Things To Do In Singapore: A New Film Festival Debuts & More
Our weekly edit of things to check out.
By Keng Yang Shuen,
Stories and narratives from the Arabic region are seldom heard in Singapore, but the new JISR Film Festival - Arabic for "bridge" - is looking to improve that situation, using cinema as a way to ahem, build bridges. More details on that below.
The inaugural JISR Film Festival is set to showcase multiple stories originating from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) - a region which comprises of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Named after the Arabic word for "bridge," it aims to bridge cultures through cinema, fostering connection and breaking stereotypes. There are six films on the line-up ranging from short films to documentaries, exploring a variety of themes such as sustainability, animation, sports, and female empowerment. Notable highlights include films like Nayla Al-Khaja’s documentary Road to Fulfillment Mansour Al Dhaheri’s Swim 62, and the action anime The Journey.
The festival also celebrates women filmmakers with works like Shahad Ameen’s Scales and Maysaa Al-Mumin’s ..and I Was Left Behind. Additionally, the festival will be premiering the critically-acclaimed action film How I Got There - helmed by acclaimed filmmaker Dr. Zeyad Al Husainy and featuring a stellar cast led by Ron Perlman (known for his role in "Hellboy"), this thriller follows the journey of two young Kuwaitis as they navigate through the dangerous underworld of gun traffickers, terrorists, and local gangsters. The film earned the prestigious Audience Award for Best Saudi Film at the 2022 Red Sea International Film Festival.
Get your tickets here.
March 23 - March 31, various times, at The Projector, Cineleisure #05-01, 8 Grange Road
Secondary art platform Art Again is once more putting on its popular live drawing sessions - this time in collaboration with Singapore fashion label Rye. It's an extra special edition this round; this edition is themed after the Moon, to coincide with the lunar eclipse. Inspired by myths from Southeast Asia, this guided session will feature curated fashion pieces inspired by the moon’s phases and a wide array of drawing mediums and materials to experiment with. There'll also be free-flowing wine and sangria throughout the session as you work on your drawings - setting the mise-en-scene as participants study the celestial body's deep influence on artistic expression.
Get your tickets here.
March 23, 4pm - 6pm or 8pm - 10pm, at Rye, #01-03, 201 Joo Chiat Road
WOAW Gallery's latest show, Truth Be Told, is a combined exhibition showcasing 13 new works by two artists: Slovakian artist Kristina Bukovakova and Puerto Rican artist Larissa De Jesus Negron. Their artworks, characterised by surreal dreamscapes and distorted figures, is united by honesty and introspection, delving into existential themes. De Jesus Negron explores her Puerto Rican roots and fears about the future, while Bukovakova addresses the environmental crisis. Both artists employ an "Internet aesthetic," blending real and digital elements, and the use of dreamy, unconventional colors to convey deeper messages.
On now till April 20, 11am - 7pm daily (closed on Sundays), 4 Ann Siang Hill
Singapore artist and photographer Tan Ngiap Heng had a big start this year with his buzzy group exhibition Eat Play Love - a show meant to be an ode to the historic family home he grew up in. Now he's back with Drama Mama, a new show co-presented with Wild Rice that showcases a comprehensive look at Singapore's performing arts scene with over 80 portraits of the industry's players, with names ranging from luminaries like Lim Yu Beng to emerging practitioners like Sonia Kwek.
Artists are often viewed through their art, the characters they play, the choreography they dance or art work they present, says Tan, and his portraits offer a tender, more intimate side to them. Alongside the exhibition, there will be a photography lecture demonstration workshop led by Tan, as well as artist-guided tours conducted by Tan, accompanied by some of the featured artists.
Get your tickets for the workshop here, and the artist tours here.
On now till April 9, 10am - 10pm daily, at Funan Underground Pedestrian Link, B2 & The Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre @ Wild Rice, Theatre Foyer, L4, 107 North Bridge Road
Beloved Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant Artichoke has been at its Middle Road digs for more than 13 years but now it's set to vacate the space (P.S. fret not, they're relocating to Lo & Behold's upcoming lifestyle enclave New Bahru). Chef and owner Bjorn Shen is throwing one last party at its current space and everyone's welcome to drop by and take a piece of Artichoke home (we hear there'll be giveaways). There'll be live sets by party collective Kampong Boogie, as well as DJs Pravy Wavy, Ash Gazali and Secret Pals. If you're planning to get one last meal there however, reservations are a must - head here to do so.
March 22, 5pm - 10.30pm, at Artichoke, 161 Middle Road
Vintage homeware purveyor Aeae Furniture is back once more its well-curated quarterly markets - each edition features a different mix of small local artisans and labels that the founders admire and it's always a good place to discover small independent businesses you may not have heard of. For the upcoming this weekend, there's artisanal bakers Pelle & Pepe, coffee roasters Bloom, ceramicist N.O.M Pottery, florist Moonspell Flowers, plant specialist Reluctant City Dweller and streetwear label 150s.
March 22, 5pm - 10pm, March 23 and 24, 12pm - 7pm, at Aeae Furniture, #07-01 Ho Seng Lee Flatted warehouse, 10C Jalan Ampas
If you're a fan of private dinners, here's one not to miss: F&B insider and chef Lawrence Yeow is predominantly an F&B curator but also occasionally dabbles as a chef, earning accolades for his ability to impress even those with the most discerning tastes (he's masterminded and cooked at top restaurants here). Now, you have the exclusive opportunity to sample his cooking firsthand - Yeow will be crafting a one-night-only dinner featuring curries and marsala stew at arts and social space Eat Snake. Pop by for a night of laid back fun and great food.
Get your tickets here.
March 22, 6pm - 12am, at EatSnake, #02-01, 33 Desker Road