Anthony Chen

From Crazy Rich Asians (2018) to 12 Storeys (1997) to Sumpah Pontianak (The Curse of Pontianak) (1957), Singapore’s film industry is a diverse one and its evolution is nothing short of colourful. Recollecting Singapore’s famed studios in the 1950s to uncovering new waves of filmmakers in 90s and into today’s digital revolution, Singapore Cinema: Between Takes provides an insight into the rich history, and culture of Singapore films and its industry through candid reflections of filmmakers and content creators.

Uncovers the remarkable story of how this small nation has made an indelible mark on Asian cinema in the past five years. Through exclusive interviews and captivating scenes across seven countries, we learn the rich diversity of Singaporean stories, and cast a forward-looking gaze towards an exciting cinematic future. A documentary commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Singapore Film Commission.

In cold wintry Yanji, a city on China's northern border, young urbanite Haofeng, visiting from Shanghai, feels lost and adrift. By chance, he goes on a tour led by Nana, a charming tour guide who instantly fascinates him. She introduces him to Xiao, a personable but frustrated restaurant worker. The three bond quickly over a drunken weekend. Confronting their individual traumas, their frozen desires slowly thaw as they seek to liberate themselves from an icy world.

A global story through the eyes of two women interconnected by a child. Somer is a newly married physician in San Francisco who makes the devastating discovery that she will never be able to have children. The same year in India, poor mother Kavita makes the heartbreaking choice to save her newborn daughter’s life by giving her away and will be haunted by that decision every moment for the rest of her life. Asha, the child adopted out of a Mumbai orphanage, binds the destinies of the two women.

A widow obsessed with Korean soap operas travels abroad for the first time in her life and finds more than she bargained for in Seoul.

Featuring seven stories from seven auteurs from around the world, the film chronicles this unprecedented moment in time, and is a true love letter to the power of cinema and its storytellers.

A conversation between a divorced couple that took place in London

When the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup was underway, a pair of strangers met at Hostel 66 in London's Chinatown. The newly arrived female security guard and the long-term renter who took the initiative to strike up a conversation observe and test each other.

When the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup was underway, a pair of strangers met at Hostel 66 in London's Chinatown. The newly arrived female security guard and the long-term renter who took the initiative to strike up a conversation observe and test each other.

After fleeing civil war in Liberia, a formerly-privileged refugee is barely scraping by in her new life in Greece when she strikes up an unexpected friendship with a rootless tour guide.

After fleeing civil war in Liberia, a formerly-privileged refugee is barely scraping by in her new life in Greece when she strikes up an unexpected friendship with a rootless tour guide.

Ah Ma is lying in the hospital, her life hanging by a thread. Her family gathers by her deathbed to send her off. Overwhelmed by sadness, they struggle to find their own way of coming to terms with the impending end.

Ah Ma is lying in the hospital, her life hanging by a thread. Her family gathers by her deathbed to send her off. Overwhelmed by sadness, they struggle to find their own way of coming to terms with the impending end.

Featuring seven stories from seven auteurs from around the world, the film chronicles this unprecedented moment in time, and is a true love letter to the power of cinema and its storytellers.

Featuring seven stories from seven auteurs from around the world, the film chronicles this unprecedented moment in time, and is a true love letter to the power of cinema and its storytellers.

During the late 1990s, a busy working-class Singaporean couple hires a Filipino woman as a maid and nanny to their young son.

During the late 1990s, a busy working-class Singaporean couple hires a Filipino woman as a maid and nanny to their young son.

During the late 1990s, a busy working-class Singaporean couple hires a Filipino woman as a maid and nanny to their young son.

From the music of Polish composer Abel Korzeniowski, Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen crafts a story that imagines spending the burning time of a cigarette between the sheets, interlocking smiles and touches with your loved one. This short film is part of the 2x25 Project of Film Fest Gent and the World Soundtrack Awards. The project commissioned 25 composers to compose a short piece of music, after which 25 filmmakers made short films that are the ultimate symbioses of music and cinematography, fitting completely within the DNA of the festival. The result: 25 exceptional films where the music inspired the form, narrative and texture.

Arnold is a clever student who has won many academic awards. One day, he meets Bee who has an underground business of helping students to cheat their exams. Bee asks Arnold to join his cheating ring and offers him a lot of money. While Arnold is considering working with Bee, at his school, many students are not happy with the school’s disrespect of their freedom and they organize a big protest.

The Reunion Dinner depicts one Singaporean family’s celebration of Chinese New Year from the 1960s to present day. They may adapt their traditions to the country’s modernisation, but this does not change: celebrating with loved ones over a shared meal.

The Reunion Dinner depicts one Singaporean family’s celebration of Chinese New Year from the 1960s to present day. They may adapt their traditions to the country’s modernisation, but this does not change: celebrating with loved ones over a shared meal.

The film will continue the director's exploration of domestic relationships and family dynamics and will touch on issues of privilege, class and inequality as the Covid-19 pandemic brings them into sharper focus.

A conversation between a divorced couple that took place in London

Over the course of 45 days, a relationship begins to break apart as confinement tests its bonds.

A rich teenager runs away from home and joins a group of street hustlers who go on a road trip to fulfill the final wish of their dead friend.

In cold wintry Yanji, a city on China's northern border, young urbanite Haofeng, visiting from Shanghai, feels lost and adrift. By chance, he goes on a tour led by Nana, a charming tour guide who instantly fascinates him. She introduces him to Xiao, a personable but frustrated restaurant worker. The three bond quickly over a drunken weekend. Confronting their individual traumas, their frozen desires slowly thaw as they seek to liberate themselves from an icy world.

On a hot humid day, Singapore is shrouded by the haze from Indonesia. Two teenagers skip school to idle the time away, and an innocent love affair plays out indoors.

Three stories which each focus on one of three types of relationships: family, friendship, and love. The first story is about conflicted manager on a business trip who is intrigued by an elderly worker and investigates his life. The second story is about a young father who receives a letter that brings him to a foreign land, where old emotions come unburied. The last story is about a visiting professor from overseas who sets a student's heart fluttering, while having to deal with his own.

In cold wintry Yanji, a city on China's northern border, young urbanite Haofeng, visiting from Shanghai, feels lost and adrift. By chance, he goes on a tour led by Nana, a charming tour guide who instantly fascinates him. She introduces him to Xiao, a personable but frustrated restaurant worker. The three bond quickly over a drunken weekend. Confronting their individual traumas, their frozen desires slowly thaw as they seek to liberate themselves from an icy world.

On a chance encounter, a disenchanted architect bumps into his long-lost elephant on the streets of Bangkok. Excited, he takes his elephant on a journey across Thailand in search of the farm where they grew up together.

The lives of three characters intertwine through a ticket-tearer working at the local Indian cinema, who soon develops an interest in the stories of his patrons.

The lives of three characters intertwine through a ticket-tearer working at the local Indian cinema, who soon develops an interest in the stories of his patrons.

A homesick son studying abroad calls home to Singapore, having an unspoken longing for home.

On a hot humid day, Singapore is shrouded by the haze from Indonesia. Two teenagers skip school to idle the time away, and an innocent love affair plays out indoors.

A mother takes her three children on a road trip but finds that home cannot easily be left behind.

Over the course of 45 days, a relationship begins to break apart as confinement tests its bonds.

Director Anthony Chen and Qu Chuxiao collaborate for the second time to tell a story about bodies and regrets in the rainforests of Malaysia.

Director Anthony Chen and Qu Chuxiao collaborate for the second time to tell a story about bodies and regrets in the rainforests of Malaysia.

In a near-future Japanese city bracing for a devastating earthquake, a group of teenage friends navigate personal struggles and fractured bonds amid rising tension.

Wet Season revolves around the life of Ling, a schoolteacher who deals with infertility while having to take care of her infirm father-in-law at home. One of Ling's students, Kok Wei Lun, develops a crush on her during remedial Chinese classes. The two become closer as Wei Lun embraces Ling's extra tutoring.

A mother takes her three children on a road trip but finds that home cannot easily be left behind.

A chance encounter between strangers, a foreigner and a local, results in the possibility of an unlikely friendship.

Wet Season revolves around the life of Ling, a schoolteacher who deals with infertility while having to take care of her infirm father-in-law at home. One of Ling's students, Kok Wei Lun, develops a crush on her during remedial Chinese classes. The two become closer as Wei Lun embraces Ling's extra tutoring.

Three stories which each focus on one of three types of relationships: family, friendship, and love. The first story is about conflicted manager on a business trip who is intrigued by an elderly worker and investigates his life. The second story is about a young father who receives a letter that brings him to a foreign land, where old emotions come unburied. The last story is about a visiting professor from overseas who sets a student's heart fluttering, while having to deal with his own.

Wet Season revolves around the life of Ling, a schoolteacher who deals with infertility while having to take care of her infirm father-in-law at home. One of Ling's students, Kok Wei Lun, develops a crush on her during remedial Chinese classes. The two become closer as Wei Lun embraces Ling's extra tutoring.

An overbearing mother who lives with her son in a secluded crocodile farm spirals out of control when her son sees the outside world and falls for a girl for the first time.

Released from prison, a woman returns to her village and tries to face the four seasons of her past. The lack of welcome from the villagers, and even her family, leads her into a power that is hidden underneath the fog. Aiming to heal, a sexual assault survivor takes a journey to redefine her own meaning of home, family, and peace.

Two sisters deal with the sudden death of their mother at a wig factory. One believes it was suicide while the other is certain it was a result of possession and takes a job at the factory to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, their brother - born with an eerie gift to regenerate his own body - catches the attention of a ghostly figure roaming the factory, searching for a vessel to inhabit.

In war-torn Jakarta 1946, a haunted violinist ordered to bomb a colonial theatre sees his plan unravel when a charismatic rebel falls for his wife—jeopardising Indonesia’s freedom and their lives.

The film will continue the director's exploration of domestic relationships and family dynamics and will touch on issues of privilege, class and inequality as the Covid-19 pandemic brings them into sharper focus.

The film will continue the director's exploration of domestic relationships and family dynamics and will touch on issues of privilege, class and inequality as the Covid-19 pandemic brings them into sharper focus.