Catch over 100 films, meet filmmakers and screen legends, and explore the 37th Singapore International Film Festival from 21 October to 1 November 2026.
Psst: We have something for the cinephiles who can’t get enough of movies in Singapore. The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) returns for its 37th edition with a packed slate of local and international films that’ll fill your calendar faster than you can say, “Is there anything to do in Singapore this October?” Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming festival.
Singapore International Film Festival 2026: Details at a glance
Best for: Film buffs, indie cinema lovers and anyone who likes their movies a little less mainstream
When: 21 October to 1 November 2026
How much: Tickets from $15; festival passes from $50
Where: Singapore International Film Festival 2026, multiple locations including Filmhouse, National Museum of Singapore and Oldham Theatre
Catch over 100 films from around the world
Founded in 1987, the Singapore International Film Festival is our city’s longest-running film festival. It’s usually held between late November and early December. But this year’s edition moves forward to 21 October to 1 November 2026. The date change is intended to give independent and auteur films a better theatrical window, allowing them to reach local audiences without competing directly with the year-end slate of major Hollywood releases.
SGIFF’s 37th edition brings over 100 films from more than 50 countries, including more than 25 Singapore productions. Highlights include Ang Geck Geck’s Ah Girl, which follows a seven-year-old navigating her parents’ separation in 1990s Singapore, Nelson Yeo’s genre-bending The House on the Moon, and Kamila Andini’s Four Seasons in Java, a Singapore co-production starring Putri Marino and Christine Hakim.
Short-film fans are also well served, with the Southeast Asian Short Film Competition presenting 24 films across five programmes, while Singapore Panorama spotlights 16 Singaporean short films across three programmes. Look forward to local animation, experimental filmmaking and stories spanning everything from family and identity to memory and urban life.
The Asian Feature Film Competition is another major draw, with 10 films from emerging and established directors across the region. Elsewhere, Standpoint brings together seven films that explore the intersection of the personal and the sociopolitical, while Horizon takes a wider view of modern world cinema with 17 films from the international festival circuit. If you’re after something a little more crowd-pleasing, Foreground puts genre front and centre across 10 films spanning action, fantasy, horror and more.
New sections bring cinema beyond the screen
This year’s SGIFF also introduces new ways to experience cinema. The brand-new Junior Explorers section is designed for young audiences, with selected films presented as relaxed, sensory-friendly screenings. It opens with Brave Cat, an award-winning stop-motion animation about a young forest cat searching for its missing mother. This section features three films in total.
The Undercurrent section pushes cinema into more experimental territory with 11 moving-image works and screen-based performances. Expect multidisciplinary works spanning puppetry, video games, live performance and expanded cinema.
For industry folk and aspiring filmmakers, SGIFF Pro brings together five programmes across six days, including Industry Days, the Asian Producers Network, Pitching Forum, Off Campus and Parallax. The public can join Parallax, a free two-day programme exploring the intersection of filmmaking and immersive technology.
Meet some of cinema’s biggest names
The 37th Singapore International Film Festival opens with The Assassin(s), a South Korean thriller starring Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho. Director Hur Jin-ho and supporting cast members Shim Eun-kyung and Park Sung-hoon will attend the Festival Opening at Marina Bay Sands.
There’s plenty more star power throughout the 12-day festival. Aamir Khan will receive SGIFF’s Screen Icon Award and attend a special 25th-anniversary presentation of Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India alongside director Ashutosh Gowariker. The film screens as part of Landmark, which showcases seven recently restored international classics.
Meanwhile, Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda will receive the Cinema Honorary Award. His latest film, Look Back, screens as a Special Presentation in the Horizon section.
Want to hear directly from the filmmakers themselves? The festival’s In Conversation With sessions bring Aamir Khan and Hirokazu Kore-eda to the stage for two intimate conversations about their careers and craft. Aamir Khan’s session takes place on 22 October at Marina Bay Sands, while Hirokazu Kore-eda’s follows on 24 October 2026 at the National Museum of Singapore. Tickets are $10 each.
Other auteurs and film figures appearing across the festival include Hong Kong legends Peter Chan and Anthony Wong, French cinematographer Tom Harari, South Korean director Yim-Soon Rye and Japanese filmmaker Koji Fukada. Peter Chan and Anthony Wong will also partake in their own In Conversation With sessions on 22 October at Marina Bay Sands and 29 October 2026 at LaSalle College of the Arts, respectively.
Get your tickets to SGIFF 2026
Public ticket sales for the 37th Singapore International Film Festival are now open, with tickets available exclusively through the official website. General film tickets start from $15, while Festival Opening and Closing tickets are $25 and Special Presentations are $20.
Singaporeans can use their SG Culture Pass credits for eligible local film programmes. And if you’re planning to catch as many films as humanly possible, the Cinephile Pass offers access to regular, non-sold-out screenings via the Rush Queue, along with three complimentary tickets for a minimum $50 donation if your application is successful. Applications are open till 30 September 2026.
Screenings, forums and other festival events will take place across the country, with venues including Cineleisure, VivoCity, Marina Bay Sands and Oldham Theatre. Check the screening schedule for individual film venues and timings, as these can vary.
We can’t wait for SGIFF to kick off. See you at the cinema!
Frequently Asked Questions
When is SGIFF 2026 taking place?
21 October to 1 November 2026. Historically held in late November to early December, SGIFF permanently moved its dates up to October for the 37th edition to better align with the global international festival circuit.
What’s the opening film for SGIFF 2026?
The festival opens with the South Korean thriller The Assassin(s), directed by acclaimed auteur Hur Jin-ho.
What’s new at SGIFF 2026?
- Junior Explorers: A new family-focused section featuring sensory-friendly, accessible screenings tailored for younger audiences.
- Undercurrent: An expanded experimental cinema section blending film with live performance.
- Singapore Panorama: Highlights 16 new local short films and feature debuts, reflecting a record year for Singaporean storytelling on the international festival stage.
Where are the screening venues located?
Screenings take place across key indie and commercial cinema hubs in Singapore, including Golden Village (Bugis+, Cineleisure, Suntec City, VivoCity), Filmhouse, National Museum of Singapore, Sands Theatre and Oldham Theatre.
How much are tickets and when do they go on sale?
General public ticket sales are already open via the official SGIFF website. Standard tickets are $15 per screening, while the Undercurrent pass ($50) grants access to experimental film blocks and live screen performances.
How do I buy tickets if a screening is sold out online?
Use the Rush Queue system. Arrive at the respective screening venue 30 to 45 minutes before showtime. Any unclaimed or late-forfeited tickets are sold at the box office on a first-come, first-served cash or digital payment basis right before the lights go down.
