Shu Qi’s Directorial Debut ‘Girl’ Opens Singapore International Film Festival to Record-Breaking Ticket Sales

Singapore International Film Festival Kicks Off with Record-Breaking Ticket Sales for Shu Qi's Directorial Debut "Girl"

The 36th edition of the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) made a splashy start, with ticket sales surging 52% compared to last year and marking the festival's most successful opening in its history. Shu Qi's directorial debut "Girl" - a semi-autobiographical drama set in 1980s Taipei - opened the festival on November 26 at Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands.

The film, which follows 10-year-old Hsiao-lee as she navigates domestic dysfunction and forms a friendship with a precocious transfer student, premiered at Venice and won Shu Qi the best director award at Busan International Film Festival. The event's success has been attributed to the collective energy of audiences seeking a cinema experience.

In addition to "Girl," several other films have sold out quickly, including Tony Leung's appearance in a special presentation of "Silent Friend." Local productions like "The Old Man and His Car" and "Sandbox" drew strong interest, as did international titles from Japan. All of Shu Qi's films connected to the festival, including "Resurrection," have sold out.

Jeremy Chua, general manager of SGIFF, described the response as "overwhelming," emphasizing the value of cinema as a collective experience. The festival runs through December 7 and showcases over 120 films from more than 45 countries, focusing on stories of identity, resilience, and rediscovery.

This year's lineup features several notable guests, including Deepa Mehta, Oscar-winning actor Youn Yuh-jung, and Hollywood-based Singaporean actor Chin Han. The festival is part of the Singapore Media Festival 2025, hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority.

With its ideal venues and diverse programming, Marina Bay Sands continues to partner with the festival, hosting the opening film and several "In Conversation With" sessions. Shu Qi's directorial debut marks a significant milestone in her career, showcasing her versatility as both an actress and filmmaker.

I'm not surprised by the record-breaking ticket sales for Shu Qi's directorial debut "Girl". It makes me think about how cinema has this power to bring people together, you know? Like, we're all just trying to find our way in life, and a good movie can transport us to another world, make us feel less alone. And Shu Qi's film seems like it taps into that sense of longing, of search for identity...

It also got me thinking about the role of feminism in cinema. I mean, "Girl" is basically Shu Qi's semi-autobiographical account of growing up as a girl in 80s Taiwan, and how she navigates all these societal expectations and pressures. It's like, we're still dealing with those same issues today, but it's interesting to see how the film makes her experiences both universal and deeply personal.

Anyway, I'm stoked that the festival is doing so well, and that Shu Qi's film is part of it. It's a reminder that cinema can be this powerful tool for storytelling and connection...

The show must go on! As they say, 'the greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall' - Nelson Mandela

OMG u guys , i'm low-key obsessed w/ this year's SGIFF lineup ! 52% increase in ticket sales is huge, it means ppl are actually interested in watchin' movies again ! Shu Qi's directorial debut "Girl" is so inspiring, I love how she made a film that's semi-autobiographical - it shows she's got some personal growth happenin' . And can we talk about the lineup? Deepa Mehta and Youn Yuh-jung are my fave actors ever ! I'm def gonna catch a few of their talks during the festival too , can't wait to be inspired by all these creative minds

omg i'm so stoked about sgiiff this year ticket sales are insane 52% more than last year is crazy! i love that shu qi's directorial debut "girl" is getting so much attention it's like, we've been waiting for her to shine as a filmmaker and now she's killing it the fact that all her films have sold out is just amazing what's behind this surge in interest? is it the collective energy of audiences seeking a cinema experience? or maybe its shu qi's versatility as an actress and filmmaker anyway, i'm hyped for the rest of the festival too!

lol what a surprise! didn't expect the fest to be so popular already! love that shu qi is killing it with her directorial debut though! 10-year-old girl navigating domestic issues kinda sounds like my childhood btw think its gonna be a great festival run, gonna have to check out some of those other films too... heard that deepa mehta's gonna make an appearance?

I'm surprised by the ticket sales, but not entirely convinced . A 52% increase sounds impressive, but how much of that is due to word-of-mouth vs actual demand? And what's the target audience for this festival? Is it just film enthusiasts or is there a broader appeal? Also, have these numbers been consistently increasing over the years or was this an outlier . I'd love to see some data on demographics and age range of attendees too . Not trying to be negative, but as a skeptic, I need more context before celebrating the success

OMG, I'm so stoked about SGIFF this year! Ticket sales are thru the roof, 52% increase from last year is insane! Shu Qi's directorial debut "Girl" is getting rave reviews and sold out in a flash! It's so cool to see local productions like "The Old Man and His Car" & "Sandbox" drawing strong interest too . The fact that Jeremy Chua called it an "overwhelming" response just confirms how much people are craving cinema experiences . Can't wait to check out the rest of the lineup, including Deepa Mehta & Chin Han - game on! #SGIFF2025 #ShuQiDebut #GirlFilm #CinemaExperienceMatters

omg i just watched that shu qi movie it was so good!!! she's like a total boss now i mean, i've seen her act before but this was on another level... her story is actually kinda inspiring too 50% more ticket sales is crazy though! what do you guys think about the festival? should they have some food options available tho, like, at every session and not just at the entrance

im so stoked to see shu qi making waves with her directorial debut ! 52% increase in ticket sales is insane, i was already excited for the festival but this just makes me wanna grab my friends and catch up on all the films ASAP. gotta give a shoutout to marina bay sands for hosting it again, they really know how to make cinema magic happen . also super glad to see some local productions getting love, "the old man and his car" is def on my watchlist now . overall, it's great to see the community come together to support this amazing event

OMG I'm literally fangirling over here!!! Shu Qi's directorial debut is making waves at the Singapore International Film Festival and I am HERE. FOR. IT!!! The fact that "Girl" has sold out like crazy is a testament to how powerful cinema can be as a collective experience I love how the festival is celebrating stories of identity, resilience, and rediscovery - it's so needed in today's world

I'm also loving the vibe of this year's lineup, with notable guests like Deepa Mehta and Youn Yuh-jung And let's not forget about Shu Qi's versatility as both an actress and filmmaker - she's truly a talented woman I've been following her career for ages and it's amazing to see her make waves in the film industry

The fact that Marina Bay Sands is partnering with the festival again is just the icing on the cake It's always so special to watch films at one of Singapore's iconic venues, surrounded by fellow movie lovers Can't wait to see what the rest of the festival has in store!