Screen Queen

For Singapore International Film Festival Executive Director Ms. Yuni Hadi, movies represent journeys and experiences that are transfixing, transportive and transformative

- Zara Zhuang

Chungking Express” by Wong Kar-Wai, “Silent Light” by Carlos Reygadas, “Blissfully Yours” by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, “15” by Royston Tan and “Notting Hill” by Roger Michell are just a few of Ms. Yuni Hadi’s best-loved films. “My all-time favorite childhood movie was ‘The Sound of Music’ — I watched it until the videotape was damaged,” she adds.

Ms. Hadi could arguably be the envy of many a film buff: She is now onto her eighth edition of being part of the team behind the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), which marks its 30th edition when it takes place this November 21 to December 1. Founded in 1987, the longest-running film event in Singapore has championed ground-breaking Asian cinema for Singapore and the region, and has sought to engage new generations of audiences through a variety of programs in diverse formats.

In addition to the screenings and events in the main lineup, this year’s edition of SGIFF will see the debut of Traveling Waves and the introduction of a revised version of New Waves; the former is a multi-city program that presents in Bangkok, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur five short films by emerging Southeast Asian filmmakers, while the latter is a weekend program of screenings and panel discussions to develop the film audience in Singapore. Gardens by the Bay will host Nature’s Playground (October 18 to December 1), an exhibition of self-portraits by local creatives from filmmaker Kirsten Tan to media personality Anita Kapoor depicting how the natural environment of Singapore has inspired them, and Moonlight Cinema (October 25 to 27), an open-air screening of three films — “Empire Records,” “Secret Superstar” and “The Chorus” — centered on youths and their connection with music.