SINGAPORE – 09 MAY 2025
1. Singapore's film industry continues to punch above its weight on the international scene with three Made-with-Singapore films selected for the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. 'Renoir', a Singapore co-produced film, leads the way in the main competition, competing for the prestigious Palme d'Or award against 20 international films. This marks Singapore's return to the Festival's main competition after a 17-year interval. Two other films have also secured notable spots at the Festival. 'A Useful Ghost' will screen in Critics' Week, while the short film 'Before the Sea Forgets' has been selected for Directors' Fortnight. This achievement follows Singapore's success at last year's Festival, where director Chiang Wei Liang's 'Mongrel' received a Camera d'Or Special Mention. The selection of these films demonstrates the continued growth and international recognition of Singapore's film industry, reflecting the quality of local talent and creative capabilities.
Singapore co-produced films selected for top categories at Cannes
2. ‘Renoir’, which is co-produced by Singapore-based Akanga Film Asia, is among only 21 films selected from a record 2,909 submissions worldwide, marking Singapore’s strongest showing at Cannes Film Festival since Eric Khoo’s drama ‘My Magic’ in 2008. ‘Renoir’ touches on a Japanese girl’s story about how she copes with a terminally ill father and stressed-out, working mother while encountering various adults dealing with their own struggles. It will be released in Japan on 20 June, with a Singapore release date to be announced.
3. ‘A Useful Ghost’, co-produced by Singapore-based Momo Film Co, tells the story of a wife who dies due to dust pollution and unexpectedly returns in the form of a vacuum cleaner unravelling an unconventional human-ghost love story. The Singapore release date for this film will be announced later. Tan Si En, co-producer for this film and founder of Momo Film Co, said that "It’s incredible to have ‘A Useful Ghost’ selected for Cannes Critics’ Week which has always supported strong directorial voice, originality, and bold storytelling. The film was shaped by the immense dedication and talent of Singaporeans - especially our sound designer, Lim Ting Li, and product designer, Sim Hao Jie, who made vital contributions to the film. I’m proud to see Southeast Asian storytelling resonate on such a global stage.”
4. Made-with-Singapore films being selected almost yearly for Cannes underscores Singapore's emergence as a hub for quality filmmaking in Asia. Ms Yvonne Tang, Assistant Chief Executive of Media Industry Group, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), said, “As Singapore marks its 60th birthday this year, we celebrate nearly three decades of showcasing Made-with-SG content and local talent at Cannes Film Market. Cannes remains a key platform for Singapore filmmakers and producers to market their stories globally and build international partnerships. Our strong presence here demonstrates how Singapore, despite its size, consistently produces brilliant storytellers who can compete on the world stage.”
5. French-based company, Goodfellas, and Brussels-based company, Best Friend Forever, have acquired international sales rights to ‘Renoir’ and ‘A Useful Ghost’ respectively, ahead of their premiere at Cannes.
Short film selected for Cannes features Singapore talents
6. Since 2007, Singapore has also had short films selected for various sections at the Cannes Film Festival. This year, ‘Before the Sea Forgets’ short film, a Singapore production by 13 Little Pictures and WBSB Films, has been selected for the Directors' Fortnight showcase. The story set in Vietnam, is about a young man who is haunted by doubts about his lover's faithfulness. His encounter with a ghost, when he searches for a soldier's grave, forces him to face uncomfortable truths about his own relationship. The cinematography, colour grading and the post-production for this film were by our local talent/company - Looi Wan Ping (co-producer of the film), Eugene Seah and The Chop Shop Post respectively.
Supporting local filmmakers
7. ‘Renoir’ and ‘A Useful Ghost’ were awarded IMDA’s Go-Global Grant and Southeast Asia (SEA) Co-Production Grant respectively, under the Media Talent Progression Programme. These grants have enabled Singapore talent from our media industry to work with international filmmakers and productions. For both films, there are 30 Singapore talents in total working in the production, sound, editing, art department and casting teams. This provides opportunities for our talent to shine through such productions and to enable them to have greater exposure in working alongside creatives from other countries, and exchange knowledge and learn from one another.
| Title | Synopsis |
|
Renoir |
A quirky 11-year-old girl, Fuki, deals with her terminally ill father and stressed-out, working mother over one summer in Tokyo in 1987, while each of them thirsts for human connections. |
|
A Useful Ghost |
March is mourning his wife, Nat, after she dies due to dust pollution. When he discovers that her spirit has unexpectedly returned in the form of a vacuum cleaner, he embraces it, and the pair form an unconventional human-ghost love story. But March’s family, who has seen their factory turned upside down by the ghost of a former employee, rejects the relationship. Eager to convince the family of her and March’s love, Nat sets off to become a useful ghost and offers to cleanse the factory. |
|
Before The Sea Forgets [Short Film] Produced by
Co-produced by |
On a sun-drenched beach beneath Da Nang’s peninsula, a young man suspects his older lover's infidelity, echoing a fragile intimacy between them. Their tense journey searching for a Vietnamese soldier's forgotten grave, tied to family secrets, leads them to an abandoned villa and a mist-shrouded forest in the heart of the peninsula. Lost in the fog, the young man encounters the ghost of a soldier searching for his lost love, a rendezvous that feels strangely familiar. Meanwhile, carefree skaters they encountered earlier are found still and unsettling. As the mist swirls, past and present blur, forcing the young lover to confront his suspicions and the haunting truths surrounding his partner. |
Made-with-SG films in Cannes to date:
- 3 titles for Main Competition,
- 7 titles for Un Certain Regard,
- 9 titles for Directors’ Fortnight,
- 5 titles for Critics’ Week,
- 5 titles for Cinefondation L’Atelier (in development) and
- 5 titles in Cinefondation Selection/ La Cinef Selection (short films)
|
Year |
Made-with-SG Films |
|
2025 |
Main Competition
Cannes Critics’ Week
Directors’ Fortnight
|
|
2024 |
Un Certain Regard
Directors’ Fortnight
La Cinef (formerly Cinefondation)
|
|
2023 |
Cannes Critics’ Week
Directors’ Fortnight
Un Certain Regard
|
|
2021 |
Un Certain Regard
|
|
2019 |
Directors’ Fortnight
|
|
2018 |
Cinefondation L’Atelier
|
|
2017 |
Cannes Critics’ Week
|
|
2016 |
Un Certain Regard
|
|
2015 |
Cinefondation L’Atelier
|
|
2014 |
Cinefondation L’Atelier
|
|
2013 |
Directors’ Fortnight
|
|
2011 |
Un Certain Regard
|
|
2010 |
Cannes Critics’ Week
|
|
2009 |
Directors’ Fortnight
|
|
2008 |
Main Competition (first for Singapore)
|
|
2007 |
Main Competition
|
|
2006 |
Singapore showcased of 12 films at World Cinema (Tous les Cinemas du Monde)
|
|
2005 |
Directors’ Fortnight
|
|
2003 |
Kodak Emerging Filmmakers Showcase
|
|
1997 |
Un Certain Regard
|
.webp)