A Singapore Film’s Big Break in the International Awards
For the first time since the Silver Screen Awards kicked off in 1991, a local Singapore film has snagged the coveted Best Film prize in the Asian Feature Film Competition.
Yeo Siew Hua’s “A Land Imagined” Takes the Crown
Writer‑director Yeo Siew Hua brought home the trophy last night at Capitol Theatre during the closing ceremony of the 29th Singapore International Film Festival, which started on Nov. 28. The film, mainly in Mandarin, follows a Singaporean detective who dives into the mysterious disappearance of a Chinese migrant worker from a land‑reclamation site – a side of the island that’s shaped by Chinese and Bangladeshi folks.
During his acceptance speech, Yeo admitted he’s been waving the film around like a wanderer, and finally seeing it on home turf felt like coming full circle.
“I’ve always just been an audience member at the festival, so getting my film screened here and topping the awards is a truly special moment… We’ve travelled with this film for months, and now it’s back where it belongs – and it’s amazing.” – Yeo Siew Hua
Looking Ahead: Theatrical Release
The team plans to release the movie in Singaporean cinemas next year, bringing the story to a wider local audience.
Jury Highlights
- Best Director: Pham Thu Hang for the documentary The Future Cries Beneath Our Soil, exploring the lingering impacts of a century‑old war in Vietnam’s Quang Tri province.
- Honorary Award: Rithy Panh, Cambodian filmmaker and archivist, whose work preserves the country’s cinematic history after the Khmer Rouge era.
- Cinema Legend Award: Joan Chen, celebrated Chinese‑American actress and director, for her enduring influence on Asian cinema.
Short Film Corner
The Southeast Asian Short Film Competition crowned Arun Chews (Southeast Asian Short Film) for his drama A Million Years, exploring fear through storytelling. Aditya Ahmad from Indonesia took Best Director for the short Kado (A Gift), touching on a teen’s gender identity within a Muslim family. Chiang Wei Liang won Best Singapore Short Film for his black comedy Luzon – a tale of fishermen from two nations whose petty sea quarrel spirals into drama.
This recap derived from The Straits Times. Full reuse requires permission.
