Painting with Light • Festival of International Films on Art

Painting with Light returns to National Gallery Singapore for its sixth edition, highlighting filmmakers who delve into art, culture, and pressing social issues of their time. The festival, running from 4 to 14 September 2025, features over 45 feature-length and short films from Singapore, Southeast Asia, and beyond, encouraging audiences to view art through the lens of film in novel ways.

Since its inception in 2017, Painting with Light has been the Gallery’s flagship film festival focused on international films about art. Each edition assembles artist films, films about art, arthouse cinema, and restored classics in a carefully curated program, providing diverse entry points for audiences of all backgrounds to engage with black box screenings and beyond in meaningful and accessible ways.

This year’s festival is organized into eight sections, showcasing a variety of genres that capture the filmmakers’ social concerns, fostering reflection and dialogue on issues that transcend borders and remain highly relevant today. These genres include artist films, arthouse cinema, documentaries on art, and works newly commissioned and restored by the Gallery. Highlights include Lav Diaz’s epic "Magellan" (2025), the world premiere of Virgilio “Pandy” Aviado’s restored experimental film "1978 Footages" (1978), and Kateryna Gornostai’s mosaic-like documentary "Timestamp" (2025). Audiences will also have the rare chance to engage with filmmakers, artists, and the Gallery’s curators, as well as partake in specially curated exhibition tours. Starting 5 September 2025, festival attendees can, for the first time, enjoy a dedicated Festival Lounge to connect with fellow film enthusiasts and industry professionals over free film screenings.

Dr. Seng Yu Jin, Senior Curator and Director, Curatorial, Research & Exhibitions at National Gallery Singapore, states, “We’re excited to welcome audiences back for another edition of Painting with Light. This year’s festival continues the Gallery’s mission to reimagine Southeast Asian art by exploring how film can offer fresh perspectives on the region and the world. Our lineup features exceptional works by regional filmmakers that draw on Southeast Asia’s art history and reflect on the social and political issues shaping our time. From thought-provoking feature films to innovative short works and free screenings throughout the Gallery, Painting with Light has something for everyone. We invite audiences to discover the moving image as an inspiring, accessible, and powerful way to reflect on our shared experiences and connect with each other.”

Festival to open with Lav Diaz’s new film, Magellan

Two standout events anchor this year’s Painting with Light, emphasizing a strong commitment to storytelling with universal themes that address social issues influencing the region today, through the voices of Southeast Asian filmmakers.

The festival opens with "Magellan" (2025) by Lav Diaz, an acclaimed Filipino filmmaker and one of Southeast Asia’s most notable auteurs, following its world premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. In this reinterpretation, Diaz retraces the personal journey of the titular Portuguese explorer, encouraging audiences to question long-held narratives about this historical figure and the myth of civilization that fueled colonial ambition. The film invites audiences to confront the enduring legacies of conquest and resistance that still resonate globally.

The festival concludes innovatively with "We Are Toast" (2025), an interdisciplinary live cinema performance by Singaporean artist duo Mark Chua and Lam Li Shuen. They use multiple 16mm projectors and film loops treated with coffee, pandan leaves, and coconut milk alongside a live soundscape to transcend traditional filmmaking boundaries. Rooted in the artists’ reflections on contemporary Singapore, the work deconstructs the image of kaya toast to explore layers of culture and identity, prompting audiences to consider how these social realities continue to evolve and resonate across borders.

This year’s Painting with Light focuses on stories from Southeast Asia and beyond that resonate across cultures, exploring enduring questions and concerns. From intimate portraits to sweeping epics, the festival opens conversations bridging perspectives, sparking curiosity, and offering new ways of seeing our changing world. Its film selection highlights how art can express complex and challenging social issues, embrace experimentation in cinematic form, and provide a platform for voices not traditionally represented in film.

This year’s festival also features Southeast Asian Shorts, a free daily drop-in screening program co-curated with guest programmer Viknesh Kobinathan, recognized by Screen International as a Future Leader in programming and curation, a distinction acknowledging rising talents shaping the global film and media landscape. Showcasing short films from the region, this series amplifies emerging and innovative storytelling, reflecting the Gallery’s aim to expand art discourse through inventive and thought-provoking practices. Admission is free for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs).

All films will be screened onsite at the Gallery, with both free and ticketed programmes available. Tickets can be purchased via the festival’s microsite on National Gallery’s website here.