Pham Thien An’s “Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell,” which previously won the Golden Camera at Cannes, has won the Asian Feature Film Competition at the 34th Singapore International Film Festival.
Yoon Eun-Kyung won best director for “The Tenants,” which also won the FIPRESCI award. “Dreaming & Dying,” by Singaporean director Nelson Yeo earned a special mention. Yu Yi-Hsun won best screenplay for “A Journey in Spring” and the film also won best performance for Yang Kuei-Mei.
The Audience Choice Award went to “Goodbye Julia” by Mohamed Kordofani.
In the Southeast Asian Short Film Competition, the best Southeast Asian short film was awarded to “The River That Never Ends” by J.T. Trinidad, which also scored a special mention for actor Emerald Romero. “I Look Into the Mirror and Repeat to Myself” by Giselle Lin won best Singapore short film. Best director went to Sam Manacsa for “Cross My Heart and Hope to Die” and best performance went to Fredy Sreudeman Wowor from “Other Tomorrows Never Known.” Lin Htet Aung won best screenplay for “once Upon a Time There Was a Mom.”
At the Southeast Asian Film Lab, “Terbakar” by Shelby Kho was recognized as the most promising project. “Making a Sea” by Lin Htet Aung won the fellowship prize. Special mentions were given to Caloy Limjap Soliongco for “Day Tripper” and Seth Cheong for “Blue Buildings.”
This year, the Tan Ean Kiam Foundation–SGIFF Southeast Asian documentary grant extends its support to three production projects, each recipient receiving S$30,000 ($22,350) in cash, alongside one post-production project receiving S$20,000 ($14,900). The SGIFF Southeast Asian Short Film grant backs three shorts. Each recipient is awarded S$5,000 ($3,725) in cash by Winn Slavin and receives additional post-production support valued at S$5,000 from White Light Post.
The festival concluded its 11-day run with the highest ticket sales, more than 12,500, since 2014, with an increase of 64% from 2022.
