The IndBox Film Festival (iBFF), presented by Singapore Indian Theatre and Film Explorers (SITFE), spotlights Singapore’s Indian cinema.
IndBox stands for Indian Box Office, and the festival will take place from Aug 15 to 17, with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam launching it at the Taman Jurong Community Club.
The launch event and all iBFF programmes are open to the public. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit: https://linktr.ee/indboxffsg
Film Screenings
Two distinct sets of 15 locally produced Indian short films will be screened on loop at the Indian Heritage Centre at Campbell Lane from 10am to 6pm – one set each on Aug 16 and 17. Admission to these screenings are free.
Concurrently, a screening of seven rare short films that marked the beginnings of the careers of Singapore’s most dynamic Indian filmmakers, titled Before The Fame, There Was Fire, will be held at the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS) Annexe at Race Course Lane on Aug 16 from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
Another screening featuring five Indian stories told by non-Indian filmmakers will also be held at the SIFAS Annexe on Aug 17 from 7pm to 8pm. These short films aim to celebrate connection and offer fresh perspectives on Singapore’s Indian narratives. Tickets for both the screenings held at SIFAS are priced at S$12 each.
Panel Discussions
iBFF will also feature two panel discussions. The first will be moderated by media veteran Mohamed Ali and includes three panellists from Singapore’s Indian film industry. The panel will explore how to uncover quieter, untold stories amid a media landscape dominated by high-energy action and familiar clichés at the SIFAS Annexe on Aug 16 from 1pm to 2.30pm.
The second panel will be held online on Aug 17 from 5pm to 6.30pm and focuses on the importance of digitally archiving local Indian films. Moderated by Mr Eugene Tay, who helmed the Something Strange Festival (a festival for horror content creators), the panel promises a raw and compelling discussion on cultural preservation.
Both panel discussions are ticketed, but you can pay whatever amount you wish as a donation to the iBFF.
Talks & Workshops
The SIFAS Annexe will also house talks and workshops conducted by industry experts, like Mr Yahssir M., who is an award-winning Singaporean filmmaker with Hollywood experience. His talk on bringing Southeast Asian narratives to global platforms will happen on Aug 16 from 3pm to 4pm.
One exception is a non-ticketed presentation by participants from STORYMORPH, a screenwriting incubation programme co-organised by SITFE, that will be held at the National Library Building at Victoria Street on Aug 17 from 11am to 1pm.
