Singaporean Filmmaker's 'Amoeba' Tackles Teenage Rebellion in Conformist Society

Singaporean filmmaker Tan Siyou's award-winning debut film 'Amoeba' is set to premiere at the Pingyao International Film Festival, tackling the theme of teenage rebellion against a conformist society. The film is being showcased as the TIFFCOM contents market, which is running concurrently with the Tokyo International Film Festival, continues to expand its focus on international co-production and the globalization of Japanese intellectual property (IP).

Since its return as a physical event in 2023 after the pandemic, TIFFCOM has steadily grown its activities beyond traditional sales booths, now including pitching contests, a projects market, networking opportunities, and a packed seminar schedule. The market is aiming to build closer ties with Southeast Asia and support the development of networks across the entire Asian region.

Notably, this year has seen a surge in the global appeal of Japanese live-action features, with films like Lee Sang-il's 'Kokuho' grossing $107 million at the Japanese box office, a feat usually reserved for popular anime titles. The strength of Japanese IP will be a key focus at TIFFCOM, with sessions featuring industry leaders discussing the current global demand and future potential of Japanese content.