The 37th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is gearing up for its return this October with Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda among the major names joining this year's edition.
Taking place from 21 October to 1 November, the festival will honour Kore-eda with the Cinema Honorary Award, SGIFF's highest accolade recognising filmmakers who have made exceptional and enduring contributions to Asian cinema.
The acclaimed filmmaker will be in Singapore on 24 October for a Special Presentation of his latest film, Look Back, marking its Southeast Asia premiere ahead of its theatrical release on 29 October. He will also take part in an In Conversation With dialogue session on the same day, where he will receive the Cinema Honorary Award.
Known for intimate stories that examine family, relationships, and the social structures surrounding them, Kore-eda's filmography includes Nobody Knows, Like Father, Like Son, Broker, and Monster. His 2018 film Shoplifters won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
His latest work, Look Back, sees him adapting Tatsuki Fujimoto's acclaimed one-shot manga of the same name. It is the first live-action feature adaptation of a manga by the Chainsaw Man creator.
The story follows young manga artists Fujino and Kyomoto, whose initial rivalry develops into a friendship as their creative journeys begin to take shape. Kore-eda's adaptation brings the pair's coming-of-age story into live action and was shot on 35mm film. Look Back also competed for the Golden Lion at Venice.
Yim Soon-rye to lead SGIFF's Asian Feature Film Competition
SGIFF has also announced Yim Soon-rye as Jury Head of this year's Asian Feature Film Competition, the festival's platform spotlighting cinematic voices from across Asia.
One of the leading figures of the Korean New Wave, Yim made her feature debut with Three Friends and has since directed films including Waikiki Brothers, Forever the Moment, The Whistleblower, Little Forest, and The Point Men.
Beyond filmmaking, she has also been an advocate for social causes, having served as president of an animal rights association for 12 years and co-led the Korean Center for Gender Equality in Film.
Yim will additionally appear at SGIFF Industry Days on 27 October, where she will discuss her creative process and filmmaking practice.
SGIFF Pro expands with new programmes for filmmakers and students
Alongside its screenings and competitions, SGIFF is expanding SGIFF Pro, its industry and talent development platform, with new programmes aimed at emerging filmmakers, students, media companies, and industry professionals.
This year's SGIFF Industry Days will grow from three to four days, with guests including Japanese cinematographer Akiko Ashizawa, recipient of the 2026 Pierre Angénieux Tribute at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, and filmmaker Koji Fukada.
Fukada's Singapore co-production Nagi Notes will also screen as part of SGIFF's Horizon section.
The expanded SGIFF Pro will introduce three programmes: Off Campus, Pitching Forum, and Parallax.
Off Campus is a four-day field trip for students from selected film school programmes. Running alongside Industry Days, it will connect students with international industry practitioners while offering a closer look at the professional realities, structures, and practices of filmmaking beyond the classroom.
The new Pitching Forum, meanwhile, is designed to connect international projects with decision makers and potential local co-production partners. Through curated business matching, SGIFF hopes to create opportunities for filmmakers and companies to develop professional relationships while strengthening Singapore's position as a Southeast Asian co-production hub.
Rounding out the additions is Parallax, a free interdisciplinary programme looking at the increasingly intertwined worlds of filmmaking, artificial intelligence, and immersive technology.
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Through demonstrations and conversations, the programme will explore questions surrounding ethics and authorship as well as emerging tools that could support human creativity. Participants will include technologists, creators, and innovation leaders from Amazon MGM Studios, SM Entertainment, Adobe, Largo.ai, and Ubac Studio.
Together with the existing Asian Producers Network and Industry Days, the additions bring SGIFF Pro to five programmes.
More announcements covering SGIFF's festival lineup, guests, workshops, and programmes are expected ahead of its return.
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