The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) announced this week that Thong Kay Wee will be the new Programme Director to lead the artistic elements of the Festival alongside Executive Director, Emily J. Hoe. The organization also thanked Kuo Ming-Jung, the past programme director for her work.

Kay Wee was formerly the Programmes and Outreach Officer at the Asian Film Archive (AFA) and has presided over multiple film-centric programmes with a focus on Asian cinema for the AFA since 2014. Kay Wee has also programmed Singular Screens, the film programme presented as part of Singapore International Festival of the Arts since 2018.

Kay Wee commented: “I truly believe that as Southeast Asia’s longest running film festival, SGIFF stands before the film and artistic communities as one of the most prestigious festivals in the region today. It continues to offer a familial support system for industry practitioners with its established networks and resources, while serving as a barometer of annual film trends and a recognised symbol of thoughtful cinematic offerings. It also remains an invaluable national film exhibition platform for its capacity to engage the widest and most concentrated public interest within Singapore. This continuous potential to foster a more vigorous appreciation of cinematic culture must be cherished and cultivated enduringly,”, he added This role represents an incredible opportunity for me to offer new insights to a historic festival. Making new friends and supporting old ones never felt more needed than now, and I am eager to help gather our communities again and generate more meaningful conversations together. As we persevere through this unprecedented time, we need to keep refining SGIFF’s purpose, the ways we can engage with the moving image and, by extension, our relations with one another.

Boo Junfeng, Chairperson of the Festival commented: “Through the years, SGIFF has championed and celebrated independent Southeast Asian films, and served as a platform that connects filmmakers in the region. Kay Wee brings with him a deep knowledge and passion for Asian cinema and cultivating emerging regional talent, which will strengthen SGIFF’s vision of fostering a deeper appreciation for cinema in Singapore and commitment towards supporting Southeast Asian film talents.”

Emily J. Hoe Executive Director of the Festival commented: “We would also like to take the opportunity to thank Ming-Jung for her passionate contribution to the Festival and her steadfast dedication in delivering rigorous and thoughtful programmes both in the 30th anniversary edition in 2019, and 2020. She was a pivotal member of the team in overcoming the unprecedented challenges of 2020 when SGIFF was presented as a hybrid festival for the first time, in a year that despite the global pandemic, SGIFF was a robust and considered event that didn’t compromise on its artistic integrity.

As SGIFF continues to evolve, I am indeed delighted to welcome Kay Wee to his role at SGIFF and I look forward to bringing Kay Wee’s curatorial vision to our audience of film lovers. At a time of continuing challenges in the film landscape, he will be an invaluable part of SGIFF’s leadership team as we take on the opportunities and obstacles that we face as a festival going forward.”

The 32nd Singapore International Film Festival will be held from 25 November until 5 December 2021. For more information about the festival please go https://www.sgiff.com

About the Festival:
Founded in 1987, the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is the largest and longest-running film event in Singapore. It has become an iconic event in the local arts calendar that is widely attended by international film critics; and known for its dynamic programming and focus on ground-breaking Asian cinema for Singapore and the region. Committed to nurturing and championing local and regional talent, its competition component, the Silver Screen Awards, brings together emerging filmmakers from Asia and Southeast Asia while paying tribute to acclaimed cinema legends. With its mentorship programmes, masterclasses and dialogues with attending filmmakers, the Festival also serves as a catalyst for igniting public interest, artistic dialogue, and cultural exchanges in the art of filmmaking. The SGIFF is organised by the Singapore International Film Festival Ltd, a non-profit organisation with Institution of a Public Character (IPC) status.