Singapore embassy showcases cinema and culture at Dili International Film Festival 2026
DILI, 14 October 2026 (TATOLI) — The Singapore Embassy in Dili hosted a cultural film screening and creative networking event on Sunday, 11 October 2026, showcasing Singaporean independent short films to an international audience at the Dili International Film Festival (DIFF).
The event featured screenings of two acclaimed Singaporean short films: Captive Audience and A Feeling of Music Playing, followed by a creative breakfast hosted by Singapore Ambassador Teo Lay Cheng. The gathering brought together filmgoers, local musicians, students, and members of the diplomatic community to spotlight the power of cinema and storytelling in building cross-cultural bridges across the region.
Showcase of independent cinema
The two featured short films highlighted different facets of human connection and artistic expression through music:
Directed by Kew Lin, the 14-minute short Captive Audience follows a struggling jazz saxophonist who unexpectedly finds an attentive audience among animals at a zoo. After gaining traction, he is forced to choose between the commercial music industry that once rejected him and those who genuinely appreciate his art. The film originally premiered at the Singapore International Film Festival in 2025.
The second featured work, A Feeling of Music Playing (28 minutes), directed by Ong Kah Jing, documents an unscripted jam session among four musicians playing distinct Asian instruments. The piece explores how strangers can discover common ground and a shared rhythm through improvised music.
Reflecting on the screening in Timor-Leste, director Ong Kah Jing, according to a Press release to TATOLI, highlighted the universal resonance of the art form.
“A Feeling of Music Playing is a unique Singaporean, yet universally accessible bridge that I hope can connect people across cultures and nationalities. I am excited to bring it to our newest ASEAN member, Timor-Leste, and look forward to our mutual learning and discovery.”
Cultural diplomacy and community engagement
Following the morning screenings, Ambassador Teo hosted an informal creative breakfast featuring a live preparation station for kaya butter toast, an iconic Singaporean breakfast staple, paired with local Timorese coffee. “We are very grateful to see an almost a full house on a Sunday morning,” Ambassador Teo said.
“The Embassy is very pleased to showcase Singapore’s independent filmmaking scene. While the two Singapore films offer somewhat different styles, both reflect aspects of the human experience – our aspirations, struggles, relationships, and search for meaning and connection.”
The event resonated strongly with local attendees and cultural practitioners alike. Local singer Michelle Soares shared that she connected deeply with both films as a fellow musician while enjoying her first taste of traditional kaya toast. Similarly, Nicolau Maubere Menezes, an undergraduate at the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL), described the fusion of Singaporean kaya toast with Timorese coffee as a unique and meaningful celebration of the ties between both nations.
Strengthening bilateral and regional partnerships
The collaboration marks a continued effort by the Singapore Embassy to support creative diplomacy within Southeast Asia, particularly following Timor-Leste’s formal integration into ASEAN.
DIFF Director Lena Lenzen welcomed Singapore’s ongoing engagement with the festival, noting, “Following last year’s success of Singapore’s Oversteer, which won Best Feature, we are very happy to welcome the Singapore Embassy back to DIFF with two special short films and a visiting filmmaker. With Timor-Leste now part of ASEAN, film and creativity are a wonderful way to bring our people and countries closer together.”
Additionally, the interactive Q&A session with director Ong Kah Jing was co-sponsored by shipping line operators Pacific International Lines (PIL) and Mariana Express Lines (MEL). Stevenson Cheng, Owner Representative for PIL/MEL, stated, “This is the first time PIL/MEL is co-sponsoring Singapore films at DIFF. We had a great experience working with the organiser and look forward to supporting similar events in the future.”
Through a mix of cinema, dialogue, and culinary tradition, the initiative highlighted the vital role of artistic and cultural exchange in deepening bilateral relations between Singapore and Timor-Leste.
TATOLI
