Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF)

Overview

The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is Southeast Asia's longest-running film festival. The 37th edition runs October 21 to November 1, 2026, a shift from the festival's traditional late November to early December schedule. SGIFF is the primary competitive platform for Southeast Asian cinema, with the Silver Screen Awards recognizing the best Asian feature films and Southeast Asian short films. The festival is an Academy Awards-qualifying festival for short films: the winner of Best Southeast Asian Short Film becomes eligible for Oscar consideration in the Animated Short Film or Live Action Short Film category without the standard theatrical run. Feature film submissions cost USD 35, with short film submissions free during the early bird period and USD 15 thereafter.

SGIFF is supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and serves as a gateway for Southeast Asian filmmakers to connect with international buyers, festival programmers, and distributors. The festival accepts submissions from Asian feature films and Southeast Asian short films, with priority given to world, international, and Asian premieres. Jeremy Chua was appointed Executive Director in February 2026, bringing a filmmaker's perspective to the festival's strategic direction.

Key Sections

• Asian Feature Film Competition - feature films directed by a filmmaker of Asian nationality or origin, or with at least one Asian country listed as a country of production. Competing for Best Asian Feature Film, Best Director, and Best Performance
• Southeast Asian Short Film Competition - short films directed by a filmmaker of Southeast Asian nationality or origin, or with at least one Southeast Asian country listed as a country of production. Competing for Best Southeast Asian Short Film, Best Director, Best Performance, and Best Singapore Short Film. The Best Southeast Asian Short Film winner qualifies for Academy Awards consideration
• Gala Premieres - high-profile regional and international premieres
• Regional Cinema - a survey of Southeast Asian filmmaking
• Singapore Panorama - new Singaporean films
• Film Market - industry meetings and co-production activity connecting Southeast Asian filmmakers with international buyers and distributors

What Filmmakers Should Know

Submission Details

The Call for Entry for the 37th edition (October 2026) opens April 9, 2026 and closes June 9, 2026 at 11:59 PM GMT+8. All submissions must be completed via the Online Film Submission Form on the SGIFF website. A password-protected online screener or preview link is required and must remain accessible through mid-September 2026.

Entry Fees

Asian Feature Films:

• USD 35 per film, applicable throughout the entire submission period (April 9 to June 9, 2026)

Southeast Asian Short Films:

• Early bird (April 9 to May 9, 2026): Free
• Regular (May 10 to June 9, 2026): USD 15 per film

Entry fees are non-refundable. As a non-profit organization, SGIFF states that fees support the selection process review and the festival's sustainability.

Eligibility Requirements

• Feature film entries must be from Asia
• Short film entries must be from Southeast Asia
• Films must not have premiered earlier than November 1, 2025
• Films must at minimum be a Singapore premiere (not previously broadcast on TV, made available on the internet, or screened publicly in Singapore)
• Priority is given to world, international, and Asian premieres
• Films in any language other than English must have English subtitles
• Deadline extension requests are only granted in rare exceptional cases with valid reasons

Competition Eligibility

For the Asian Feature Film Competition, the director must be of Asian nationality or origin, or at least one Asian country must be listed as a country of production. For the Southeast Asian Short Film Competition, the director must be of Southeast Asian nationality or origin, or at least one Southeast Asian country must be listed as a country of production.

The festival reserves the right to determine which section (competitive or non-competitive) each selected film will participate in.

Oscar Qualifying Status

SGIFF is a qualifying festival for the Short Film Awards of the Academy Awards. The recipient of the Best Southeast Asian Short Film award becomes eligible for consideration in the Animated Short Film or Live Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with Academy rules.

New Festival Dates for 2026

Starting with the 37th edition, SGIFF shifted its festival dates from late November to October 21 to November 1, 2026. This change moves the festival earlier in the fall season, potentially positioning it before other major Asian festivals and markets. The SGIFF Film Fund, which previously supported regional film production, went on temporary hiatus in 2026 as part of a strategic revamp.

Major Awards

Asian Feature Film Competition

• Best Asian Feature Film
• Best Director
• Best Performance

Southeast Asian Short Film Competition

• Best Southeast Asian Short Film (Academy Awards-qualifying)
• Best Director
• Best Performance
• Best Singapore Short Film

Festival History

SGIFF was founded in 1987 and has operated through Singapore's various cultural policy changes, including a period of suspension in the late 1990s and early 2000s before relaunching in 2014. The festival has grown significantly since its relaunch, reflecting both Singapore's investment in the arts and the increasing international profile of Southeast Asian cinema.

The Silver Screen Awards have recognized emerging and established filmmakers from across Asia, with past winners including directors who have gone on to screen at Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and other major international festivals. The festival's competitive focus on Southeast Asian short films fills a gap in the regional festival circuit, where few events provide dedicated competitive recognition for short-form work from the region.

The 2026 leadership change, with Jeremy Chua promoted from General Manager to Executive Director, brought a filmmaker's perspective to the festival's programming strategy. Chua is a producer whose films have competed in and won Silver Screen Awards, giving him direct experience of the festival's impact on regional filmmakers' careers.

SGIFF's position in Singapore, Southeast Asia's most internationally connected media hub, gives the festival a unique role as a bridge between regional filmmakers and international buyers, festival programmers, and distributors who attend specifically to discover Southeast Asian content.

See Also

For production budgeting, use the Production Budget Calculator. For festival submission strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. For understanding the Southeast Asian film market, see International Film Markets.