The new independent cinema
Programmed by Singapore Film Society
The new independent cinema
Programmed by Singapore Film Society
Singapore: A Cinematic Portrait
Fireside chat with Author Raphaël Millet & Asian Film Archive Executive Director Karen Chan
Celebrating the May 2026 launch of Singapore: A Cinema c Portrait by Raphaël Millet, this special evening is one that no Singapore cinephile should miss. Raphaël originally came to Singapore from France as the Audio-Visual Attache at the Embassy. Already an accomplished filmmaker and scholar at that me, he chose to make Singapore his home, and has now written his second Singapore-focused book, providing a detailed, insightful, and much-needed source of comprehensive information spanning decades of Cinema here – the films, the people, the
ecosystem. The new book is published by the Asian Film Archive (AFA), with a foreword written by SFS Chairman Kenneth Tan, who will moderate the fireside chat with Raphaël and AFA Executive Director Karen Chan. The discussion will be preceded by a screening of excerpts from three of Raphaël’s previous movies. Don’t miss it!
All tickets are subjected to availability and are for free seating.
We recommend arriving early to secure preferred seats.
PG | English | Screening Time 26 Minutes
With screening of excerpts from:
Gaston Méliès and His Wandering, Star Film Company (2015), Chaplin in Bali (2017), The Capitol of Singapore (2020)
Moderated by SFS Chairman Kenneth Tan
Book available for sale (with in-person signing by author Raphaël Millet)
Age limits apply for films rated
NC16, M18, or R21
grease
Directed By Randal Kleiser | 110 Minutes
It's 1958, summer is over and the hormonally-charged seniors of Rydell High are reluctantly returning to school, ready to fall back in with old friends and trade stories of the previous months' conquests. Danny Zuko, leader of a local greaser gang called the T-Birds, brags to his crew about nights of passion spent on the beach with a mystery girl. Elsewhere, sweet Sandy Olsson - the new girl in town - is taken under the wing of the no-nonsense Pink Ladies and shares fond memories of a brief romance with an unknown sweetheart. When it turns out that Danny and Sandy's mismatched tales are about each other, Sandy is humiliated and Danny has to win her back. To do so, he'll have to negotiate all of the romantic rites of passage a teenager in America's golden age could imagine: jiving school dances, awkward drive-in movies, deadly drag-races and the looming threat of graduation. SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER made John Travolta a global sensation. GREASE, with Olivia Newton-John as well, took that even further and higher for him!
All tickets are subjected to availability and are for free seating.
We recommend arriving early to secure preferred seats.
PG (No consumer advice) | English with no subtitles
Cast: John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing
Age limits apply for films rated
NC16, M18, or R21
ITAM: A SUN BEAR STORy
Directed By Raymond Tan | 80 Minutes
Three years in the making, this remarkable documentary was filmed entirely in Sabah, Malaysia.
It follows the rehabilitation and release of a rescued sun bear named Itam. Developed in close
collaboration with the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, the production was granted rare
access to archival records, veterinary logs, field operations, and the complete rewilding process.
This access allows the film to move beyond surface observation into deeply-researched, character-driven storytelling. Combining immersive cinematic language with investigative scientific inquiry,
ITAM: A SUN BEAR STORY positions Southeast Asian conservation stories within global discourse.
His interest in cross-cultural identity and social issues shaped engineer-turned-filmmaker
Raymond Tan’s previous award-winning features, WAYANG BOY and THE WAYANG KIDS, which
respectively won Best Foreign Comedy Feature and Best Feature awards in the USA and Chile.
“This film is personal because it asks how we measure worth. In a world that often values scale
and speed, Itam asks us to slow down and see the dignity of one life. If we can care this much for
one bear, the compassion may not be that small after all.” – Director Raymond Tan
All tickets are subjected to availability and are for free seating.
We recommend arriving early to secure preferred seats.
PG | English, Mandarin & Malay with English subtitles
Age limits apply for films rated
NC16, M18, or R21
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
Directed By John Badham | 118 Minutes
Every Saturday, Tony Manero (John Travolta) puts on his wide-collared shirt, flared trousers and
platform shows, and heads out to the only place where he’s seen as a god rather than some young
punk – his local disco. Away from the strobe lights and glitter ball, though, Tony’s story as a
Brooklyn paint store clerk becomes one of tragic disillusionment, violence and heartbreak. A
major critical and commercial success, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER had a tremendous impact on the
popular culture of the late 1970s. It popularised disco around the world, initiated a series of
collaborations between film studios and record labels, and propelled Travolta – already wellknown
from his TV sitcom role in WELCOME BACK, KOTTER – into worldwide stardom. He is the
fourth-youngest nominee for the Academy Award for Best Actor. The SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
soundtrack, featuring songs by the Bee Gees, is one of the best-selling soundtrack albums in the
history of recorded music.
All tickets are subjected to availability and are for free seating.
We recommend arriving early to secure preferred seats.
M18 (Sexual References) | English, without subtitles
Cast: John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney, Barry Miller
Age limits apply for films rated
NC16, M18, or R21
MIRACULOUS LEAF 叶之灵
Directed By Xia Zhongjing, Chief Directed By Pan Weiping | 109 Minutes
In China, tea is more than just a drink. It is a symbol of cultural identity and emotional
heritage. It reflects a way of life passed down through generations. Seven years in the
making, this beautiful documentary was shot across 13 provinces, documented 34 iconic
Chinese teas, and interviewed 58 tea masters and scholars. Following our World Premiere
in Singapore in March 2026, we are pleased to now screen the film at SFS Somerset to
inspire and uplift more of our local audiences.
All tickets are subjected to availability and are for free seating.
We recommend arriving early to secure preferred seats.
G Rating | Mandarin with English & Chinese subtitles
Age limits apply for films rated
NC16, M18, or R21
THE OLD MAN AND HIS CAR 老破车
Directed by Michael Kam | 82 Minutes
A recently widowed old man finds himself confronted with the bittersweet task of parting with his cherished old car as he prepares to migrate to another country. He reluctantly embarks on a journey that forces him to confront his past, his profound sense of loss, and his enduring love. “Beyond being a narrative about letting go, the film delves into the themes of ageing and caregiving …..
I strive to infuse moments of levity throughout the narrative, and hopefully deliver a cinematic experience that resonates with audiences on multiple emotional levels.” – Director Michael Kam
All tickets are subjected to availability and are for free seating.
We recommend arriving early to secure preferred seats.
NC16 (Some Coarse Language) | English, Chinese, Hokkien & Malay with English subtitles
Cast: Lim Kay Tong, Richard Low,
Steven Woon, Sunny Pang
Age limits apply for films rated
NC16, M18, or R21
featured news articles
New film venue SFS Somerset to launch on Jan 1 at Cineleisure with The Old Man And His Car
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Strong appetite for film festivals and indie films in Singapore despite cinema closures
New film venue SFS Somerset to launch on Jan 1 at Cineleisure with The Old Man And His Car
New film venue SFS Somerset to launch on Jan 1 at Cineleisure with The Old Man And His Car
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独立电影放映空间SFS Somerset元旦启用，本地电影《老破车》揭幕！
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