Singapore is set to welcome a major gathering of Asian cinema talent as the 37th Singapore International Film Festival returns from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1, 2026, bringing more than 100 films and a lineup featuring Aamir Khan, Anthony Wong, Park Sung-hoon and acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda.
The festival will open with the South Korean thriller “The Assassin(s),” directed by Hur Jin-ho and starring Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho. Hur will attend the opening alongside supporting cast members Park Sung-hoon and Shim Eun-kyung.
Aamir Khan will receive the festival’s Screen Icon Award, recognising his contribution to cinema. He will also attend a special presentation marking the 25th anniversary of “Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India,” joined by director Ashutosh Gowariker.
The anniversary screening gives Singapore audiences an opportunity to revisit the 2001 film, which became one of Khan’s most internationally recognised works and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Kore-eda will receive the Cinema Honorary Award for his contribution to Asian cinema. His 2026 film “Look Back” will also receive its Southeast Asian premiere at the festival, with a special presentation and question-and-answer session scheduled for Oct. 24.
Hong Kong actor Anthony Wong will also take part in the festival’s “In Conversation With” programme. He is scheduled for a post-screening dialogue connected to “My Name Ain’t Suzie,” his first acting role, which was released in 1985.
The festival is also putting a stronger spotlight on Singapore’s own film industry. More than 25 Singapore productions and co-productions linked to major international festivals will be featured, including films associated with Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Venice and Melbourne.
Among the Singapore-linked titles are “Ah Girl,” “The House on the Moon,” “Nagi Notes,” “Sleep No More,” “The Burning Giants,” “Four Seasons in Java” and “9 Temples to Heaven.” Several of these films have already received international festival recognition before their SGIFF screenings.
This year’s programme will also introduce new ways for audiences to experience cinema, including a Junior Explorers section featuring relaxed and sensory-friendly screenings for younger viewers. The festival’s industry programme is being expanded as well, alongside a new free public section exploring the intersection of filmmaking and immersive technology.
Ticket sales are also approaching. Early-bird sales begin on Sept. 25 at noon, while general ticket sales begin on Sept. 28 at noon. Singaporeans will be able to use SG Culture Pass credits for eligible local film programmes during the general sales period.
With international stars, acclaimed directors and a growing showcase of Singapore-made cinema converging in one programme, SGIFF 2026 is shaping up as a major meeting point for Asian filmmakers, performers and audiences — with the festival’s October opening set to bring the year’s biggest names onto Singapore screens.
