ANIMATION NATION
After going Awol for five years, the festival showcasing the best in animation from Singapore and worldwide screens is back.
In addition to a screening of the wordless Oscar-nominated Brazilian film Boy And The World (PG, 2013), the event will feature the works of Australian claymation master Adam Elliot, who will also speak at the screening of his cult comedy Mary And Max (NC16, 2009).
The SG Animated Shorts Showcase has 12 home-grown works of animation, including Trolled.
WHERE: The Projector, Level 5 Golden Mile Tower, 6001 Beach Road; *Scape Gallery, Level 5, 2 Orchard Link; and Alliance Francaise, 1 Sarkies Road MRT: Nicoll Highway/Somerset/ Newton WHEN: Thursday to Oct 16, various times ADMISSION: $5 to $16 INFO: sfs.org.sg/animation
AFTER THE STORM (PG)
117 minutes/ 4 stars
Celebrated Japanese writer-director Hirokazu Kore-eda's portrait of a typical Japanese family in all its flawed glory is atypically detailed and loving.
Hiroshi Abe (photo) is Ryota, a washed-up novelist barely holding down his grubby job of private eye. The women in his life express disappointment in him, from ex-wife Kyoko (Yoko Maki), who has custody of their son Shingo (Taiyo Yoshizawa), to mother Yoshiko (the excellent Kirin Kiki).
An approaching storm forces them to share one roof, but a shared outlook on life will elude them.
WHERE: The Projector MRT: Nicoll Highway WHEN: Till Wednesday, various times ADMISSION: $13 INFO: For schedules and bookings, go to theprojector.sg
CARTOONS UNDERGROUND
This donation-funded festival celebrates Singapore and international animation featuring adult-oriented, edgy content such as Awesome Beetle's Colors (photo).
Now in its fifth year, it has doubled its slate to two programmes, each featuring 10 shorts from both students and professionals.
Home-grown directors will be there to discuss their work.
WHERE: Kult Kafe, 11 Upper Wilkie Road MRT: Little India WHEN: Oct 22, 6pm ADMISSION: Entry by donation INFO: To RSVP, go to www.cartoonsunderground.com
PERSPECTIVES FILM FESTIVAL
Designed to expand the mind (or send it into orbit), the festival organised by Nanyang Technological University students is in its ninth year.
This year's theme is surrealism and the opening film, Fantastic Planet (NC16, 72 minutes, 1973, photo), is director Rene Laloux's trippy science-fiction tale of humans and the blue giants who enslave them. This and six other films from around the world - many of them screened here for the first time - round off this celebration of the odd and off-centre.
WHERE: National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Road, and The Projector MRT: Dhoby Ghaut/Nicoll Highway WHEN: Oct 27 to 30 ADMISSION: $11 a film; festival passes at $40 (four films) and $65 (seven films) INFO: For schedule, go to www.perspectivesfilmfestival.com
