Film screenings and cultural activities highlighted artistic exchange between Singapore and Timor-Leste.
The Singapore Embassy in Dili presented two Singaporean independent short films at the Dili International Film Festival (DIFF) on 11 October 2026, highlighting cinema as a platform for cultural exchange between Singapore and Timor-Leste. The event featured film screenings followed by a creative breakfast hosted by Singapore Ambassador H.E. Teo Lay Cheng, with discussions on music, storytelling and shared human experiences.
The programme featured Captive Audience, directed by Kew Lin, and A Feeling of Music Playing, directed by Ong Kah Jing. The screenings attracted filmgoers, local musicians, students and members of the diplomatic community in Dili.
The 14-minute Captive Audience followed a struggling jazz saxophonist who found an attentive audience among animals at a zoo. After gaining recognition, he faced a choice between the commercial music industry that had previously rejected him and those who appreciated his music. The film premiered at the Singapore International Film Festival in 2025.
The second film, A Feeling of Music Playing, documented an unscripted jam session involving four musicians playing different Asian instruments. The 28-minute work explored how music could help people discover common ground through improvisation.
Reflecting on the screening in Timor-Leste, Ong said: “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.”
Following the screenings, Ambassador Teo hosted a creative breakfast featuring kaya butter toast, a traditional Singaporean breakfast staple, served with Timorese coffee. She 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.”
Local singer Michelle Soares said she connected with both films through her experience as a musician. Nicolau Maubere Menezes, an undergraduate at the National University of Timor-Leste, described the combination of kaya toast and Timorese coffee as a meaningful celebration of the ties between the two countries.
DIFF Director Lena Lenzen welcomed the Embassy’s participation, referring to the success of Singapore’s Oversteer, which won Best Feature at the previous year’s festival. An interactive question-and-answer session with Ong was co-sponsored by Pacific International Lines (PIL) and Mariana Express Lines (MEL).
The event highlighted the role of independent cinema, music and culinary traditions in facilitating cultural exchange between Singapore and Timor-Leste, following Timor-Leste’s integration into ASEAN.
Source: TATOLI Agência Noticiosa de Timor-Leste
