his edge in a chaotic 1970s seafood shack. This electric origin story captures the raw grit and rock-and-roll pulse of his early life.
Filmhouse
THU SEPT 17 / 16:00
SUN SEPT 20 / 20:00
WED SEPT 23 / 15:45
The Dance Club (2025)
Dir: Lisa Langseth
Psychology student Johannes and artist Rakel form an unconventional club to help patients fight back against their abusers. As the group expands, Johannes struggles to balance his mission and love.
Filmhouse
THU SEPT 17 / 19:30
The Violinist (2026)
Dir: Ervin Han, Raúl García
In 1930s Singapore, two violinists are separated by the chaos of war. Years later, Fei searches for her missing friend across Southeast Asia, ultimately questioning if she can define her own future.
Filmhouse
THU SEPT 17 / 20:30
FRI SEPT 18 / 20:00
SAT SEPT 19 / 17:00
SUN SEPT 20 / 17:15
TUE SEPT 22 / 17:00
TUE SEPT 22 / 20:30
WED SEPT 23 / 20:00
We Are All Strangers (2026)
Dir: Anthony Chen
A life-altering event forces 21-year-old Junyang to confront reality. As his father struggles to maintain their modest life, a new woman enters the picture, forcing both generations to redefine family.
Filmhouse
FRI SEPT 18 / 16:30
The Day Iceland Stood Still (2023)
Dir: Pamela Hogan
In 1975, 90% of Icelandic women walked off the job, bringing the country to a standstill. This powerful documentary captures the 12-hour strike that ignited a global revolution for gender equality.
Filmhouse
FRI SEPT 18 / 19:30
La La Land (2016)
Dir: Damien Chazelle
An aspiring actress and a jazz musician struggle to balance their love affair with their ambitious dreams. As success mounts, they face difficult choices that threaten to tear them apart.
Filmhouse
SAT SEPT 19 / 14:30
Ratatouille (2026)
Dir: Brad Bird
Remy, a rat with a refined palate, dreams of becoming a chef in Paris. He forms an unlikely alliance with a kitchen worker to pursue his culinary goals while evading a ruthless food critic.
Filmhouse
SAT SEPT 19 / 17:30
SUN SEPT 20 / 14:30
Oldboy (2003)
Dir: Park Chan-wook
After 15 years of unexplained imprisonment, a man is released with five days to find his captor. This hyper-violent thriller follows his dark, psychological quest for vengeance and the truth.
Filmhouse
SAT SEPT 19 / 20:30
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Dir: Giuseppe Tornatore
In a sun-drenched Sicilian village, young Salvatore discovers the magic of cinema. Guided by the local projectionist, he finds a lifelong passion that shapes his future in this timeless masterpiece.
Filmhouse
TUE SEPT 22 / 19:30
Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
Dir: Godfrey Reggio
Godfrey Reggio’s visual masterpiece pairs stunning footage of natural landscapes and urban decay with a legendary Philip Glass score. It remains a definitive, cult big-screen documentary experience.
Filmhouse
WED SEPT 23 / 19:30
Silent Friend (2025)
Dir: Ildikó Enyedi
A mysterious ginkgo tree connects three stories across a century. From a 1908 student to a modern neuroscientist, this film explores human curiosity and the patterns of life across different eras.
Filmhouse
THU SEPT 17 / 17:00
The Invite (2026)
Dir: Olivia Wilde
Joe and Angela’s marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places.
Filmhouse
THU SEPT 17 / 17:30
SUN SEPT 20 / 19:30
TUE SEPT 22 / 17:30
Aftersun (2022)
Dir: Charlotte Wells
Years after a quiet Turkish holiday, an adult Sophie revisits home videos of her father. She attempts to reconcile her fond memories with the hidden struggles he faced during their final trip together.
Filmhouse
THU SEPT 17 / 20:00
SUN SEPT 20 / 16:30
TUE SEPT 22 / 16:30
Hope (2026)
Dir: Na Hong-jin
A coastal village faces an unearthly, destructive threat after a mysterious animal attack. Cut off by wildfires, a local police chief and his deputy must hunt a beast they are ill-equipped to fight.
Filmhouse
FRI SEPT 18 / 16:00
SAT SEPT 19 / 13:30
SUN SEPT 20 / 19:00
TUE SEPT 22 / 20:00
Perfect Days (2023)
Dir: Wim Wenders
Hirayama finds profound contentment in his simple life as a Tokyo toilet cleaner. Through his daily routine and quiet joys, he discovers the hidden beauty in the world around him.
Filmhouse
FRI SEPT 18 / 17:00
SUN SEPT 20 / 13:30
WED SEPT 23 / 17:00
Trainspotting (1996)
Dir: Danny Boyle
Mark Renton navigates the chaotic highs and lows of heroin addiction alongside his unreliable friends. Even after moving to London, he finds it nearly impossible to escape his past life in Edinburgh.
Filmhouse
FRI SEPT 18 / 20:30
Before Sunrise (1995)
Dir: Richard Linklater
Two travelers meet on a train and spend a single, transformative night wandering through Vienna. They share intimate conversations, knowing their time together is fleeting but deeply meaningful.
Filmhouse
SAT SEPT 19 / 14:00
Before Sunset (2004)
Dir: Richard Linklater
Nine years after their fateful night in Vienna, Jesse and Celine reunite in Paris. With limited time before his flight, they confront their past and the lingering feelings they still share.
Filmhouse
SAT SEPT 19 / 16:40
Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
Dir: Justine Triet
A woman is suspected of her husband’s murder, and their blind son faces a moral dilemma as the sole witness.
Filmhouse
SAT SEPT 19 / 20:00
Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Dir: Sergio Leone
Sergio Leone’s final epic spans four decades of friendship and betrayal in New York. This hypnotic tale follows a crew of street hustlers turned mobsters through a haze of nostalgia and ambition.
Filmhouse
SUN SEPT 20 / 14:00
Mysterious Skin (2004)
Dir: Gregg Araki
Two boys share a traumatic childhood event that haunts them into adulthood. Years later, one man’s recurring dreams of alien abduction lead him to confront the dark truth of what really happened to them.
Filmhouse
WED SEPT 23 / 16:30

          

            FILMBULLETIN.SG // SHOWTIMES // #25

          

      
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