Film Bulletin // THU, 23 APR - WED, 29 APR 2026

        
          
          
            FILMBULLETIN.SG // SHOWTIMES // #4
THU, 23 APR - WED, 29 APR 2026

          

            La La Land (2016)
We have two film festivals kicking off this week: the European Film Festival (EUFF) that's hosted at Filmhouse and the Singapore Chinese Film Festival (SCFF) that's playing at various GV locations. SCFF is, as always, selling out quickly, so be sure to grab your tickets!
For festival recommendations: Mary Stephen's Palimpsest: The Story of a Name (2025) is highly recommended by a friend who caught it at HKIFF, and we will be featuring an interview with the director over on my podcast, Deep Cut, sometime in June! It's also selling out fast. For EUFF, Vicky Krieps, best known from her star turn in Phantom Thread, headlines Love Me Tender (2025), and is definitely one to turn in a good performance.
If you're looking for a movie musical fix, Filmhouse has added La La Land (2016) to its mix, and SFS Somerset has added musical classic Grease (1978) to its weekly offering. AFA's Prasasti / Inscriptions programme also continues this week!
I'll be out of Singapore for a couple of weeks (picture related), but the bulletin will stay updated. The next newsletters might be a little late if I get tied up travelling, so apologies in advance!
—Ben from Filmbulletin
 

          

            LISTINGS
Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo (2009)
Dir: Jessica Oreck
Untangling the web of cultural and historical ties underlying Japan's deep fascination with insects.
Artscience Cinema
SAT APR 25 / 14:00
SUN APR 26 / 14:00
ACTionism (2025)
Dir: Michael Shaw
ACTionism is a poignant short documentary about Ellie, an 18-year-old grappling with climate anxiety. It follows her journey from isolation toward finding purpose and community in the fight for the future.
Bricolage
SAT APR 25 / 10:30
North By Northwest (1959)
Dir: Alfred Hitchcock
Cary Grant stars in Hitchcock’s definitive thriller as an ad exec mistaken for a spy. Framed for murder, he embarks on a breathless, cross-country race to clear his name in this classic action masterpiece.
Capitol Theatre
SUN APR 26 / 17:00
TUE APR 28 / 19:30
EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL
Semmelweis (2023)
Dir: Lajos Koltai
Lajos Koltai directs this powerful historical drama about Ignac Semmelweis, the 19th-century doctor who fought to save mothers by proving the life-saving necessity of hand disinfection against all odds.
Filmhouse
THU APR 23 / 19:30
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.
Filmhouse
FRI APR 24 / 20:00
Portugueses (2025)
Dir: Vicente Alves do Ó
Portugueses is a mosaic film that explores the diverse realities of modern Portugal. By highlighting personal stories of the anonymous and the famous, it paints a vivid portrait of a nation in flux.
Filmhouse
SAT APR 25 / 17:00
Love Me Tender (2025)
Dir: Anna Cazenave Cambet
After coming out, Clémence faces a grueling custody battle for her son. This acclaimed drama explores a woman’s fight for the freedom to be herself while defending her rights as a devoted mother.
Filmhouse
SAT APR 25 / 20:00
Follemente (Somebody to Love) (2025)
Dir: Paolo Genovese
Paolo Genovese’s hit comedy dives into the chaotic inner thoughts of a couple on their first date. With a star-studded cast, it is a witty, insightful exploration of the passions and fears of love.
Filmhouse
SUN APR 26 / 17:00
ASIAN FILM ARCHIVE
Films of Prapat Jiwarangsan: Borders of Porosity
This programme of experimental films by Prapat Jiwarangsan explores the porous borders between nations, bodies, and archives. It examines how authority attempts to stabilize identity and history.
Oldham Theatre
FRI APR 24 / 20:00 [Short Film Programme]
Nervous Translation (2018)
Dir: Shireen Seno
Set in 1987, this film follows 8-year-old Yael, who seeks a magical pen to translate the feelings of others. It is a perceptive, nostalgic look at a child navigating a time of political precarity.
Oldham Theatre
SAT APR 25 / 17:00
Circulating Vibrant Matters – Colonialism & the Media
This triple bill examines the enduring legacy of colonialism through media and archives. By recontextualizing historical footage, these films expose the systems of extraction that shaped our world.
Oldham Theatre
SUN APR 26 / 14:00
Muman minggil (The Road to Ancestor Land) (2024)
Dir: Mahardika Yudha, Yonri Revolt
This film reconstructs the legacy of the Mambesak Group, a Papuan collective that used art to preserve ancestral knowledge against colonial threats. It gathers memories to honor their cultural impact.
Oldham Theatre
SAT APR 25 / 14:00
Films of Nguyễn Trinh Thi – Assembling Vietnam
Artist-filmmaker Nguyễn Trinh Thi interrogates how history is constructed and remembered. Through essay and montage, her works challenge official narratives and the ethics of cinematic representation.
Oldham Theatre
SUN APR 26 / 17:00 [Short Film Programme]
If This is My Story (2018)
Dir: Kan Lume, Djenar Maesa Ayu
If This is My Story is structured in three acts focusing on a couple on the brink of divorce. Amidst their individual struggles, a transformation in the final act forces a confrontation on what’s real and what’s not.
Oldham Theatre
WED APR 29 / 20:00
SINGAPORE FILM SOCIETY
Itam: A Sun Bear Story (2025)
Dir: Raymond Tan
This immersive documentary follows the rehabilitation of a rescued sun bear in Malaysia. Blending scientific inquiry with character-driven storytelling, it offers a rare look at the rewilding process.
GV Cineleisure
THU APR 23 / 19:30
Miraculous Leaf (2026)
Dir: Pan Weiping, Xia Zhongjing
Spanning 13 provinces and featuring 58 tea masters, this stunning documentary captures the deep cultural identity and emotional heritage embedded in the ritual of drinking tea in China.
GV Cineleisure
FRI APR 24 / 19:30
SAT APR 25 / 16:00
The Old Man and His Car (2025)
Dir: Michael Kam
A widower preparing to move abroad faces a bittersweet turning point when selling his car. An unexpected buyer and family abandonment trigger a poignant journey to reconcile his past and uncertain future.
GV Cineleisure
SAT APR 25 / 13:30
Grease (1978)
Dir: Randal Kleiser
Summer lovers Sandy and Danny are reunited at Rydell High. Can their romance survive the pressures of school and their eccentric friends? Experience the iconic musical that defines a generation.
GV Cineleisure
SAT APR 25 / 19:30
SUN APR 26 / 16:00
The Fellow Who Rejected College (1979)
Dir: Hsu Chin-liang
Hailed as Taiwan’s answer to The Catcher in the Rye, this classic follows high-achieving students under immense academic pressure. One top student shocks his peers by rejecting the university path entirely.
GV Cineleisure
SUN APR 26 / 19:30
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Dir: John Badham
Tony spends his Saturdays at a disco where his stylish moves raise his popularity among the patrons. But his life outside the disco is not easy and things change when he gets attracted to Stephanie.
GV Cineleisure
WED APR 29 / 19:30
SINGAPORE CHINESE FILM FESTIVAL
Mother Bhumi (地母) (2025)
Dir: Keat Aun Chong
In this haunting drama, a Malaysian border farmer uses black magic to navigate village life. Her world shifts when a ghost appears, revealing a dark secret regarding her husband’s mysterious death.
GV Suntec City
SAT APR 25 / 19:30 [Q&A]
Family Matters (我家的事) (2025)
Dir: Pan Ke-yin
Family Matters follows four family members as they navigate personal crises and search for identity. From fertility struggles to paternal reconnection, each faces a pivotal moment in their lives.
GV Bugis
SUN APR 26 / 11:00
SCFF: Animated Shorts
This collection of animated shorts explores themes of time, memory, and resilience. From sci-fi tales to poignant reflections on history, these films showcase the diverse power of animation.
GV Funan
SUN APR 26 / 11:00 [Short Film Programme]
Deadline (自杀通告) (2025)
Dir: Kiwi Chow Kwun-Wai
A mysterious suicide notice at a high school exposes deep-seated flaws in the education system. As the school tries to suppress the scandal, the truth about student pressure begins to unravel.
GV Bugis
SUN APR 26 / 16:00
Palimpsest: The Story of A Name (2025)
Dir: Mary Stephen
Veteran filmmaker Mary Stephen digs into her own family past to uncover the long-hidden origins of her Western surname, revealing a story of culture shock, colonialism, and contested remembrance.
GV Funan
SUN APR 26 / 16:20
SCFF: Shanghai Film Academy Shorts
This selection of shorts from the Shanghai Film Academy highlights emerging talent. From magical realism to sci-fi noir, these films offer fresh perspectives on identity, tradition, and modernity.
GV Funan
MON APR 27 / 19:30 [Short Film Programme]
Unexpected Courage (我们意外的勇气) (2025)
Dir: Shawn Yu
Le-Fu’s 45th birthday brings a promotion and an unexpected pregnancy. As her younger partner steps into a caretaker role, the couple discovers the true meaning of partnership and commitment.
GV Bugis
TUE APR 28 / 19:30
Life of Luosang (洛桑的家事) (2022)
Dir: Zhang Guodong
After a tragic accident involving a tractor, three Tibetan families find themselves in conflict. This film explores how faith and law eventually guide them toward reconciliation and healing.
GV Bugis
WED APR 29 / 19:30
FILMHOUSE
Sentimental Value (2025)
Dir: Joachim Trier
Sisters Nora and Agnes reunite with their estranged, charismatic father, a director seeking a comeback. When Nora rejects his film offer, he casts a Hollywood star instead, sparking a complex family drama.
Filmhouse
THU APR 23 / 16:30
SUN APR 26 / 19:30
WED APR 29 / 17:30
The Drama (2026)
Dir: Kristoffer Borgli
A happily engaged couple is put to the test when an unexpected turn sends their wedding week off the rails.
Filmhouse
THU APR 23 / 17:00
THU APR 23 / 20:30
FRI APR 24 / 19:30
SAT APR 25 / 17:30
SUN APR 26 / 14:30
SUN APR 26 / 20:30
TUE APR 28 / 16:30
TUE APR 28 / 20:30
WED APR 29 / 17:00
WED APR 29 / 20:30
Princess Mononoke (1997)
Dir: Hayao Miyazaki
Cursed by a demon, Prince Ashitaka journeys west to find a cure. He soon finds himself caught in a brutal war between industrial progress and the ancient gods of the forest in this stunning Ghibli epic.
Filmhouse
THU APR 23 / 20:00
FRI APR 24 / 17:00
SUN APR 26 / 17:30
TUE APR 28 / 17:30
Lesbian Space Princess (2025)
Dir: Leela Varghese & Emma Hough Hobbs
A space princess is thrust out of her sheltered life and into a galactic quest to save her bounty hunter ex-girlfriend from evil incel aliens.
Filmhouse
FRI APR 24 / 17:30
SAT APR 25 / 14:30
SUN APR 26 / 16:30 [Q&A]
La La Land (2016)
Dir: Damien Chazelle
An aspiring actress and a jazz musician chase their dreams in Los Angeles. As their careers take off, they must decide if their love can survive the demands of the success they both crave.
Filmhouse
FRI APR 24 / 20:30
SAT APR 25 / 14:00
WED APR 29 / 20:00
Girl (2025)
Dir: Shu Qi
Shu Qi’s directorial debut is a delicate portrait of generational trauma. In 1988 Taiwan, a withdrawn girl finds hope through a new friendship, only to be haunted by her mother’s buried past.
Filmhouse
THU APR 23 / 17:30
FRI APR 24 / 16:30
SAT APR 25 / 20:30
SUN APR 26 / 20:00
TUE APR 28 / 20:00
WED APR 29 / 19:30
Whiplash (2014)
Dir: Damien Chazelle
Under the direction of a ruthless instructor, a talented young drummer begins to pursue perfection at any cost, even his humanity.
Filmhouse
SAT APR 25 / 19:30
Amoeba (2025)
Dir: Tan Siyou
At an authoritarian all-girls school, four misfit teens form a secret gang. Their fumbling rebellion unearths buried desires and the quiet violence of growing up in contemporary Singapore.
Filmhouse
SUN APR 26 / 13:30
TUE APR 28 / 19:30
WED APR 29 / 16:30
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001)
Dir: Shinichiro Watanabe
In 2071, the Bebop crew hunts a terrorist responsible for a deadly Martian virus. This high-stakes sci-fi adventure pits the bounty hunters against a mysterious foe in a race against time and death.
Filmhouse
SUN APR 26 / 14:00
No Other Choice (2025)
Dir: Park Chan-wook
After being laid off and humiliated by a ruthless job market, a veteran paper mill manager descends into violence in a desperate bid to reclaim his dignity.
Filmhouse
TUE APR 28 / 16:50

          

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