Film Bulletin // THU, 29 OCT

Film Bulletin // THU, 29 OCT - WED, 4 NOV 2026
        
          
          
            FILMBULLETIN.SG // SHOWTIMES // #31
THU, 29 OCT - WED, 4 NOV 2026

          

            Ah Girl (2026)
Singapore Film Week is underway! How has your movie watching been? I hope you've been catching up with both new films and getting to know your fellow festival regulars!
I'm unfortunately not attending SGIFF this year, but my podcast has 2 interviews with filmmakers with films at this year's festival: local filmmaker Ang Geck Geck, for her film film Ah Girl, and Indonesian filmmaker Edwin, for his film Sleep No More.
Objectifs Short Film Festival is also in its first iteration this year, where you can check out thoughtfully put together programmes that celebrate the short film form. We don't always give short films the same respect, but sometimes it can be more difficult to tell a great story in less time than more.
Outside of festival season, AFA has also put together a series from their collection that focuses on Maria Menado, a prominent actress in Singapore/Malaysia in the 50s and 60s, who recently passed away this year.
—Ben from Filmbulletin
 

          

            LISTINGS
The Big Picture Secret Film (29 Oct) (1948)
Dir: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
In this classic dance drama film, a ballerina is torn between romantic love and her pursuit of artistic perfection.
Imagination Room, NLB Building Level 5
THU OCT 29 / 18:30 [Free]
Winter in Sokcho (2024)
Dir: Koya Kamura
Working at a guesthouse in Sokcho, 23-year-old Sooha meets a mysterious French artist. Their unexpected connection forces her to confront long-buried questions about her identity and absent father.
Alliance Francaise
FRI OCT 30 / 19:00
Che Mamat Parang Tumpol (1960)
Dir: L. Krishnan
Unlucky Che Mamat spends his days telling stories to children until a competition win changes his life. Suddenly thrust into a reporter role, he must navigate a drastically different new reality.
Eunos Cultural Centre
SUN NOV 01 / 18:00 [Discussion, Free]
Permata di-Perlimbahan (Jewel in the Slum) (1952)
Dir: Haji Mahadi
Fatima leaves her life as a seamstress to become a nightclub singer, finding love with a businessman. However, their affair triggers a vengeful plot by his wife and a jealous, scorned colleague.
Oldham Theatre
WED NOV 04 / 19:30
OBJECTIFS CENTRE
NeW Wave: NeW Animation Shorts From Japan
Dive into bold new Japanese animation shorts from the NeW NeW program. These diverse stories offer fresh perspectives, ranging from supernatural folklore to quiet, meditative daily observations.
Objectifs Centre
THU OCT 29 / 19:30 [Short Film Programme]
Late Night Tales - Azian Nurudin’s Wicked Times: The Compiled Tapes
A retrospective of Azian Nurudin’s work, capturing the queer BDSM scene in 1980s San Francisco. These twelve films are a maximalist, political, and deeply personal declaration of queer solidarity.
Objectifs Centre
FRI OCT 30 / 19:30 [Short Film Programme]
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
FRI OCT 30 / 19:30
A Feeling Of Music Playing (2023)
Dir: OKJ
This short documentary captures the raw, unpredictable magic of musical improvisation. It serves as a bridge for all audiences to experience the profound, indescribable joy of playing by feel.
GV Cineleisure
SAT OCT 31 / 13:30 [Short Film Programme]
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 31 / 16:00
Ikatan Darah (2026)
Dir: Sidharta Tata
A former martial arts athlete must face a network of loan sharks to save her younger brother, who is trapped in online gambling debt and risking their family’s safety.
GV Cineleisure
THU OCT 29 / 19:30
Alice in the Cities (1974)
Dir: Wim Wenders
A German journalist reluctantly agrees to escort a young girl across Europe to find her grandmother. As they travel, their initial mutual dislike gradually transforms into a heartfelt, lasting bond.
GV Cineleisure
SAT OCT 31 / 19:30
WED NOV 04 / 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 NOV 01 / 16:00
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
SUN NOV 01 / 19:30
FILMHOUSE
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 29 / 15:30
FRI OCT 30 / 16:30
TUE NOV 03 / 16:30
Wildwood (2026)
Dir: Travis Knight
When her brother is taken into a magical forest, Prue leads a rescue mission. She enters a realm of warring factions and mystical creatures, where she must navigate alliances to save her sibling.
Filmhouse
THU OCT 29 / 16:30
SAT OCT 31 / 20:30
TUE NOV 03 / 20:00
Look Back (2026)
Dir: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Two young manga artists form a deep friendship born from rivalry. As their careers take flight, they are pulled in different directions, questioning the future of their creative partnership.
Filmhouse
THU OCT 29 / 19:30
FRI OCT 30 / 17:00
FRI OCT 30 / 17:30
SAT OCT 31 / 13:30
SUN NOV 01 / 14:00
TUE NOV 03 / 20:30
WED NOV 04 / 17:00
Al Awda (2025)
Dir: Jason Soo
Activists from across the globe sail to challenge the blockade of Gaza. This film documents their training in nonviolent resistance and their powerful discussions on solidarity and human rights.
Filmhouse
SAT OCT 31 / 14:30
Hereditary (2018)
Dir: Ari Aster
After her mother’s death, Annie Graham struggles to keep her family together. As disturbing events plague her children, they descend into a nightmare that unearths dark, inescapable ancestral secrets.
Filmhouse
SAT OCT 31 / 16:00
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
SAT OCT 31 / 17:00
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 31 / 17:30
WED NOV 04 / 17:30
Monster House (2006)
Dir: Gil Kenan
Three friends discover that a neighbor's dilapidated house is a living, breathing entity with a lethal appetite. They must destroy the monster house before it consumes the neighborhood kids.
Filmhouse
SUN NOV 01 / 13:30
Fjord (2026)
Dir: Cristian Mungiu
A devout Romanian-Norwegian family relocates to a remote fjord, sparking tension with neighbors. When their daughter arrives at school bruised, the community questions if their strict upbringing is to blame.
Filmhouse
THU OCT 29 / 16:00
FRI OCT 30 / 16:10
SAT OCT 31 / 14:00
TUE NOV 03 / 17:00
WED NOV 04 / 20:00
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Dir: Jim Sharman
A stranded couple stumbles upon the eerie mansion of the flamboyant Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Amid rock music and eccentric characters, the mad scientist unveils his latest, muscular, perfect creation.
Filmhouse
FRI OCT 30 / 19:45 [Special Event]
FRI OCT 30 / 20:45
What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
Dir: Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement
Centuries-old vampires share a suburban flat in this hilarious mockumentary. As they navigate modern life in New Zealand, they struggle with chores, nightlife, and the challenges of the 21st century.
Filmhouse
SUN NOV 01 / 14:30
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
SUN NOV 01 / 16:30
Ponyo (2008)
Dir: Hayao Miyazaki
When young Sosuke rescues a goldfish named Ponyo, he sparks a magical bond. Ponyo yearns to be human, but her powerful sorcerer father is determined to drag her back to the depths of the sea.
Filmhouse
SUN NOV 01 / 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
TUE NOV 03 / 17:30
WED NOV 04 / 16:30
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
TUE NOV 03 / 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
WED NOV 04 / 19:30
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
WED NOV 04 / 20:30
SGIFF
Burn (2026)
Dir: Makoto Nagahisa
Fleeing religious zealots, Jurie joins a gang of lost adolescents in Tokyo. While she finds freedom in their tribe, her new life soon descends into darkness and desperation.
GV Cineleisure
THU OCT 29 / 16:00 [Q&A]
The Ink-Stained Hand and the Missing Thumb (2026)
Dir: Yashasvi Juyal
Two toll booth operators in North India dream of a better future while watching science TV. When a sudden tragedy leads to a mysterious resurrection, their lives are irreversibly changed.
Oldham Theatre
THU OCT 29 / 18:00 [Q&A]
Nagi Notes (2026)
Dir: Koji Fukada
An architect visits a sculptor in an idyllic town, where they spend eight days together. Their inner lives and past romantic longings gently reveal themselves through their evolving friendships.
GV Bugis
THU OCT 29 / 20:45 [Q&A]
No Good Men (2026)
Dir: Shahrbanoo Sadat
Kabul, 2021. Naru, a female camera operator, fights to maintain her independence as a single mother. Her life shifts when she is forced to work with a journalist who eventually wins her trust.
Oldham Theatre
THU OCT 29 / 21:15 [Q&A]
GV Cineleisure
SAT OCT 31 / 14:15 [Q&A]
My Name Ain't Suzie (1985)
Dir: Angie Chen
In 1950s Hong Kong, a young woman enters the world of bars and brothels to support herself. Through decades of change, her entrepreneurial spirit helps her survive hardship and loneliness.
Oldham Theatre
FRI OCT 30 / 16:00
Elephants in the Fog (2026)
Dir: Abinash Bikram Shah
In a remote Nepalese village, Pirati leads a community of third-gender women who are both feared and revered. As wild elephants roam, the villagers conduct nightly patrols to protect their homes.
GV Cineleisure
FRI OCT 30 / 17:45 [Q&A]
Ah Girl (2026)
Dir: Ang Geck Geck
In 1994 Singapore, seven-year-old Swee Swee navigates her parents' crumbling marriage. Alongside her sister, she discovers an innate capacity for love and care while shouldering the burdens of adults.
GV Vivocity
FRI OCT 30 / 18:30 [Q&A]
The Spiral (2026)
Dir: Paolo Strippoli
After a tragic accident leaves her daughter injured, a mother makes a desperate deal with a stranger. Twenty years later, the deadly consequences of that choice finally surface for them both.
GV Bugis
FRI OCT 30 / 21:00 [Q&A]
9 Temples To Heaven (2026)
Dir: Sompot Chidgasornpongse
A businessman takes his family on a pilgrimage to nine temples to save his dying mother. The road trip unearths generational tensions and marital strife as they confront the reality of aging.
GV Cineleisure
SAT OCT 31 / 10:30
In Conversation With Eugene Kotlyarenko, Kiko Mizuhara and Cole Sprouse
Director Eugene Kotlyarenko and stars Kiko Mizuhara and Cole Sprouse discuss the craft behind their latest collaboration. Explore the intersection of digital culture and modern indie cinema.
National Museum Singapore, Gallery Theatre
SAT OCT 31 / 11:00 [Talk]
SEA Short Film Competition 4: Surfaces and Slippages
These Southeast Asian shorts explore the slippages between memory, reality, and performance. From colonial resistance to haunting loneliness, these narratives reveal truths hidden beneath surfaces.
GV Cineleisure
SAT OCT 31 / 14:00 [Short Film Programme, Q&A]
Macho Dancer (1988)
Dir: Lino Brocka
In Manila’s red-light district, Pol becomes a 'macho dancer' for a queer audience. Under a seasoned mentor, he learns the harsh rules of survival and discovers unsettling truths close to home.
Oldham Theatre
SAT OCT 31 / 19:00
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (2026)
Dir: Jane Schoenbrun
A queer filmmaker tasked with rebooting a slasher franchise bonds with the original 'final girl' at a remote campground. Their meeting leads to an unexpected and ecstatic sexual awakening.
Filmhouse
SAT OCT 31 / 21:00
La Bola Negra (2026)
Dir: Javier Ambrossi, Javier Calvo
Spanning from 1932 to 2017, this film weaves together three stories of connection in Spain. From a casino rejection to a wartime friendship and a modern inheritance, history leaves its mark.
National Museum Singapore, Gallery Theatre
SUN NOV 01 / 10:30
Hanabi (2026)
Dir: Ana Vaz
Filmed over a decade, this hybrid work explores the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear fallout. It blends clandestine footage and archival material to reflect on a landscape forever changed.
Oldham Theatre
SUN NOV 01 / 11:00
Filipiñana (2026)
Dir: Rafael Manuel
A tee girl at a posh golf resort observes the stark choreography of servitude. As she navigates the club’s insulated spaces, she witnesses the power dynamics between the wealthy and the workers.
National Museum Singapore, Gallery Theatre
SUN NOV 01 / 14:00
Brave Cat (2026)
Dir: Gabriel Osorio Vargas
After her mother is kidnapped by a circus-running monster, a cat embarks on a perilous journey to save her. She bonds with a disabled puppy and a bear as they navigate a dangerous world.
GV Bugis
SUN NOV 01 / 16:30
Vintage Violence (2026)
Dir: Eugene Kotlyarenko
A simple denim-flipping scheme turns into a chaotic, high-stakes nightmare. Featuring an exiled yakuza with a cybernetic finger, this frenetic thriller spirals into an unhinged, violent revenge plot.
Capitol Theatre
SUN NOV 01 / 17:00 [Q&A]
Prosecution (2026)
Dir: Faraz Shariat
After surviving a targeted attack, a state prosecutor goes rogue to expose a network of extremists. Her investigation forces her to question the true neutrality of the institutions she serves.
Filmhouse
SUN NOV 01 / 19:00
Everytime (2026)
Dir: Sandra Wollner
A year after a tragic loss, a family embarks on a trip that was originally planned before the accident. Memories of the past collide with their present grief in this poignant family drama.
GV Bugis
SUN NOV 01 / 21:15
The End of It (2026)
Dir: Maria Martínez Bayona
In a future where death is optional, artist Claire plans to end her life at 250. Despite her friends' protests, she is determined to turn her final moments into a profound piece of performance art.
Filmhouse
SUN NOV 01 / 21:15
Josephine (2026)
Dir: Beth de Araujo
After witnessing a violent crime, eight-year-old Josephine struggles to process her trauma. As her parents try to shield her, she attempts to make sense of her fractured sense of safety alone.
National Museum Singapore, Gallery Theatre
THU OCT 29 / 16:00
SAT OCT 31 / 16:30
SEA Short Film Competition 2: The Forest Remembers
This collection of Southeast Asian shorts explores the haunting power of the forest. From sacred trees to mysterious crashes, these films dig up buried histories and confront hidden truths.
GV Cineleisure
THU OCT 29 / 18:00 [Short Film Programme, Q&A]
The Burning Giants (2026)
Dir: Phuttiphong Aroonpheng
A Karen man with mysterious burns is quarantined, while an Indigenous activist is killed for opposing eviction. Their lives intersect as a toxic haze threatens migrant workers in Thailand.
GV Cineleisure
THU OCT 29 / 21:00 [Q&A]
Paper Tiger (2026)
Dir: James Gray
A suburban family in 1980s New York gets entangled in a murky Russian business scheme. When the father’s flashy brother introduces a risky opportunity, the price of their ambition becomes clear.
National Museum Singapore, Gallery Theatre
FRI OCT 30 / 13:30
We Are Aliens (2026)
Dir: Kohei Kadowaki
Two inseparable childhood friends grow apart due to unspoken misunderstandings and a quiet betrayal. As adults, each man carries a secret the other never fully sees.
National Museum Singapore, Gallery Theatre
FRI OCT 30 / 16:00 [Q&A]
32 Meters (2025)
Dir: Morteza Atabaki
In a Turkish village, a female shooter fights for her right to compete. When a local contest is cancelled, she and her friends demand a women’s match, only to face restrictive new boundaries.
Oldham Theatre
FRI OCT 30 / 18:15
Zoom In, Zoom Out (2026)
Dir: Dong Jie
A video game designer searches for his missing roommate, using clues found within a game. He teams up with the roommate's former lover to piece together his digital remains and memories.
GV Cineleisure
FRI OCT 30 / 21:00 [Q&A]
SEA Short Film Competition 3: Pervasive Powers
This selection of Southeast Asian shorts examines pervasive powers and societal compulsions. From dark satire to supernatural vengeance, these films challenge the status quo with bold vision.
GV Cineleisure
FRI OCT 30 / 21:15 [Short Film Programme, Q&A]
PanelStory, or How a Housing Development is Born (1979)
Dir: Věra Chytilová
In a gritty, unfinished Prague housing estate, residents navigate the chaos of daily life. Amid poor plumbing and construction debris, they improvise their domestic existence in this vivid mosaic.
Oldham Theatre
SAT OCT 31 / 11:00 [Q&A]
Possible Love (2026)
Dir: Lee Chang-dong
After a violent strike, a blue-collar worker and his wife become the subjects of a documentary. The filmmaker insinuates herself into their lives, exploiting their pain for her own project.
National Museum Singapore, Gallery Theatre
SAT OCT 31 / 13:15
The Invisibles (2026)
Dir: Ryo Takebayashi
A widower and his three daughters live in isolation to hide a secret: the youngest child is invisible. Inspired by their grandmother’s horror legacy, the sisters create their own home movies.
GV Bugis
SAT OCT 31 / 16:30
SEA Short Film Competition 5: There and Back Again
A collection of shorts centered on the complexities of returning home. These films navigate identity, grief, and societal dread, capturing the bittersweet journey of finding one's place again.
GV Cineleisure
SAT OCT 31 / 17:00 [Short Film Programme, Q&A]
The Days Off (2026)
Dir: Lucila Mariani
During a long summer, 12-year-old Bego uses lucid dreaming to escape her fears. As a solar eclipse triggers supernatural events, she struggles to find her place in a shifting, surreal reality.
Filmhouse
SAT OCT 31 / 19:00
Minotaur (2026)
Dir: Andrey Zvyagintsev
As war looms, a small-town businessman must choose which staff to send to the front. With his marriage crumbling and professional pressures rising, he takes drastic measures to protect his interests.
GV Bugis
SAT OCT 31 / 19:15
Sleep No More (2026)
Dir: Edwin
Sisters working in a wig factory face supernatural encounters after their mother dies mysteriously. Their brother, who can regenerate body parts, gets caught in the factory's dark secrets.
GV Cineleisure
SAT OCT 31 / 21:30
Julián (2026)
Dir: Louise Bagnall
Seven-year-old Julián spends a summer in New York with his grandmother, discovering his Caribbean heritage. Inspired by a parade, he dreams of becoming a mermaid with his grandmother's help.
GV Bugis
SUN NOV 01 / 10:30
In Sum + Fruits of Despair + Compact Disc
Three films explore history, displacement, and memory through a metafilmic lens. From the 2019 Hong Kong protests to the Iran-Israel conflict, these works layer personal diaries with archival footage.
Oldham Theatre
SUN NOV 01 / 13:30 [Q&A, Short Film Programme]
House of the Wind (2026)
Dir: Auguste Kouemo Yanghu
Josette oversees the construction of a home meant to lure her children back to Cameroon. Her plans shift when she forms an intense, boundary-blurring bond with a young neighborhood street vendor.
GV Bugis
SUN NOV 01 / 14:00
The Unknown (2026)
Dir: Arthur Harari
A photographer wakes up in the body of a woman he followed home. This surreal swap becomes a permanent state of homelessness, as he struggles to inhabit a life and identity that are not his.
Oldham Theatre
SUN NOV 01 / 16:30
Tangles (2026)
Dir: Leah Nelson
Sarah returns to her conservative hometown to care for her mother, who has Alzheimer’s. Despite the disease's toll, the film finds humor and humanity in their bond during a difficult transition.
GV Bugis
SUN NOV 01 / 19:00 [Q&A]
Amores Perros (2000)
Dir: Alejandro González Iñárritu
A tragic car crash in Mexico City intertwines the lives of three strangers: a desperate dogfighter, a traumatized supermodel, and an aging hitman seeking redemption with his estranged daughter.
Oldham Theatre
SUN NOV 01 / 19:30

          

            FILMBULLETIN.SG // SHOWTIMES // #31

          

      
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