Freedom Film Festival SG 2026
About this Event
This edition of FreedomFilm Fest SG, with the theme of 'Rooted in Humanity', explores the impact of technology, development, climate change, and more on the lives of ordinary people. Each of the sessions will be accompanied by a post-show discussion. List of films on the ticket page.
This year's festival is also held in conjunction with the 1st edition of the Singapore Alternative Art & Book Fair. Look forward to booths from various and civil society organisations at the foyer of Oldham Theatre, whilst the film festival is ongoing.
14 Nov (Sat)
🕑: 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Session 1: Singapore - Buy and Gone
Info: Singapore is often described as a place of 'permanent territorial revolution', with urban development and change itself an immutable feature of our social identity. But how do these changes affect the most marginalised in our society? Citizen Hustler (Tan Peck Hoon, 2024) tells the story of two hawkers whose livelihoods were taken away by the forced closure of Sungei Road Market, and how they navigate a complex web of bureaucracy in order to access social assistance necessary to survive.
🕑: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Segment 2: Life & Relationship
Info: The session explores the breadth and diversity of the life and relationships of ordinary people, with work, with art, and with each other. While I Am Here (Hannah Newman, 2026) examines examines Gen Z's relationship with the online world and its impact on offline relationships, through an intimate conversation between two siblings. $alary Day (Ramasamy Madhavan, 2019) depicts the day in the life of a migrant worker in Singapore, and the choices he has to make in the face of exhausting labour and low wages. My Person (Andra Tan Rui, 2026) is a touching exploration of the relationship between mother and daughter, while Two Travelling Aunties (Christine Seow, 2025) captures two spirited Singaporean women who ditch conventional living for van life, embracing adventure, newfound freedom, and the joy of living on their own terms. Finally, Where Little Gods Sleep (Que Yi Ting Chloe, 2026) captures the stories of troupe working to conserve Teochew opera as an art form.
🕑: 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Session 3: Climate Inequality
Info: As one of the world's richest countries, Singapore also has one of the highest per capita carbon emissions and deforestation footprints. What does it look like when all these impacts are outsourced to other countries? Manufacturing Consent (Indonesia Nature Film Society, 2019) documents how Singapore-listed First Resources was linked to the forced eviction of indigenous Dayak land in East Kalimantan for its palm oil plantations, while The Mekong Trap (Bryan Yong, 2026) looks at how hydroelectric dams, one of the sources of low-carbon electricity that Singapore is looking to import, are destroying fishermen's livelihoods while increasing energy prices for Thais across the country. In the meantime, climate change disasters are increasing in frequency every year. The Weight of Water (Goi Ruo En, 2026) examines how worsening floods in the Philippines are exacerbated by unequal power structures, and how communities are organising to fight back.
🕑: 07:30 PM - 09:30 PM
Session 4: Technology - Liberate or Distress? (Rating TBC)
Info: This session dives into the impact of technology on every facet of our lives and work. Set in Sabah, Who Teaches Us (Cristy Anko M, 2026) explores the impact of AI and technology on indigenous knowledge, and efforts to reclaim and preserve heritage. On the Other End (Ezzah Mahmud, 2026), follows Adib as he cares for his younger brother Aatif, a quadriplegic living with cerebral palsy, through calls and voice notes while living away from home. Last Time (Grace Cheu and Amar-Raj Singh, 2026) shows three older Singaporeans looking back on a time before technological modernisation, while Out of Sync (Agnes Yap, 2026) documents the efforts of older adults trying to stay independent in an online world. Finally, Draw the Line (Rowena Joy Eber & Aqiel Samsir, 2026) sheds light on how AI and tech is reshaping the creative and art industries.
15 Nov (Sun)
🕑: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Session 5: The Gig Economy
Info: Gig workers are now part and parcel of the modern economy and well-integrated into urban life, but how are the lives of these workers impacted by the gamified gig economy in which they operate? Life is A Game (Laura Carer & Luca Quagliato, 2023) investigates the dark side of the algorithmic gig economy by focusing on food delivery riders across European cities, and documentary blending ethnographic interviews and animated fiction.
🕑: 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Session 6: Connected by Sand
Info: Singapore is the world's biggest importer of sand: we use it to create new land, mix it into concrete for never-ending construction, and refine it to produce microchips. Yet what is the cost of all this, and who does it fall onto? Hourglass (Eric Teo, 2026) answers this by going to the source and documenting the horrific impacts of sand dredging in Vietnam. Sandcastles (Carin Leong, 2024) parallels another Singapore, a town in Michigan that was eroded by sand dunes after mass deforestation, perhaps a cautionary tale. Where the Water Feeds Us (Janelle Ling, 2026) takes us to Manila, where the livelihoods of over 2 million fisherfolk are threatened by reclamation for a new airport. And Seaward takes the perspective of our marine wildlife to see how it is too, impacted by reclamation works.
🕑: 06:00 PM - 07:30 PM
Session 7: The Death Penalty
Info: Here and everywhere around the world, the death penalty remains a controversial issue. Tali Tukang Gantung (Effa Qamariani, 2026) examines the fragile line between justice and humanity within Malaysia’s criminal justice system. Drawing from real-life stories, the performance unfolds through multiple perspectives — inmates, their families, lawyers, judges, and Pr*son officers — revealing the human cost of a system that decides who lives and who dies.
These are not abstract statistics. These are real lives hanging in the balance. We all have a part to play in making sure the right to life prevails!
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
SGD 10.00 to SGD 28.00
