Directed by Anthony Chen, this latest film completes his trilogy of Singapore ‘Growing Up’ films
SINGAPORE – 20 JAN 2026
1. Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen's We Are All Strangers (我们不是陌生人) breaks new ground as the first Singaporean film ever selected for Berlin International Film Festival's main competition, vying for the coveted Golden Bear in the festival's 76-year history. The film will make its world premiere at the festival, which runs from 12 to 22 February 2026.
2. Also known as the Berlinale, the festival’s main competition marks its centrepiece and most prestigious section, with previous winners including Ang Lee’s The Wedding Banquet and Sense and Sensibility, Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, Zhang Yimou’s Red Sorghum, Terence Malick’s The Thin Red Line and Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia. This year’s competition consists of 22 films and We Are All Strangers is one of just two films from Asia in the selection, the other being Japanese animation A New Dawn directed by Yoshitoshi Shinomiya.
3. Thirteen years after his Cannes Caméra d'Or triumph with Ilo Ilo, Chen is delivering the highly anticipated finale to his Singapore ‘Growing Up’ trilogy, following the award-winning Ilo Ilo (2013) and Wet Season (2019), with We Are All Strangers. This epic yet intimate film is set over three years in contemporary Singapore, as a family confronts love, loss and responsibility, and learns to live with the imperfect bonds between those we are born to and those we choose.
4. Building on the acclaimed themes first introduced in Ilo Ilo and Wet Season, Chen has pushed his exploration of surrogate families and unconventional relationships to new depths, culminating in a rousing and emotional close to his trilogy. The earlier two films collectively collected over 50 awards internationally, including 12 Golden Horse nominations, and won five Golden Horse Awards, marking a new chapter for Singapore cinema.
5. We Are All Strangers stars Chen’s frequent collaborators Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler in the lead roles, with Andi Lim and Regene Lim rounding out the cast. All four actors will attend the Berlin world premiere with the director.
6. Written and directed by Chen, the film is produced by his production company, Giraffe Pictures. World sales for the film are represented by sales agent Paradise City Sales, and the film is slated for release in Singapore and multiple territories in 2026. Giraffe Pictures also has a co-produced film, Indonesian director Edwin’s Sleep No More, world premiering in the Berlinale Special Midnight section.
7. We Are All Strangers is supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the Singapore Film Commission.
We are excited that We Are All Strangers has achieved a historic first for Singapore cinema. This groundbreaking selection marks Singapore's inaugural entry into Berlin's most prestigious category, competing alongside the world's finest films for the Golden Bear. The film exemplifies the remarkable rise of Made-with-Singapore storytelling on the global stage. This milestone further validates Singapore's emergence as a significant force in international cinema, showcasing our ability to create compelling narratives that resonate with audiences worldwide.
Yvonne Tang
Assistant Chief Executive (Media Industry Group), [br/]IMDA
8. On the selection of We Are All Strangers, producer and director, Anthony Chen, added, “Completing my Singapore ‘Growing Up’ trilogy has been a profoundly personal journey. This film also reflects my own evolution – as a son, a husband, and now a father. Ilo Ilo was made in my late twenties, Wet Season in my thirties, and We Are All Strangers in my early forties. All these films capture my love for Singapore and our people, my enduring portrait of home. I am immensely proud to present this final chapter at Berlin.”
.webp)