Back With a Bang!

After a six-month delay, Singapore's most renowned and longest-running cinema event is back for a 24th run. The 24th Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF) will be held from 15 to 25 September 2011, and carry a wide range of cinema from feature films, documentaries, short films and animations.

The 24th SIFF comprises of 16 segments, namely:
1. Singapore Panorama – One of the most anticipated sections of the festival, it was first introduced in 2008 to feature some of the best works by local film makers.
2. C’est la Vie – This selection of dramatic films explores the real and raw challenges that life poses, as well as the strong human spirit who ultimately rises and triumphs them all.
3. The Best Medicine – Beat the blues with these comedies which promise to leave audiences clutching their sides in hysterical laughter.
4. Wham! Bam! Pow! – Audiences can look forward to a sensory treat of adrenaline rush and heart-pumping action of gun-slinging and explosions with these action flicks.
5. Reality Bites – Nothing speaks to the heart more than the moving tales of fact, history and culture, told through the eyes of others across the world.
6. Midnight Madness – A common and popular genre of movies, these horror films will explore the supernatural and unknown, bringing terror to a whole new level.
7. Down The Rabbit Hole – Experimental and surreal, these films will take audiences to the new frontiers of cinema, from a journey through the mind of a dead drug addict, to a bloodthirsty rubber tyre on a killing spree.
8. Animation – Curated by Michael Lim, this captivating segment will showcase how animation has developed into a mature cinematic experience, catering to both the young and young at heart.
9. Seeing Music, Hearing Film – As a long-running tradition of SIFF, Seeing Music, Hearing Film connects music and film as it goes behind the scenes with indie singer Feist, and American rock band Kings of Leon.
10. Australian Film Focus – Watch a cross-section of films from Australia, ranging from stories of an aspiring rock star saving his father‟s elderly marching band, to a romantic comedy of superheroes falling in love.
11. International Shorts – Audiences can expect an exchange of cultures with this wide array of short original works and quality cinematic material from around the world.
12. Muppets, Music & Magic: Jim Henson’s Legacy – In conjunction with Jim Henson‟s 75th birthday, SIFF will see the Asian premiere of rare and exclusive Muppets footage. Aurthur Novell, his long-time publicist, will also be gracing the highly-anticipated film festival.
13. Indie Goes 3D – Eye-catching and visually stunning films are showcased in this segment of 3D films which has gained a rise in popularity with cinema-goers of late.
14. Everyone’s Gotta Start Somewhere – Featuring the directional debuts of established and well-known directors, this segment boasts several international names, including Darren Aronofsky, Yasmin Ahmad, Boo Jun Feng and Liao Jiekai.
15. Beyond Twillight: From Nosferatu to Pontianak – Vampires and the walking dead have taken the world by storm, from ancient lore to contemporary bloodsucking gore. Shortlisted by Melanie Oliveiro, these films will definitely fascinate and shock many.
16. Bertrand Tavernier Retrospective – Presenting some of Tavernier‟s best and earliest works at The Arts House for the first time ever in Singapore, this collection of five films, including his latest, examines romance, family as well as social issues in France.

The festival will open with Red Light Revolution – a witty comedy directed by Sam Voutas revolving around a jobless taxi driver who sets up an unusual shop in Beijing that offers a clever take on sexual liberation in modern China- and close with the critically acclaimed documentary Senna-  chronicling the life and works of racing legend Aryton Senna. 

Special guests to the festival include Ryan Kwanten (True Blood fans will know him as Jason Stackhouse) whose film Griff In Trouble is part of the Australian Film Focus, and Josh Radnor, director of happythankyoumoreplease. 

Geoffrey Malone, chairman and founder of SIFF, relishes the festival‟s role in championing local film aficionados to “watch different”. He says, “After 23 years, it only seemed right that the 24th edition of SIFF takes on a more impactful meaning to the local film industry. We rejuvenated SIFF by injecting it with fresh perspectives and insights, and introduced new programming that spans a wide range of genres. We are very excited at the increase in this year‟s line-up, comprising 144 feature films, compared to 87 films last year, and want to challenge filmgoers to start exploring films they would not normally consider; hence for them to 'watch different'.”

For a full list of the films, you may refer to http://www.siff.sg/programmes_schedules.php