Jafar Panahi to Receive Cinema Honorary Award, ‘Stranger Eyes’ to Open 35th Singapore Film Festival

Iranian cinema icon Jafar Panahi will mark the lifting of his 14-year travel ban by attending the 35th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF). The festival’s lineup spotlights rising Singaporean talent and international auteurs.

The festival will open with Yeo Siew Hua’s “Stranger Eyes,” the first Singaporean film to premiere in the main competition at the Venice Film Festival.

Panahi, set to receive the festival’s Cinema Honorary Award, recognizing filmmakers who have made exceptional and enduring contributions to Asian cinema, will participate in an exclusive dialogue session. Several of his films will be screened, including “The Circle” and “This Is Not a Film.”

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“It’s an incredible honor to be selected as the recipient of the Cinema Honorary Award by SGIFF,” Panahi said. “Since my visit to the festival in 1998 with my film, ‘The Mirror,’ I have been deeply impressed by the festival’s achievements in nurturing and encouraging emerging filmmakers and film critics, while promoting Asian filmmaking.”

The festival introduces new initiatives under the leadership of Jeremy Chua, the new general manager. These include the debut of Mediacorp Artiste Rebecca Lim as the inaugural festival ambassador and a revamped Audience Choice Award open to Singaporean films and co-productions.

“As a huge supporter of Singaporean films, I’m thrilled to be part of SGIFF as its inaugural ambassador,” Lim said. “Our local creatives possess a unique ability to capture the essence of not just our everyday reality, but also our dreams and aspirations.”

Chua, also a prolific producer whose films are regularly selected at A-list festivals, including Cannes, added: “We envision her role as the festival’s ambassador to deepen the conversation between local and international audiences, and together we aim to shine a spotlight on our extraordinary homegrown talents.”

The festival will feature over 30 Singaporean and made-with-Singapore features and short films. Notable entries include “Spirit World” by Eric Khoo, starring Catherine Deneuve, which is closing the Busan International Film Festival. Other highlighted films are “Orang Ikan” by Mike Wiluan, “Don’t Cry, Butterfly” by Duong Dieu Linh, and “City of Small Blessings” by Wong Chen-Hsi.

Wiluan said: “I am very honored that ‘Orang Ikan’ has been selected by SGIFF for its Southeast Asian premiere. Thanks to the support of the Singapore Film Commission, I am proud to showcase the film on home ground.”

Linh added: “As a Vietnamese who considers Singapore her second home and has built her entire filmmaking career while living here, I’m extremely proud and happy to share ‘Don’t Cry, Butterfly’ with my friends and colleagues.”

The opening film, “Stranger Eyes,” examines the lives of a couple grappling with their child’s disappearance and the unsettling arrival of mysterious DVDs documenting their private moments. Director Yeo said: “SGIFF has been really important for me throughout my career as a filmmaker, having shown all my films here since my very first. It is a real honor for me to have my film open for this edition of the festival.”

The revamped Audience Choice Award, now exclusively for Singaporean films and Singapore co-productions, aims to increase visibility for local filmmakers and potentially boost their chances of securing local distribution deals.

Thong Kay Wee, program director of SGIFF, underlined the festival’s commitment to local cinema: “SGIFF has always taken great pride in showcasing Singaporean cinema, and in offering a platform for our local filmmakers to share their stories with both local and international audiences. This year’s selection of local films reflect the rich tapestry of experiences and perspectives that define our vibrant film industry.”

The full program lineup will be available from Oct. 28, with the festival running from Nov. 28 to Dec. 8.