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SINGAPORE – The drama Wet Season has been selected by the Singapore Film Commission (SFC) as the nation’s entry to next year’s Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category.
The film, written and directed by Anthony Chen and released in 2019, stars Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler as teacher and student respectively, each of whom faces emotional stress at home.
At the 56th Golden Horse Awards, held last year, the film garnered six nominations, including Best Feature Film and Best Director for Chen. It won an award, for Yeo, who took home the Best Leading Actress award for her portrayal of Master Ling.
Wet Season is Chen’s second feature film as a writer and director. His first, the family drama Ilo Ilo (2013), was selected as Singapore’s entry to the 86th Academy Awards, held in 2014.
In a statement on October 13 announcing the film’s selection as Singapore’s entry to the Oscars, to be held on April 25 next year, SFC Director Joachim Ng said: “It is an inviting film. reflecting and exploring relationships and emotions through the lens of a central female character struggling with her personal identity and marriage.
“The film has been well received by audiences at various film festivals and we are proud to continue to support more Singapore-made films that transcend borders and evoke conversations.”
Chen, 36, of London, told The Straits Times: “The rainy season is a labor of love. We could not have done it without the actors and crew who worked tirelessly on this film. I am honored and humbled to that it will represent Singapore at the Oscars and we hope the film will continue to be seen and move audiences beyond Singapore. “
No Singapore film has made the short list for Oscars in this category, which was previously known as Best Foreign Language Film.
Singapore submissions in previous years include the drama A Land Imagined (in 2019), Western Buffalo Boys (2018), and the Thai-set road movie Pop Aye (2017).
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