SINGAPORE – Veteran and up-and-coming Singaporean actors and film-makers will lead local productions at the 36th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), which runs from Nov 26 to Dec 7.

Three of them – comedy Sandbox, documentary At Home With Work and short film Cendol – make their world premieres at SGIFF.

The 2025 edition will showcase more than 110 films from over 45 countries in a slate that sees Singapore stories taking centre stage, according to a statement from the festival.

It will also present more than 30 feature and short films by Singaporean film-makers and co-productions. The festival has doubled its local short film selection compared with 2024 and will showcase 28 works, spread across the Southeast Asian Short Film Competition and Singapore Panorama sections of the programme.

Sandbox features cast members Benjamin Kheng, Nathan Hartono, Estelle Fly, Fauzi Azzhar and Oon Shu An in a comedy about a failing stunt school, in a story that shines a light on the struggles of Singaporeans chasing their dreams in creative spaces. It is directed by Singapore-based writer and film-maker James Thoo.

The Old Man And His Car stars veteran actors Lim Kay Tong and Richard Low in a drama about a widower who says farewell to his beloved car before migrating to Canada to be with his son. It also stars transgender actress Kristin Tiara.

The feature film debut of Singaporean film-maker Michael Kam has been selected for the Tokyo International Film Festival, where it will get its world premiere on Nov 2.

It will be the opening film of SGIFF’s Singapore Panorama section of the programme, dedicated to feature and short films from the Republic that address societal concerns.