Sinema Weekly Digest (19 – 25 July)7 min read
Reading Time: 5 minutesThe Sinema Weekly Digest presents a weekly roundup of Asian film news and the latest trailers, releases and events to check out over the weekend!
With the rise in community cases, Sinema.SG would like to remind readers to adhere to safe distancing measures and practice good personal hygiene practices when out. The movies can wait (and there are a bunch to catch this weekend) but COVID won’t.
Top Stories
Latest Advisories for Singapore Creatives (22 July to 18 August 2021)
With the return to Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), the National Arts Council, the Infocomm Media Development Authority, and the Professional Photographers Association (Singapore) have released updated advisories on safe management measures — Sinema.SG has collated these in a post here.
‘Tiong Bahru Social Club’ To Make Its US Premiere at The New York Asian Film Festival
Tan Bee Thiam’s film Tiong Bahru Social Club will be making its US premiere at the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) in the Uncaged competition section, which spotlights first- or second-time directors and their works. The film will have both virtual screenings and in-person screenings at Lincoln Centre & SVA Theatre. The New York Asian Film Festival will be held from 6 – 22 August. Other notable Southeast Asian films making their North American premiere include Tan Chui Mui’s Barbarian Invasion, Namewee’s Nasi Lemak 1.0, and JP Habac’s Here And There.
August is shaping up to be a busy month for Tiong Bahru Social Club. The local film will also be competing in the Camera Lucida Competition at the Fantasia International Film Festival, held from 5 – 25 August.
Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s ‘Memoria’ Wins Cannes’ Jury Prize
Memoria, Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s English-language debut, has won the Jury Prize at the 74th Cannes International Film Festival. The Thai auteur had previously won the Jury Prize at Cannes in 2004 for his film Tropical Malady, and the Palmes d’Or in 2010 for Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.
Events, Festivals and Happenings
Festival of Women N.O.W. 2021
Presented by local arts company T:>Works and helmed by Artistic Director Noorlinah Mohamed, the all-digital Festival of Women: N.O.W. 2021 presents an exciting line up of digital exhibitions, livestream performances, online workshops, and live chats that looks to explore and reclaim the taboo, fear, and intimacy as sources of power and inspiration.
Featuring a mix of free and ticketed events, experience thought-provoking digital exhibitions and find out more about the festival’s programmes at www.notordinarywork.com.
The second week of the festival will be centred on the topic of intimacy and relationships. Happening this weekend:
– Not Grey: Intimacy, Ageing & Being explores the theme with a group of women aged 59 and above.
– Multi-sensorial livestreamed performance Rasanai: An Invitation to Appreciate follows a young woman race to revisit her family’s history as her grandmother’s health declines.
ciNE65 2021 Film Festival
From 23 to 25 July, the second edition of the ciNE65 Film Festival will be showcasing a collection of local short films from rising filmmakers, shortlisted films of ciNE65 2021’s short film competition and ciNE65 Movie Makers Awards, and commissioned films from current and past ciNE65 seasons.
Held at both the Singapore Discovery Centre and The Cathay, each day will bring different programmes. Attendance to the 3-day celebration is free — register for your seats here, and get the latest updates on the ciNE65 Film Festival 2021 by following ciNE65 on Facebook.
Retrospective: Abbas Kiarostami
From now till 28 August, the Asian Film Archive will be featuring the works of Iranian auteur, Abbas Kiarostami, in new 2K and 4K restorations for the first time in Asia. Retrospective: Abbas Kiarostami will showcase 18 feature films, 4 short features and 12 short films, including renowned works such as Close-up (1990) and the Palme d’Or-winning film Taste of Cherry (1997), as well as rarely-seen early short films made during pre-revolution Iran. Tickets are now on sale.
This Weekend:
First Graders (1984) — 23 July 2021, 8pm
Homework (1989) — 24 July 2021, 8pm
Short Films #1 — 25 July 2021, 2pm
New Trailers
‘Anita’
The biopic follows the life of Hong Kong megastar Anita Mui, who died at the age of 40 in 2003. Directed by Longmond Leung, Anita places newcomer Hong Kong model Louise Wong in the lead starring alongside Louis Koo, Lam Ka-Tung, So Hau-Leung and Terrance Lau, who will be portraying Leslie Cheung. The biopic is slated for release in Southeast Asia by the end of the year.
‘Emergency Declaration’
Recently making waves during its premiere at Cannes, Emergency Declaration is based on a true story and depicts a bioterrorist incident aboard a US-bound plane. The film features an all-star cast of Song Kang-Ho, Jeon Do-Yeon, and Lee Byung-Hun. Emergency Declaration will be heading to theatres by the end of 2021.
‘Dune’
The hype must flow.
New on Streaming
‘Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop’
From the minds behind Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo and Your Lie in April, the highly-stylised anime film Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop revolves around a magical summer shared by a shy boy obsessed with haikus and a bubbly yet insecure girl as they experience the sights and sounds of rural countryside. The film is now streaming on Netflix.
‘Kingdom: Ashin Of The North‘
Fans eagerly awaiting the third season of Kingdom might be satiated by Kingdom: Ashin of the North, a special episode and spin-off prequel to the main series. Stream the episode now on Netflix.
In Theatres This Week
‘The Witches of the Orient‘
The Witches of the Orient is a tribute to the Japanese women’s volleyball team that won gold at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, boasting a still unbeaten record of 258 consecutive wins. The documentary will be completing its run at the Oldham Theatre this weekend — grab your tickets now here.
‘Hi Brother!’
A new stepbrother enters the chaotic lives of siblings Tingfeng and Tingyu — how will the trio cope? Find out in the lighthearted family comedy Hi Brother, now showing in theatres islandwide.
‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’
Don’t miss an opportunity to catch the greatest action hero (please direct disagreements to matt@sinema.sg) back on the silver screen! Coinciding with the film’s 40th anniversary, there will be three limited screenings of Raiders of the Lost Ark in 4K at GV VivoCity across three Saturdays. Grab your tickets now from the Golden Village website.
The presentation is part of a collaboration between the Singapore Film Society, Golden Village and global distribution and sales agent Park Circus.
‘Gunpowder Milkshake’
Gunpowder Milkshake looks to pack an explosive concoction of thrills and neon-soaked spice as a group of all-women assassins take on an endless army of hitmen. The action-packed film is now in theatres islandwide — check out our review here.
‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’
The G.I. Joe series looks to reinvigorate itself with Snake Eyes, starring Henry Golding, Andrew Koji, Samara Weaving and Iko Uwais. The film is now in theatres islandwide.
Banner image credit: Edko Films
