The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is evolving its prominent Asian Feature Film Competition for its 36th iteration, broadening its eligibility criteria beyond just new and developing filmmakers, while also appointing the renowned Argentinian director Lucrecia Martel to lead the judging panel.

Running from November 26 to December 7 as a key component of the Singapore Media Festival 2025, the festival has announced that its competition, which previously accepted only directors presenting their first to third feature films, will now be open to creators at any point in their professional journey. Organizers emphasized that SGIFF serves as both a festivity and an encouragement for narratives to persist, communities to unite, and artistic expression to flourish, even amidst uncertain global circumstances. Martel, whose film \"Zama\" was screened at SGIFF in 2017, returns with her latest non-fiction work, \"Nuestra Tierra\" (Landmarks), which will be showcased in the festival's Standpoint section, featuring ten films exploring critical social and political subjects. The Salta-born director, known for works like \"La Ciénaga\" and \"La Niña Santa,\" has been honored with retrospectives at prestigious institutions worldwide and continues to innovate across various artistic forms.

This year's diverse competition lineup highlights the rich creative landscape of the region. It includes Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke's innovative Thai satire \"A Useful Ghost,\" co-produced by Singapore, and Chen Deming's introspective Chinese documentary \"Always,\" which contemplates themes of childhood and change. Singapore's own Tan Siyou will present \"Amoeba,\" a coming-of-age narrative, while India's Rohan Parashuram Kanawade offers \"Cactus Pears,\" a Sundance award-winner exploring queer relationships in rural India. Iranian filmmaker Shahram Mokri contributes the Tajik-language mystery \"Black Rabbit, White Rabbit,\" and Japanese comedian Yuriyan Retriever makes her directorial debut with the horror-comedy \"Mag Mag.\" Completing the selection are Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit's \"Human Resource\" (Thailand), Lalith Rathnayake's \"Riverstone\" (Sri Lanka), Tribeny Rai's \"Shape of Momo\" (India), and Sho Miyake's \"Two Seasons, Two Strangers\" (Japan). The Singapore International Film Festival receives support from the country's Infocomm Media Development Authority.

This expansion by the Singapore International Film Festival signifies a progressive commitment to embracing cinematic talent from all walks of life, fostering a more inclusive and vibrant global film community. By removing barriers and celebrating diverse perspectives, the festival not only enriches its own programming but also champions the enduring power of storytelling to connect, inspire, and illuminate the human experience.