Film Bulletin // THU, 8 OCT - WED, 14 OCT 2026

        
          
          
            FILMBULLETIN.SG // SHOWTIMES // #28
THU, 8 OCT - WED, 14 OCT 2026

          

            The Samurai and the Prisoner (2026)
How's your October been with the multiple regional film festivals in Singapore? I'm actually currently checking out Busan International Film Festival for the first time, and it's been interesting seeing film culture in a different country. 
For this week, a recommendation for Kiyoshi Kurosawa's new film The Samurai and the Prisoner. Deep Cut also has an interview with Kurosawa already published! JFF also has a secret 35mm screening at Shaw which is another rare chance to experience analog film in our current digital era.
Animation Nation's Festival also begins this week alongside the Korean Film Festival (with tickets at $3!). I'm too beat for any more specific recommendations for the week, but I'm sure you'll be able to find something to spend time on!
—Ben from Filmbulletin
 

          

            LISTINGS
ANIMATION NATION
NTU ADM BOFS 2026 Journey On - Animation and Game Screening
Celebrate the future of animation and game design at this special showcase. Featuring the final year projects of NTU’s Class of 2026, the event highlights diverse creative voices and innovation.
Alliance Francaise
SAT OCT 10 / 14:00 [Q&A]
Walking with Animators (2026)
Dir: Gilles Penso, Alexandre Poncet
Over 70 artists reveal the passion and patience required to bring drawings to life. This documentary explores the creative journeys and techniques behind the extraordinary art form of animation.
Alliance Francaise
SAT OCT 10 / 16:00
Lucy Lost (2026)
Dir: Olivier Clert
In 1915, a girl with mysterious visions and extraordinary gifts finds an unexpected friend in a ghost. Together, they embark on a magical adventure to uncover the truth about her forgotten past.
Alliance Francaise
SAT OCT 10 / 18:00
Yugly (2026)
Dir: Jérémie Degruson, Yanis Belaid
Yugly may be the world's ugliest dog, but he dreams of winning the Best in Dog Show. With a band of stray friends, he proves that even the most unlikely contender deserves a chance at glory.
Alliance Francaise
SUN OCT 11 / 15:00
Dandelion's Odyssey (2025)
Dir: Momoko Seto
After Earth is destroyed, four dandelion seeds drift into the cosmos. They land on an unknown planet, embarking on an extraordinary journey to find fertile soil where their species can survive.
Alliance Francaise
SUN OCT 11 / 17:00
KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL
The Square (2025)
Dir: Kim Bo-sol
A Swedish diplomat in Pyongyang searches for his missing lover, a local traffic officer. With his departure date looming, he grows increasingly suspicious of his own interpreter in this tense mystery.
GV Suntec City
FRI OCT 09 / 19:00
Mad Dance Office (2026)
Dir: Cho Hyeon-jin
After her orderly life falls apart, a civil servant loses her promotion and her daughter disappears. Searching for a new sense of balance, she finds an unexpected escape in a flamenco dance studio.
GV Suntec City
SAT OCT 10 / 13:50
People and Meat (2025)
Dir: Yang Jong-hyun
Three struggling seniors form an unlikely bond with a singular mission: eating pork across Seoul without paying. As they hunt for free meals, they find friendship and a renewed sense of purpose together.
GV Suntec City
SAT OCT 10 / 16:25
Hana Korea (2025)
Dir: Frederik Sølberg
A young North Korean refugee fights to rebuild her life in fast-paced, hyper-modern South Korea, forcing her to confront the price of freedom and the past she left behind.
GV Suntec City
SAT OCT 10 / 19:00
Big Deal (2025)
Dir: Choi Yun-Jin
During the 1997 Asian financial crisis, an ambitious investment associate targets a bankrupt soju company. His calculated plan for a hostile takeover leads to an unexpected and complex outcome.
GV Suntec City
SUN OCT 11 / 14:00
The Price of Goodbye (2025)
Dir: Kwon Yong-jae
To afford college tuition, a nurse and her brother stage a fake funeral for their comatose father. As they deceive the hospital, their desperate plan begins to unravel in unexpected ways.
GV Suntec City
SUN OCT 11 / 16:35
GERMAN FILM FESTIVAL
The Secret Floor (2025)
Dir: Norbert Lechner
When 12-year-old Karli discovers a magical elevator in his Alpine hotel, he is transported to 1938. Amidst the rising shadow of Nazi Germany, he must solve a mystery to protect his new friends from danger.
German European School Singapore (GESS)
THU OCT 08 / 18:30 [Free]
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit (2019)
Dir: Caroline Link
In 1933 Berlin, nine-year-old Anna must flee with her family to escape the Nazis. Leaving her home and beloved toy behind, she faces the harsh, uncertain challenges of life as a young refugee.
Our Tampines Hub, Festive Arts Theatre
SUN OCT 11 / 15:00 [Free]
The Trouble with Being Born (2020)
Dir: Sandra Wollner
Elli is an android living with a man who treats her as a daughter. While she mimics his programmed memories, she eventually seeks her own path. A haunting look at the ghosts we carry within.
Our Tampines Hub, Festive Arts Theatre
SUN OCT 11 / 17:15 [Free]
Amrum (2025)
Dir: Fatih Akin
On Amrum Island in 1945, twelve-year-old Nanning works tirelessly to support his family. As the war ends and his mother falls into depression, he must navigate new conflicts to forge his own path forward.
Filmhouse
FRI OCT 09 / 20:00
The Holy Grill (Extrawurst) (2026)
Dir: Marcus H. Rosenmüller
A simple suggestion for a separate grill at a rural German tennis club party spirals into a heated debate. This sharp comedy explores how minor cultural tensions can tear a community apart.
Filmhouse
SAT OCT 10 / 20:00
Exile (2020)
Dir: Visar Morina
A Kosovan of migrant background living in Germany believes he's a victim of xenophobia, but it may be his own paranoia spiraling out of control.
Filmhouse
SUN OCT 11 / 14:00
Fatherland (2026)
Dir: Paweł Pawlikowski
In 1949, German writer Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika embark on a road trip across a Germany in ruins, from US-dominated Frankfurt to Soviet-controlled Weimar.
Filmhouse
WED OCT 14 / 19:30
SINGAPORE FILM SOCIETY
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
THU OCT 08 / 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 OCT 09 / 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 OCT 10 / 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 OCT 10 / 16:00 [Q&A]
Sementara (2020)
Dir: Shao Min Chew Chia, Joant Úbeda
This inquisitive documentary explores modern Singapore during its 50th jubilee. Through intimate conversations, it reveals a society wrestling with identity, tradition, and rapid national change.
GV Cineleisure
SAT OCT 10 / 19:30 [Q&A]
The Songs We Sang (2015)
Dir: Eva Tang
Discover the heartfelt story of Singapore’s xinyao movement. Through interviews and concert footage, this film celebrates the songwriters who defined a generation of local music.
GV Cineleisure
SUN OCT 11 / 16:00 [Q&A]
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 OCT 11 / 19:30
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
WED OCT 14 / 19:30
JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL
The Girl Who Sees (Mieruko-chan) (2025)
Dir: Yoshihiro Nakamura
Miko has the unsettling ability to see spirits and tries to ignore them to stay safe. However, when her best friend and a mysterious teacher become involved, she can no longer hide from the supernatural.
Shaw Cinemas Lido
THU OCT 08 / 18:50
Shall We Dance? (1996)
Dir: Masayuki Suō
A bored accountant begins secret ballroom dance lessons to get closer to a beautiful woman he spotted. As his passion for dance grows, his suspicious wife hires a detective to uncover his mysterious behavior.
Shaw Cinemas Lido
FRI OCT 09 / 18:35
The Burmese Harp (1956)
Dir: Kon Ichikawa
After WWII, a Japanese soldier disguises himself as a monk to mourn the dead and promote peace. This meditative masterpiece explores the human cost of war through the power of music and reconciliation.
Oldham Theatre
FRI OCT 09 / 20:00
Ramen Teh (2018)
Dir: Eric Khoo
After his father's death, a Japanese ramen chef travels to Singapore to uncover his family's past. Through his mother's old notebook and local cuisine, he finds healing and long-lost connections.
Shaw Cinemas Lido
SAT OCT 10 / 10:15
Bring Him Down to A Portable Size (2025)
Dir: Ryota Nakano
Riko travels to Tohoku to settle her estranged brother's affairs, only to discover a side of him she never knew. Through his family, she uncovers the truth behind his silent struggles and devotion.
Shaw Cinemas Lido
SAT OCT 10 / 12:30
Odd Obsession (1959)
Dir: Kon Ichikawa
Desperate to recover his fading virility, an aging art historian orchestrates a dangerous affair between his wife and his daughter's lover. A web of jealousy and secrets threatens to destroy his family.
Oldham Theatre
SAT OCT 10 / 14:00
The Samurai and the Prisoner (2026)
Dir: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Trapped in a besieged castle, a lord faces internal betrayal and murder. He turns to a prisoner—a master tactician—to solve the mystery before his own retainers or the enemy destroy everything.
Shaw Cinemas Lido
SAT OCT 10 / 15:35
Manji (1964)
Dir: Yasuzō Masumura
A bored housewife becomes entangled in a complex web of desire and deception after falling for a young art student. Their intense, scandalous romance leads to a dangerous game of secrets and jealousy.
Oldham Theatre
SAT OCT 10 / 17:00
Cyber City Oedo 808 (1990)
Dir: Yoshiaki Kawajiri
In dystopian Tokyo, three criminals are recruited into a high-tech police force to hunt cyber terrorists. With explosive collars ensuring their obedience, they fight for their freedom.
Filmhouse
THU OCT 08 / 19:30
Love Letter (1995)
Dir: Shunji Iwai
After a woman writes a letter to her deceased fiancé, she receives a mysterious reply from a namesake living in his old hometown. This poignant drama unearths two long-buried, snowy romances.
Shaw Cinemas Lido
SAT OCT 10 / 19:00
Magical Secret Tour (2026)
Dir: Chihiro Amano
Facing financial ruin, a desperate housewife joins two other women to smuggle gold into Singapore. This gripping tale follows their high-stakes journey as they exploit security loopholes to survive.
Shaw Cinemas Lido
SUN OCT 11 / 10:50
JFF Mystery Screening
Experience a rare 35mm screening of this mystery film from an acclaimed international director. Starring an iconic lead, it offers a poignant, gripping look at the fragility of relationships under modern pressure.
Shaw Cinemas Lido
SUN OCT 11 / 13:00 [Analog Film]
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000)
Dir: Yoshiaki Kawajiri
In a gothic wasteland, a half-vampire bounty hunter is hired to rescue a kidnapped girl. He must navigate a dangerous web of rival mercenaries and dark fantasy to complete his mission.
Filmhouse
SUN OCT 11 / 14:30
You Are The Film (2026)
Dir: Makoto Ueda
Two strangers discover each other on the screen while watching the same film at an indie cinema. They begin communicating through the movie, working together to solve problems in their own lives.
Shaw Cinemas Lido
SUN OCT 11 / 16:10
The Blue Sky Maiden (1957)
Dir: Yasuzō Masumura
A high school graduate moves to Tokyo to join her estranged father’s dysfunctional household. This classic drama observes the shifting social structures of post-war Japan through her eyes.
Oldham Theatre
SUN OCT 11 / 17:00
Throne of Blood (1957)
Dir: Akira Kurosawa
In this thrilling adaptation of Macbeth, a samurai is driven by ambition and his wife's influence to seize a castle. Kurosawa’s masterpiece is the ultimate tale of unchecked, bloody power.
Shaw Cinemas Lido
SUN OCT 11 / 18:45
FILMHOUSE
A Poet (2025)
Dir: Simón Mesa Soto
A forgotten poet finds new purpose when he mentors a young girl with a natural gift for verse. This biting tragicomedy explores ambition, class, and the messy, beautiful reality of being human.
Filmhouse
THU OCT 08 / 16:30
WED OCT 14 / 17:30
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 OCT 08 / 17:00
FRI OCT 09 / 17:30
TUE OCT 13 / 17:15
Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! (2026)
Dir: Josef Kubota Wladyka
After a tragic loss, a ballroom dancer finds her way back to the floor through an unexpected connection. This vibrant film portrays the messy, colorful, and exuberant process of moving forward.
Filmhouse
THU OCT 08 / 17:30
SUN OCT 11 / 20:30
TUE OCT 13 / 16:15
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 OCT 08 / 20:00
FRI OCT 09 / 17:00
SAT OCT 10 / 13:45
SUN OCT 11 / 20:10
TUE OCT 13 / 16:45
WED OCT 14 / 17:00
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Dir: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
A man finds a fortune in the desert, triggering a lethal pursuit by a methodical killer. As a local sheriff closes in, the lines between predator and prey blur in this tense, violent thriller.
Filmhouse
THU OCT 08 / 20:30
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
FRI OCT 09 / 16:00
Digger (2026)
Dir: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
The most powerful man in the world embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.
Filmhouse
FRI OCT 09 / 20:30
SAT OCT 10 / 13:15
SUN OCT 11 / 19:30
WED OCT 14 / 20:30
The Big Lebowski (1998)
Dir: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
A case of mistaken identity drags 'The Dude' Lebowski into a bizarre underworld of nihilists and kidnappers. This cult classic is a hilarious, sprawling journey through the eccentricities of L.A.
Filmhouse
SAT OCT 10 / 16:10
Fargo (1996)
Dir: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
A desperate salesman’s kidnapping scheme goes tragically wrong, drawing in a sharp, pregnant police chief. This dark comedy thriller tracks a collision of greed, incompetence, and relentless justice.
Filmhouse
SUN OCT 11 / 16:50
Stalker (1979)
Dir: Andrei Tarkovsky
A guide leads a writer and a scientist into the Zone, a mysterious land where physics fails. At its center lies a room that promises to grant the deepest, most hidden desires of the human heart.
Filmhouse
SAT OCT 10 / 16:30
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 OCT 10 / 18:00
Moonlight (2016)
Dir: Barry Jenkins
Across three pivotal eras, Chiron navigates the challenges of identity and sexuality in a tough neighborhood. This powerful story follows his journey from a troubled youth to adulthood.
Filmhouse
SAT OCT 10 / 19:30
SUN OCT 11 / 17:30
WED OCT 14 / 20:00
Stop Making Sense (1984)
Dir: Jonathan Demme
Experience Talking Heads at their peak in this iconic concert film. Directed by Jonathan Demme, the performance features creative choreography and a career-spanning set that remains legendary.
Filmhouse
SAT OCT 10 / 20:30
Kokuho (2025)
Dir: Sang-il Lee
Two young men dedicate their lives to the traditional art of kabuki after the death of a yakuza father. Over decades, they grow together as one rises to become a legendary master of the stage.
Filmhouse
SUN OCT 11 / 13:30
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
SUN OCT 11 / 17:10
TUE OCT 13 / 19:30
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
TUE OCT 13 / 19:10
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
TUE OCT 13 / 20:00
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
WED OCT 14 / 16:30

          

            FILMBULLETIN.SG // SHOWTIMES // #28

          

      
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