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Singapore International Film Festival Concludes Successful 35th Edition; 'Mongrel' Takes Top Film Honors

  • By Hood Mahadi
  • Dec 9, 2024
  • 2 min read
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The 35th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) concluded today, marking a record-breaking edition that celebrated cinematic excellence and fostered deep engagement with audiences. Running from November 28 to December 8, 2024, the festival presented a dazzling program of 105 films from 45 countries, with an impressive 80% hailing from Asia.


Under the seasoned leadership of Executive Director Emily J. Hoe and Programme Director Thong Kay Wee, the 35th SGIFF continued to be a beacon for Asian and Southeast Asian cinema. The festival opened with the highly anticipated "Stranger Eyes" and featured diverse sections including 'Singapore Panorama,' 'Horizon,' 'Foreground,' 'Standpoint,' and 'Landmark,' which included a special focus on the restored works of Jafar Panahi. The festival also introduced the Screen Icon Award, honoring legendary Taiwanese actors Lee Kang-sheng and Yang Kuei-mei.


Silver Screen Awards: A Celebration of Asian Cinematic Brilliance

The culmination of the festival was the prestigious Silver Screen Awards ceremony, where an esteemed international jury recognized outstanding achievements in Asian and Southeast Asian cinema.


Asian Feature Film Competition:

  • Best Asian Feature Film: "Mongrel" (France, Singapore, Taiwan) directed by Chiang Wei-liang and Yin You-qiao, praised for its unflinching look at the struggles of migrant workers in Taiwan.

  • Best Director: Minh Quý Trương for "Việt and Nam" (Philippines, Singapore, France, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Vietnam), a queer love story of two coal miners.

  • Best Screenplay: Dea Kulumbegashvili for "April" (Georgia, France, Italy), with a special mention for Liu Yaonan for "The Great Phuket."

  • Best Performance: Li Rongkun for "The Great Phuket" (France, Hong Kong, China, Germany, Belgium), with a special mention for the ensemble cast and nature in "The Adamant Girl."

  • FIPRESCI Award: "Việt and Nam" (Philippines, Singapore, France, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Vietnam) by Minh Quý Trương.

  • Audience Choice Award (newly formatted for Singaporean films and co-productions): "An Unfinished Film" (Germany, Singapore) directed by Lou Ye.


Southeast Asian Short Film Competition:

  • Best Southeast Asian Short Film: "Spirits of the Black Leaves" (Thailand) by Thaweechok Phasom.

  • Best Singapore Short Film: "My Wonderful Life" (Singapore) by Calleen Koh.

  • Best Director: Đàm Quang Trung for "Elephants by the Roadside" (Vietnam).

  • Best Screenplay: Pom Bunsermvicha and Nicha Ratana-Apiromyakij for "The Nature of Dogs" (Thailand).

  • Best Performance: Sasa Cabalquinto for "Vox Humana" (Philippines).

  • ARRI Award for Best Cinematography: Vũ Hoàng Triều for "Elephants by the Roadside" (Vietnam).


The 35th SGIFF not only celebrated cinematic excellence but also fostered vital connections within the global film community, reinforcing its position as a dynamic and influential film festival in Asia.


For more information on the 35th Singapore International Film Festival, please visit:


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