Discover how the iconic Anthony Bourdain came to be in Matt Johnson’s scrappy coming-of-age comedy that's equal parts sweet and sour.
Long before he became the world’s favorite culinary storyteller, Anthony Bourdain was just a dishwashing kid getting baptized in the grease, sweat, and chaos of a 1970s coastal seafood shack. This electric origin story follows a young Tony (Dominic Sessa) as he gets thrown into the fire of a cutthroat kitchen brigade. Surrounded by foul-mouthed line cooks, late-night vices, and non-stop pressure, a reckless teenager stumbles into the raw grit and rock-and-roll pulse that defined his entire legacy.
In English with English subtitles.
Rated M18 for Coarse Language and Drug Use.
The film contains an utterance of religious profanity that exceeds IMDA guidelines. The line has been muted by the distributor to be kept in line with guidelines.
Set across the shifting landscape of colonial Singapore and wartime Malaya, two musically gifted childhood friends—Fei and Kai—are bound together by their shared devotion to the violin. When the brutal onset of World War II and the Japanese Occupation tears them apart, Fei embarks on a decades-long journey across a changing Southeast Asia, holding onto memory, resilience, and the power of music as she searches for her lost friend.
A landmark achievement for local cinema, co-directors Ervin Han and Raúl García’s hand-drawn feature made history by winning the prestigious Cristal Award for Best Feature at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, alongside the SACEM Award for Best Original Soundtrack. Blending meticulous traditional craft with an evocative score by Ricky Ho, the film transforms regional history into a deeply human, universally resonant story that demands to be experienced on the big screen
Director Q&A, Sunday 4 Oct
Join us for an in-person Q&A with Co-Director Ervin Han, alongside Art Director and Storyboard Artist Ong Ruwei, Character Designer Sakura Wong and Animation Supervisor Wendy Li.
In English with English and Mandarin subtitles.
Rated PG for Some Violence
Oscar is an aging, rueful poet whose artistic ambitions have long faded into obscurity and heavy drinking. When Oscar takes up teaching to meet ends meet, he encounters Yurlady, a working-class girl with an extraordinary gift for poetry, he becomes consumed with launching her talent into the local literary scene. Driven by a desperate longing for career redemption and a second chance at fatherhood, Oscar inadvertently pushes her into an ambitious world she never asked to join.
Directed by Simón Mesa Soto, this tragicomedy earned the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and represented Colombia as its official submission for Best International Feature Film. Anchored by a brilliant, cringe-inducing performance from Ubeimar Rios, the film offers a darkly funny and deeply humane satire on artist egos and the messy search for purpose.
A Poet, A Creative, A Panel
Join us for a post-show fireside chat on Tue 6 Oct, 7.30pm!
Do you dream of writing your story one day? Of writing novels, poetry, or making films?
Do you want to support those dreamers around us to do so?
It isn’t easy being an artist anywhere, especially not outside major commercial systems like America, the UK, and Hollywood. And though A POET comes from halfway across the world, our creative industries are really not so different. So why make the admirably Herculean task of creating any harder by keeping career wisdom behind closed doors (or gates), or by having to struggle alone? And if you care about local voices, then how can we best support our artists?
Join us for a fireside chat with a local poet, Theophilus Kwek, and filmmaker, Pek Jia Hao, as they share with us their uncensored stories, tips and tricks, and dreams for the creative life in Singapore.
In Spanish with English subtitles.
Rated M18 for Nudity.
FATHERLAND centres on the relationship between the Nobel Prize-winning writer Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika, actress, writer and rally driver. In the summer of 1949, at the height of the Cold War, father and daughter embark on a challenging and emotional road trip in a black Buick taking them across a Germany in ruins – from US dominated Frankfurt to Soviet controlled Weimar. Returning home after sixteen years of exile in the US, Thomas Mann has to face not only a divided fatherland, but also deep fracture within his own family.
In German with English subitltes.
Rating NC16. Some Mature Content
Co-presented by Goethe-Institut Singapore, Embassy of Italy in Singapore & Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Singapore
TW: Contains scenes with flashing lights, photosentive audience is advised.
Framed across three pivotal eras of his life, Chiron navigates the harsh realities of growing up in a tough neighborhood while struggling with his identity, sexuality, and a troubled home environment. Guided by the tender mentorship of a local drug dealer and a deep, enduring connection with a childhood friend, Chiron gradually leanrs to protect himself from the world as he grows into adulthood.
Directed by Barry Jenkins, this groundbreaking drama won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali. Celebrated for James Laxton’s luminous cinematography and Nicholas Britell’s evocative score, the film stands as a transcendent, deeply lyrical portrait of intimacy, vulnerability, and self-discovery.
Newly restored in 4K and with an exclusive conversation with director Barry Jenkins, featuring Oscar Nominated composer Nicholas Britell and Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, to follow the feature.
In English.
Rated M18 for Some Homosexual Content.
Digger Rockwell (Tom Cruise) is a megalomaniacal oil tycoon and one of the most powerful men on the planet. When his reckless deep-sea drilling operation in Greenland triggers a catastrophic environmental disaster, Digger refuses to back down or accept blame. Instead, he launches a frantic, delusional public relations crusade to spin the catastrophe, attempting to convince an unraveling world that he is humanity’s ultimate savior before the consequences of his hubris destroy everything.
Four-time Academy Award winner Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman, The Revenant) returns to English language filmmaking with a blistering, absurdist black comedy. Anchored by Cruise’s most unhinged, transformative lead performance in decades, the film features a stellar supporting ensemble including Sandra Hüller, Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, and Jesse Plemons. Shot entirely on 35mm VistaVision by master cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, Digger pairs razor sharp political satire with sweeping visual scale, an audacious, large-format spectacle engineered specifically for the big screen experience.
In English with English & Chinese subtitles
Rated M18 for Coarse Language.
On a quiet summer holiday at a Turkish resort in the late 1990s, 11-year-old Sophie spends precious days with her loving, idealistic father, Calum. Decades later, an adult Sophie revisits home video footage and fragmented memories from the trip, attempting to reconcile the father she remembered with the personal struggles he kept hidden from view.
Charlotte Wells’ remarkable debut feature earned Paul Mescal an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor alongside the French Touch Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. A deeply felt portrait of memory, grief, and parental love, the film pairs subtle visual storytelling with remarkable central performances that linger long after the credits roll.
In English.
Rated M18 for Mature Content.
TW: Contains scenes with flashing lights, photosensitive audiences are advised.
Following its phenomenal success in Japan, critically acclaimed film Kokuho is enjoying a re-release in Singapore with limited screenings!
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Lee Sang-il and adapted from Shuichi Yoshida's bestselling novel of the same name, Kokuho stars Ryo Yoshizawa and Ryusei Yokohama alongside an impressive ensemble cast including Ken Watanabe.
Set in the fascinating world of Kabuki, Japan's centuries-old traditional performing art, Kokuho tells the story of two young men from very different backgrounds whose lives become intertwined through their pursuit perfecting their craft.
More than just a story about performance, Kokuho is a powerful portrait of ambition, identity and the price of dedicating one's life to art.
Recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Kabuki is celebrated for its rich traditions, elaborate costumes and stylised performances. One of its most iconic features is “onnagata”, the art of male actors portraying female roles with extraordinary precision, grace and emotional depth.
Since its release, Kokuho has become the highest-grossing live-action Japanese film in history. Domestic and global popularity of the film has also rekindled public interest in kabuki.
The film dominated the 49th Japan Academy Film Prize, taking home ten awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. Its exceptional Kabuki-inspired hair and makeup artistry also earned a nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the 98th Academy Awards, bringing the beauty of Japanese traditional culture to the global stage.
In Japanese with English and Mandarin dual subtitles.
Rated M18 for Sexual Scenes.
Set in a future gothic wasteland where ancient vampires dominate a fading world, "D" a half vampire, half human bounty hunter is hired to retrieve a wealthy family's daughter abducted by a powerful vampire nobleman. Racing against the ruthless Markus Brothers, a rival band of mercenary hunters, D encounters a complex web of forbidden romance, tragic monstrousness, and dark fantasy.
Widely regarded as Kawajiri’s directorial masterpiece, Bloodlust showcases the artistry of pre digital, hand drawn Japanese animation with its blend of Baroque grandeur, dark romanticism, and dazzling action choreography. The 2K restoration elevates Yoshitaka Amano's breathtaking character designs and painterly background art, restoring the film's velvet shadow tones and fine line work to pristine quality
In Japanese with English subtitles.
Rated PG13 for Some Violence and Nudity.
TW: Contains scenes with flashing lights, photosensitive viewers are advised.
The Gheorghius, a devout Romanian Norwegian couple, resettle in a village set in a distant fjord where they become close to their neighbours, the Halbergs. Their children bond despite their different education. When adolescent Elia Gheorghiu shows up at school with some bruises on her body, the community asks itself if the traditional education that the Gheorghiu children get from their parents might have anything to do with it.
Winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Fjord marks another masterclass in moral ambiguity from director Cristian Mungiu (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, R.M.N.). Anchored by magnetic, career-defining performances from Stan and Reinsve, the film dissects the terrifying machinery of state intervention with surgical narrative precision. Framed in stark long-take cinematography that captures the icy, claustrophobic grandeur of its Scandinavian setting, Fjord is an explosive, thought-provoking drama bound to spark debate.
In Romanian and Norwegian with English subtitles.
Rated NC16 for Some Nudity.
TW: Contains depictions of self-harm.
Hirayama works as a cleaner of public toilets in Tokyo, leading a quiet, contentment-driven life structured around classic rock cassettes, secondhand books, and photographing the light filtering through urban trees. As small, unexpected encounters break his daily routine, quiet details of his past gradually come to light.
Directed by Wim Wenders, this Oscar nominee for Best International Feature earned Kōji Yakusho the Best Actor prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Celebrating the dignity of labor and the art of mindfulness, the film offers a warm, contemplative, and visually striking observation of contemporary Tokyo.
In Japanese with English subitles.
Rated PG for Brief Nudity
Haru, a competitive ballroom dancer in Tokyo, finds her world shattered when a sudden tragedy takes her husband-cum-dance partner from her side. Withdrawn into deep isolation and grief, she slowly allows her friends to coax her back onto the floor, where an unexpected connection with a new instructor reignites her passion. As she navigates life after loss, Haru stumbles through awkward choices, finding that healing is an exuberant, messy, and wildly colorful process.
Featuring a charismatic lead performance by Rinko Kikuchi(Pacific Rim), the film presents an energetic, unabashed and fantastical way of moving on.
In Japanese, Spanish and English with English subtitles.
Rated M18 for Sexual Scene and Mature Content.
Berlin, 2019. As the city marks 30 years since the fall of the Wall, Micha Hartung (Charly Hübner) is barely getting by, running - and living in - a failing video store. But when a magazine journalist (Leon Ullrich) uncovers a long-forgotten incident from his past, everything changes. As a railway worker in the German Democratic Republic, Micha once mistakenly sent a train across the border into the West. Reimagined as a bold act of defiance, the story is spun into a media sensation, casting Micha as the mastermind behind the biggest mass escape in GDR history. Reluctant at first, Micha is soon caught in the glare of fame – which also has its perks, as he meets his dream woman, Paula (Christiane Paul). He never imagined an ordinary guy like him could attract someone so successful, educated and witty, but like the rest of his life, this budding love story threatens to descend into a chaos of miscommunication and lies.
In German with English subtitles.
Rating PG13 . Some Coarse Language
Presented by Goethe-Institut Singapore in collaboration with Filmhouse
Following the death of her secretive mother, miniature artist Annie Graham attempts to navigate her family's complex grief while maintaining a semblance of order in her secluded home. As disturbing, unexplainable events begin to target her children, the family plunges into a nightmare of escalating trauma, revealing sinister secrets about their ancestry.
Directed by Ari Aster in his astonishing feature debut, this modern horror masterpiece captivated audiences and critics alike, earning Toni Collette widespread acclaim for her staggering central performance. Blending agonizing familial drama with relentless, visceral dread, the film crafts a haunting exploration of inherited trauma and inescapable fate.
In English with Mandarin subtitles.
Rated M18 for Some Nudity.
TW: Contains depictions of self harm, animal cruelty and graphic scenes.
Still grieving the tragic loss of her fiancé Itsuki Fujii in a mountain climbing accident, Hiroko Watanabe sends a letter to his old childhood address in snow-covered Otaru, a home she believes no longer exists, hoping to send a message into the ether. To her shock, she receives a reply signed by "Itsuki Fujii." The respondent is not her late lover's ghost, but a female former classmate who shared his exact name. As the two women begin exchanging letters across the snowbound landscape, a tender, long buried portrait of forgotten youth, unrequited first love, and shared memory slowly unfurls.
A foundational landmark of 1990s Asian cinema, Shunji Iwai’s feature debut became a massive cultural phenomenon across East and Southeast Asia, immortalized by Miho Nakayama’s double performance. Shot with a dreamlike, soft focus palette by the late cinematographer Noboru Shinoda, this new 4K digital restoration preserves every delicate detail.
4K remastering under the supervision of Fuji Television Network, Inc., with all analog and digital processes by Imagica Entertainment Media Services, Inc. Image digitization through high-resolution 4K scanning from the original 35mm camera negative. Restoration, color correction, and final sound finishing supervised by director Shunji Iwai.
In Japanese with English subtitles.
Rated PG
Presented at Filmhouse as part of Japanese Film Festival, in partnership with the Singapore Film Society, Japan Creative Center and Japan Foundation
In modern-day Wellington, New Zealand, a group of centuries-old vampires share a suburban flat and struggle with the mundane realities of modren domestic life. When a camera crew documents their daily routines, the arrival of a newly turned vampire and his human software-engineer friend introduces the ancient flatmates to contemporary culture, forcing them to adapt to the 21st century.
Driven by razor-sharp improvisation, deadpan comedy, and inventive visual gags, this Taika Waititi classic offers a brilliant, endearing subversion of classic creature-feature tropes, earning its status as a cult classic.
In English.
Rated NC16 for Some Violence and Nudity.
Edinburgh, 1810. Teachers Jane Pirie and Marianne Woods embark on their dream of an independent life together and open a boarding school. Their lives are changed forever when a wealthy aristocrat enrols her "illegitimate" 15-year-old grandchild from India. The teachers struggle to integrate the girl who remains an outsider among her classmates. Miss Pirie and Miss Woods are brought closer to Jane Cumming when her grandmother insists they look after her over the summer. Private and professional lines blur, affection between them grows and they start to form an unlikely family. Tensions rise as the new term begins. The teachers are overwhelmed with the girl's increasing desire for closeness and their own changing relationship. As Jane Cumming begins to feel excluded from her new family, she demands to be taken home to her grandmother. An accusation follows which leaves the teacher's fighting for their lives, resulting in a legal battle that would last a decade and scandalize the Scottish establishment. Based on true events.
In English.
Rating R21 . Some Homosexual Content
Co-presented by Goethe-Institut Singapore & Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore
Five broken cameras – and each one has a powerful tale to tell. Embedded in the bullet-ridden remains of digital technology is the story of Emad Burnat, a farmer from the Palestinian village of Bil’in, which famously chose nonviolent resistance when the Israeli army encroached upon its land to make room for Jewish colonists. Emad bought his first camera in 2005 to document the birth of his fourth son, Gibreel. Over the course of the film, he becomes the peaceful archivist of an escalating struggle as olive trees are bulldozed, lives are lost, and a wall is built to segregate burgeoning Israeli settlements.
In Arabic with English subtitles
Rated NC16 for Mature Content.
This screening is held in conjunction with Letter to Birds, part of the ticket proceeds will be donated to Mercy Relief.
Letter to Birds is an art market organised by artists, raising funds for humanitarian aid in Palestine. Now in its third edition, it returns to Filmhouse on Sunday, 18 October with over 50 artists participating!
An unexpected meeting on a train leads two travelers to spend an evening wandering through Vienna. As the night unfolds, they share stories and conversations about life and love, exploring new ideas while a quiet intimacy grows between them, knowing it may be their only night together.
In English.
Rated NC16.
Mia, an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and Sebastian, a jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail party gigs in dingy bars, but as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart.
In English with Mandarin Subtitles
Rated PG13 for Some Coarse Language
When a man falls to his death from a remote chalet in the French Alps, his wife—a successful German novelist—becomes the prime suspect in a murder trial. With no direct witnesses other than their visually impaired young son, the courtroom proceedings gradually shift from analyzing physical evidence to dissecting the private fractures of their marriage.
Winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, Justine Triet’s psychological drama is a masterclass in narrative tension and moral ambiguity. Powered by a commanding performance from Sandra Hüller, it is a sharp, provocative examination of truth, perspective, and relationship dynamics.
In French and English with English subtitles.
Rated NC16 for Some Mature References.
TW: Contains scene(s) of animal abuse.
Some movies are meant to be watched in quiet contemplation; others demand to be experienced as a party. We are cranking up Filmhouse’s 7.1 sound system to present the definitive 4K restoration of Talking Heads’ cinematic milestone in all its high volume glory!
Captured over three nights at Hollywood’s Pantages Theatre in 1983, Jonathan Demme’s concert film opens on an empty stage with David Byrne, an acoustic guitar, and a portable cassette player performing "Psycho Killer." Musician by musician, instrument by instrument, the stage is constructed before the audience's eyes, escalating into an exhilarating, high energy spectacle driven by Talking Heads at the peak of their live performance powers.
Whether you're a lifelong fan or discovering the iconic big suit for the first time, join us for an unmissable communal screening that bridges the gap between cinema and live concert!
In English.
Rated PG
TW: Contains scenes with flashing lights, photosensitive audiences are advised.
Objectifs Short Film Festival presents:
Focus | Image & Memory: Early Works of Hirokazu Kore-eda
Focus presents the early short films of a key international filmmaker. The showcase will consist of rarely seen short films, with a post-screening Q&A with the filmmaker.
Objectifs is proud to be able to feature two of film auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda's earlier documentaries, Lessons from a Calf and Where Has All The Pollution Gone? for the inaugural edition of the Objectifs Short Film Festival.
Known for his seminal works like Maborosi, Nobody Knows and Shoplifters, Kore-eda’s inception as a director came about through television documentaries that he directed and conceptualised in 1987 for NONFIX, a late-night documentary series that was broadcasted on Fuji Television. The opportunity and experimentation afforded through work for NONFIX, which included Lessons from a Calf and Where Has All The Pollution Gone? led to Kore-eda’s perennial fascination with an image’s potential to communicate intention, as well as elicit emotion. As observed through his later fictional films, Kore-eda’s hallmark ability to harness an ironically steely eye in order to garner empathy for issues pertaining to social realism has evident roots in his earlier television work.
Witness the beginnings of Hirokazu Kore-eda's journey as a filmmaker in this rare chance to watch his early films, as well as trace his directing methodology from the initial craft of documentary, all with the filmmaker himself in attendance.
Lessons From A Calf / 47 min / Japan / 1991
In 1988, Ina Elementary School adopted a cow named Laura from a ranch as a part of the school’s integrated learning program. Students learn from building the cow’s barn, calculating the feed cost and debating in class for making decisions. Capturing the kids’ lively expressions, the documentary witnesses their growth through the care of Laura. Kore-eda’s first project, mostly rolling a video camera by himself.
Where Has All The Pollution Gone? / 47 min / Japan / 1992
In early 1960s Chiba, pollution from a steel factory left locals with asthma. Ministry of Environment bureaucrat Hashimoto Michio became a hero after drafting Japan's first pollution control law in 1967. But as certified patients multiplied and compensation costs strained the economy, the government deregulated the law, declaring the pollution resolved. Because of this, Hashimoto was recast as a traitor by victims who knew otherwise.
Supported by Filmhouse
Ticket price: $25
Buy Tickets: https://osff-25oct.peatix.com/
On the eve of Halloween, three young friends discover that the eerie, dilapidated home across the street owned by an old recluse is actually a living, breathing entity with a lethal appetite for anyone who steps onto its lawn. When the adults dismiss their frantic warnings, the trio must band together to infiltrate and destroy the living house before trick-or-treaters flood the neighborhood.
Directed by Gil Kenan, this Academy Award-nominated animated feature combines innovative performance-capture technology with genuine scares and emotional depth, capturing the nostalgic thrill of childhood fears mixed with unexpected empathy.
In English.
Rated PG.
FRI 30 OCT
TWO SCREENINGS ONLY – 7.45pm & 8:45pm
AFTERPARTY: THE HOE DOWN – 10pm onwards
< TICKET SALE OPENS – THU 24 SEP, 6PM >
After a year’s hiatus, the antici…..pation is overrrr!
Pull on your fishnets, tighten that corset and slick that red lipstick on!
The Glory Hoes are back with our annual Halloween tradition -- The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Welcome to the movie experience that doesn’t just welcome you and your flying freakflag, we’re here to celebrate it! Together!
Come for the experience, raise a toast to Tim Curry, and stay to party at The Hoe Down!
Need help with costume or makeup?
There’s a Trans-Formation booth run by a little coterie of drag queens.
Don’t know the call backs, we’ll guide you.
Never seen the film, there will be virgin initiations.
And yes! We’re providing the bags of shit, so DO NOT BRING YOUR OWN!
Then stay for the Hoe Down!
Batten the hatches, gird your loins, and spread your wings (in whichever order you like, go crazy!). We are embracing the 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s, 20s in an afterparty of raucous debauchery and unapologetic homosexuality. Brace yourself, and twirl with those songs we love to sing along to from all eras. Hot camp chaos!
COME - get the lowdown on The Hoe Down
SCHEDULE
From 7pm
Nibbles and tipple (at your own cost)
Trans-Formation Booth Open.
Show off your lewks!
7.45pm & 8:45pm (TWO SCREENINGS!)
Screenings hosted by Becca D’Bus
Costume contest (Best Dr Frank-N-Furter wins!)
Virgin Initiations
10pm onwards
The Hoe Down
Dance…#LikeNobodysWatching
DJs, Drag performances and guest GOGO till late
TICKETS (live on 24 Sep)
$46 - includes Movie + The Hoe Down party
Your tickets include a bag of shit, for the safety of all, please do not bring your own.
Important notes:
*Tickets DO NOT include drinks or food!
ABOUT
The Glory Hoes present is a series of queer film experiences. You’re hosted, sometimes you dress up, or sing, definitely cheer and hiss, yell at the screen and always lubricated with lots of booze. Films by queers, about our people and embraced by people like us. And when that is done, The Hoe Down! Dance…#LikeNobodysWatching
The Glory Hoes are: Becca D’Bus, Bobby Luo, Prashant Somosundram.
They now work with the glorious people of Filmhouse
In 2018, 22 activists from 15 countries sailed on Al Awda to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver aid to Palestinians. Among them were two Singaporeans: filmmaker Jason Soo and doctor Ang Swee Chai, widow of exiled lawyer Francis Khoo. The film features brief portraits of the group, including an Israeli ex-air force captain, an Algerian journalist, a Swedish singer and a Malaysian academic. As the boat nears their destination, the activists undergo training in nonviolent resistance—tactics to calmly deal with the inevitable forceful arrests by the Israeli military—and discuss strategies of care and solidarity.
Rated R21 for Mature content.
In English
