Royston Tan

24 follows the journey of a deceased sound recordist through twenty-four diverse environments after his death. These include a forest, a theatre, a cinema, a temple, a cemetery, a truck carrying migrant workers, an apartment bathroom – and the set of a gay pornographic film.

24 follows the journey of a deceased sound recordist through twenty-four diverse environments after his death. These include a forest, a theatre, a cinema, a temple, a cemetery, a truck carrying migrant workers, an apartment bathroom – and the set of a gay pornographic film.

24 follows the journey of a deceased sound recordist through twenty-four diverse environments after his death. These include a forest, a theatre, a cinema, a temple, a cemetery, a truck carrying migrant workers, an apartment bathroom – and the set of a gay pornographic film.

Choose your story in HIGH, the new interactive short film by Royston Tan.

From Crazy Rich Asians (2018) to 12 Storeys (1997) to Sumpah Pontianak (The Curse of Pontianak) (1957), Singapore’s film industry is a diverse one and its evolution is nothing short of colourful. Recollecting Singapore’s famed studios in the 1950s to uncovering new waves of filmmakers in 90s and into today’s digital revolution, Singapore Cinema: Between Takes provides an insight into the rich history, and culture of Singapore films and its industry through candid reflections of filmmakers and content creators.

Featuring five short stories of the reflections, interpretations and perspectives as our Singaporean filmmakers go on a journey in search of their cultural roots and how they make Singapore home, the omnibus seamlessly weaves the past and present as generations seek to understand, appreciate, preserve and pass on our heritage. 夜曲 (Nocturne) – Liao Jiekai / 武松殺嫂 (Wu Song Sha Sao) – Kirsten Tan / 兩地書簡 (Letters from the Motherland) – He Shuming / 客 (Ke) – Jun Chong / 柳影袈裟 (The Veiled Willow) – Eva Teng

Good Morning in Singapore.

Good Morning in Singapore.

Razak faces two problems after answering a call. He faces the sudden need to prepare for his mother’s departure rituals and musters the courage to explain to his younger brother who is intellectually disabled. Beyond Razak’s expectation, Rashid, his younger brother takes it well and tries to imitate his brother’s action to mentally jot down the procedures that lead to the ritual. In the end, could Rashid answers Razak’s question - What will happen if one day Razak dies?

Watch Gurmit Singh's imperfect journey towards his goals, as told by acclaimed director Royston Tan.

Parking attendant Fei Fei has always dreamed of becoming a singer, like her famous namesake – the legendary Taiwanese singer Fong Fei Fei. Fei Fei decides to follow her heart and joins a national talent contest. Her voice and sincerity captures the nation's heart, pushing her to the finals! But on the final day, her dementia-stricken father disappears…

Parking attendant Fei Fei has always dreamed of becoming a singer, like her famous namesake – the legendary Taiwanese singer Fong Fei Fei. Fei Fei decides to follow her heart and joins a national talent contest. Her voice and sincerity captures the nation's heart, pushing her to the finals! But on the final day, her dementia-stricken father disappears…

An emotive anthology by seven of Singapore's most illustrious filmmakers, celebrating SG50 through the lives and stories of Singaporeans. Directed by Eric Khoo, Jack Neo, K. Rajagopal, Royston Tan, Tan Pin Pin, Boo Junfeng, Kelvin Tong.

Old Friends is the final installation of a highly popular documentary series consisting of Old Places and Old Romances. In this film, food is the platter on which personal stories of ordinary people from all walks of life are collected, unravelled and served. Just like an old friend who has shared or weathered significant moments with us, most of us connect to certain foods that comfort us and trigger nostalgic recollections of childhood and growing up. By compiling these collective voices of Singaporeans, preserving their intimate takes of joys and woes, love and loss, Old Friends offers future generations a scrumptious taste of the past through our binding passion for food.

Two brothers go in search of their dead hamster in their childhood playground. This film is a tribute to one of the oldest playgrounds in singapore. Written and directed by Royston Tan. Chuan pictures.

Six filmmakers present six short films about the experiences of Chinese immigrants. Shot across Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Myanmar, the anthology depicts the crisis of identity that accompanies international migration.

Six filmmakers present six short films about the experiences of Chinese immigrants. Shot across Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Myanmar, the anthology depicts the crisis of identity that accompanies international migration.

There is romance in every corner we turn. In this sequel to the documentary, Old Places, Old Romances takes us on a journey to experience Singapore through the collective voices of ordinary Singaporeans. Through their voices, we hear personal stories from members of the public who shared their anecdotes on radio. Everyday spaces come alive with these special memories, which are bonded forever with these places. Old Romances is a journal of love letters to places that we grew up with.

Ever since the 2004 Indonesian tsunami, Jon has been grappling with the loss of his wife. One night, a man appears at his doorstep, is he real or is he fantasy?

I Want to Remember is about personal memory - the unforgettable moments in our lives, whether sweet, bitter or bizarre. Good or bad, these life moments inform and influence the way we act, giving us strength in adversity and solace in sadness. But most importantly, memories give us hope; the hope to look forward to each coming day, in quiet anticipation of the next unforgettable moment that will add to our life story.

Royston Tan's film first aired on the okto channel on 8 August 2010, 10pm. It was later produced as DVDs for sale at Books Kinokuniya, BooksActually & Objectifs. Old Places shows us oft-forgotten, yet almost immediately familiar areas in Singapore through the eyes of ordinary people. Prior to the production, members of the public were invited to call in to the radio to recount their significant memories of places in Singapore – places that will soon disappear or be redeveloped. These personal stories come alive through the callers’ narration and the stunning visuals that capture the nostalgia and hidden beauty of the places. Re-discover Singapore and journey to places like a playground in Toa Payoh, a barbershop at Commonwealth Avenue, Capitol cinema, and an unassuming bakery in Whampoa. Old Places celebrates personal stories of joy, love or loss, and weaves it into a tapestry of memories amounting to a collective and yet typical story of life in Singapore.

Living with little wants in the countryside, Zhiren and his mother expressed their love and support for each other in a simple way — by exchanging little notes.

Living with little wants in the countryside, Zhiren and his mother expressed their love and support for each other in a simple way — by exchanging little notes.

"Anniversary" is a story of love, of what trust mean and the need to find out the truth. "Anniversary" will touch your heart and remain in your mind long after viewing.

As a child, Lian Hua dreamed of becoming a performer in Singapore's Getai shows, concerts staged the same month each year and featuring emotionally broad songs of love, life and death. However, Lian's father dissuaded her from following her dreams, and while Lian never lost her love for music, her ambitions would be tied to tragedy as she grew to adulthood. As a grown woman, Lian finally seems poised to make her mark as a performer when she joins forces with flashy vocalist Astroboy and heartthrob Ah Long. Ah Long falls for Lian, but their romance comes to an abrupt end and Lian is assaulted by a handful of thugs who want to collect a debt from her father. Ten years later, middle aged Lian thinks she may have another chance at success when she finds new love, but fate has led her to the brink of madness and once again disappointment lies in wait for her.

As a child, Lian Hua dreamed of becoming a performer in Singapore's Getai shows, concerts staged the same month each year and featuring emotionally broad songs of love, life and death. However, Lian's father dissuaded her from following her dreams, and while Lian never lost her love for music, her ambitions would be tied to tragedy as she grew to adulthood. As a grown woman, Lian finally seems poised to make her mark as a performer when she joins forces with flashy vocalist Astroboy and heartthrob Ah Long. Ah Long falls for Lian, but their romance comes to an abrupt end and Lian is assaulted by a handful of thugs who want to collect a debt from her father. Ten years later, middle aged Lian thinks she may have another chance at success when she finds new love, but fate has led her to the brink of madness and once again disappointment lies in wait for her.

Two Singaporean girls join together to form the Papaya Sisters, a getai group that sings at performances during the seventh lunar month. Big Papaya is estranged from her mother, who disapproves of her performances, whilst Little Papaya is an orphan who suffers from terminal cancer. The two are assisted by Auntie Ling and her son, Guan Yin. The two soon rise to the top of the Singaporean getai scene singing traditional Hokkien songs, but their fame brings along with it the enmity of the Durian Sisters, a rival group of techno-singing Eurasian girls.

Two Singaporean girls join together to form the Papaya Sisters, a getai group that sings at performances during the seventh lunar month. Big Papaya is estranged from her mother, who disapproves of her performances, whilst Little Papaya is an orphan who suffers from terminal cancer. The two are assisted by Auntie Ling and her son, Guan Yin. The two soon rise to the top of the Singaporean getai scene singing traditional Hokkien songs, but their fame brings along with it the enmity of the Durian Sisters, a rival group of techno-singing Eurasian girls.

Two Singaporean girls join together to form the Papaya Sisters, a getai group that sings at performances during the seventh lunar month. Big Papaya is estranged from her mother, who disapproves of her performances, whilst Little Papaya is an orphan who suffers from terminal cancer. The two are assisted by Auntie Ling and her son, Guan Yin. The two soon rise to the top of the Singaporean getai scene singing traditional Hokkien songs, but their fame brings along with it the enmity of the Durian Sisters, a rival group of techno-singing Eurasian girls.

In a hotel overlooking the Sea of Japan, six disparate stories inter-connect giving time a shape, like a series of liquid transparencies, one laid on top of another. Murder, sacrifice, betrayal, longing and regret weave into a tapestry of souls remembering and forgetting.

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"4:30" traça a relação entre Xiao Wu, um menino chinês de onze anos e seu inquilino Jung, um coreano de trinta e poucos anos. Contada inteiramente da perspectiva do menino, Xiao Wu, essa história de dois personagens muito diferentes tem menos a ver com amizade do que com uma experiência compartilhada e apreciação da solidão. "4:30" começa com Xiao entrando no quarto de Jung nas primeiras horas da manhã e roubando o coreano. Assim como ficar intoxicado é um hábito para Jung, que só volta cambaleante para seu quarto alugado quando está bêbado, logo roubar para Xiao Wu se torna igualmente compulsivo. Logo percebemos que a verdadeira intenção de Jung de ficar em Cingapura é suicídio. É somente através do encontro de Xiao com Jung falhando em sua tentativa de morrer que ele começa a entender seu verdadeiro fascínio por Jung.

"4:30" traça a relação entre Xiao Wu, um menino chinês de onze anos e seu inquilino Jung, um coreano de trinta e poucos anos. Contada inteiramente da perspectiva do menino, Xiao Wu, essa história de dois personagens muito diferentes tem menos a ver com amizade do que com uma experiência compartilhada e apreciação da solidão. "4:30" começa com Xiao entrando no quarto de Jung nas primeiras horas da manhã e roubando o coreano. Assim como ficar intoxicado é um hábito para Jung, que só volta cambaleante para seu quarto alugado quando está bêbado, logo roubar para Xiao Wu se torna igualmente compulsivo. Logo percebemos que a verdadeira intenção de Jung de ficar em Cingapura é suicídio. É somente através do encontro de Xiao com Jung falhando em sua tentativa de morrer que ele começa a entender seu verdadeiro fascínio por Jung.

In the evocative landscape of wintry Hokkaido, Monkeyboy (a young man in a monkey suit) searches for his stolen heart – but even the serene beauty of a mountain cannot redeem the failed connection.

In the evocative landscape of wintry Hokkaido, Monkeyboy (a young man in a monkey suit) searches for his stolen heart – but even the serene beauty of a mountain cannot redeem the failed connection.

In the evocative landscape of wintry Hokkaido, Monkeyboy (a young man in a monkey suit) searches for his stolen heart – but even the serene beauty of a mountain cannot redeem the failed connection.

2005 short film by Royston Tan

2005 short film by Royston Tan

In the evocative landscape of wintry Hokkaido, Monkeyboy (a young man in a monkey suit) searches for his stolen heart – but even the serene beauty of a mountain cannot redeem the failed connection.

"Be with Me" consists of three stories of love vs. solitude: (1) An aging, lonesome shopkeeper doesn't believe in life any more since his wife died. But he is saved from desperation by reading an autobiographical book and meeting its author, a deaf and blind lady of his own age. (2) Fatty, a security guard in his fifties, lives for two things: good food and love for a pretty executive living in his block of flats. But, if it is easy to satisfy his first need winning the heart of the distant belle is a horse of another color. (3) Two teenage schoolgirls get to know each other on the Internet. Soon they fall in love.

In D.I.Y, the squeak of dirty plates, the tap of a finger against a seafood restaurant aquarium, the thump of feet inside a cargo lift, and many other disparate sound, all come together into a quirky and funky piece of beat science, a human – and humane – music.

A 2004 short film by Royston Tan made of three parts: Blind / Old Parliament House / Capitol Cinema

2004 short film by Royston Tan

A musical, all-singing, all-dancing, attack on censorship in Singaporean movies

A musical, all-singing, all-dancing, attack on censorship in Singaporean movies

Fast, frenetic, and furious best describe the story of five teenage boys all but abandoned by the system, estranged from any parents, and discarded by life in general. They build a world of there own in which gangs, drugs, fighting, body piercing, self-harm, and even suicide are considered commonplace. The film highlights their harrowing place in time and this small world; where brotherhood is valued above all else. Impressively acted by actual street kids, the movie highlights a gritty side of modern-day Singaporean life.

Fast, frenetic, and furious best describe the story of five teenage boys all but abandoned by the system, estranged from any parents, and discarded by life in general. They build a world of there own in which gangs, drugs, fighting, body piercing, self-harm, and even suicide are considered commonplace. The film highlights their harrowing place in time and this small world; where brotherhood is valued above all else. Impressively acted by actual street kids, the movie highlights a gritty side of modern-day Singaporean life.

2002 short film by Royston Tan

2002 short film by Royston Tan

An award winning short with a hyper-kinetic, mind-bending foray into the world of adolescent Singaporean boys. '15': The Short; mixes documentary realism, dream sequences, rapid montages, and other stylistic flurries to unleash a hard-hitting cinematic assault on Singaporean oppression and teen angst.

An award winning short with a hyper-kinetic, mind-bending foray into the world of adolescent Singaporean boys. '15': The Short; mixes documentary realism, dream sequences, rapid montages, and other stylistic flurries to unleash a hard-hitting cinematic assault on Singaporean oppression and teen angst.

An award winning short with a hyper-kinetic, mind-bending foray into the world of adolescent Singaporean boys. '15': The Short; mixes documentary realism, dream sequences, rapid montages, and other stylistic flurries to unleash a hard-hitting cinematic assault on Singaporean oppression and teen angst.

An award winning short with a hyper-kinetic, mind-bending foray into the world of adolescent Singaporean boys. '15': The Short; mixes documentary realism, dream sequences, rapid montages, and other stylistic flurries to unleash a hard-hitting cinematic assault on Singaporean oppression and teen angst.

Hock Hiap Leong pays tribute to this a 55-year old coffee shop on Armenian Street that has been an incessant inspiration to many people. The urban re-development board’s demolishing plans in 2001 inspired the filmmaker to capture this epitaph of history.

Hock Hiap Leong pays tribute to this a 55-year old coffee shop on Armenian Street that has been an incessant inspiration to many people. The urban re-development board’s demolishing plans in 2001 inspired the filmmaker to capture this epitaph of history.

Seeking to reach out to his son, a father expresses his wish to fix a relationship that has become cold and distant.

Seeking to reach out to his son, a father expresses his wish to fix a relationship that has become cold and distant.

1999 short film by Royston Tan

The Teenage Textbook Movie is a film adaptation of Adrian Tan's bestselling 1988 novel The Teenage Textbook. It is a lighthearted look at the lives of four students in Singapore as they start junior college.

1998 short video work by Royston Tan