Niina Doherty

Absurdist comedy with sharp social commentary… Combining social commentary and humour is not an easy task. It needs a delicate approach to successfully balance making people laugh but also carrying the larger point across. Make the wrong kinds of jokes and it will seem like the story is mocking its subjects, make the atmosphere too heavy and the humour will disappear. It is a delicate equilibrium.

Heartfelt story about memory, identity, and second chances… Singaporean filmmaker Ong Kuo Sin returns to the cinema screen with his ninth feature film, A Good Child. Gathering around familiar cast members from his 2020 musical comedy Number 1, Ong presents a film about family, memory, and the importance of self-love, with a light-hearted yet genuine take on the subject matter. The story follows Jia-hao (Richie Koh), cheeky Singaporean drag queen, living his best life in the city.

Joyful rebellion with Shh..Diam! Documentary filmmaker and journalist Yihwen Chen continues her exploration of social issues and fight for human rights, this time turning her gaze at the Malaysian LGBTQ+ community. Queer as Punk follows the punk band “Shh..Diam!” (Malay for “Shut up!”), as they navigate Malaysian underground music scene and the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.