These are our twelve recommended short films from the Singapore International Film Festival which is taking place from November 28 until December 8, 2024.

Mantra of Neon by Palita Chairit – Thailand | 2024 – 18 minutes | International Premiere

A Thai soldier returns home to find his father suffering from a mysterious illness. The affliction soon spreads in the village like a curse, causing inexplicable events. (SGIFF 2024)

Trailer:

Mulberry Fields by Nguyễn Trung Nghĩa – Vietnam | 2024 – 25 minutes | Asian Premiere

A woman working for a pyramid scheme laments her fading youth, while a young man idles in wait. As they wander the abandoned apartment building where they live, a quiet seduction grows. (SGIFF 2024)

My Paws Are Soft, My Bones Are Heavy by Garry Christian – Indonesia | 2024 – 19 minutes | World Premiere

Jo spends his birthday with his best friend, who teaches him how to ride a motorbike. However, memories of his late mother surface as Jo recalls their time spent together. (SGIFF 2024)

Trailer:

My Therapist Said, I Am Full of Sadness by Monica Vanesa Tedja – Indonesia | 2024 – 22 minutes | Singapore Premiere

Mixing archival home footage of a childhood in Jakarta and glimpses of current life in Berlin, a queer nonbinary filmmaker reflects on their chosen life and relationship with their devout Christian parents. (SGIFF 2024)

Trailer:

Mycelium Memory by Felicia Luna King – Thailand | 2024 – 30 minutes | International Premiere

After returning to her childhood home, a Thai-American finds herself exploring fragments of her Vietnam War-veteran father’s memories through her fungi-infested house. (SGIFF 2024)

Trailer:

Rumbles of the Earth by Carl Joseph Lara – Philippines | 2024 – 13 minutes | Singapore Premiere

In a town in Mindanao, earthquakes happen constantly and people mysteriously disappear. When Munya’s mother goes missing, her investigation leads her to discovering the thin line between fantasy and reality. (SGIFF 2024)

Trailer:

Spirits of the Black Leaves by Thaweechok Phasom – Thailand | 2024 – 30 minutes

Feeling as if there is a void in her chest, a woman embarks on a transformative journey with phantasmagorical encounters and karmic connections. (SGIFF 2024)

Trailer:

The Inescapable Desire of Roots by Mark Chua, Lam Li Shuen – Singapore |  2024 – 6 minutes | Singapore Premiere

A man with hair growing wildly over his body is taken by a mania of ecstasy and anguish. He struggles with the hair becoming a means of discipline and punishment, while being overwhelmed by the explosive jubilance of its sprouting. (SGIFF 2024)

Trailer:

The Nature of Dogs by Pom Bunsermvicha – Thailand, USA, Singapore, Hong Kong | 2024 – 27 minutes | Asian Premiere

A family and their dog arrive at a seaside resort, but as their vacation unfolds, hidden wounds emerge, revealing fractured lives. (SGIFF 2024)

Trailer:

The Orange by Seakleng Song – Cambodia | 2024 – 16 minutes | World Premiere

Two childhood best friends reconnect in Phnom Penh after years of separation. A film screening prompts them to wonder about their future together. (SGIFF 2024)

Trailer:

Vox Humana by Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan – Philippines, USA, Singapore | 2024 – 22 minutes | Asian Premiere

In the aftermath of an earthquake, a man found in the woods may be the cause of all the natural disasters that devastated a small mountain town. (SGIFF 2024)

WAShhh by Mickey Lai – Malaysia, Ireland | 2024 – 24 minutes | Singapore Premire

A Chinese trainee in a Malaysian National Service camp is ordered to lead her female comrades in washing soiled sanitary pads at night. (SGIFF 2024)

Trailer:

For more information, please visit: https://sgiff.com/