Freedom Film

In a Singapore that has transformed beyond recognition, three ordinary Singaporeans share memories of what came before. A cobbler in his eighties, a former draftswoman in her seventies and a secretary in her sixties recall childhoods shaped by hardship and scarce opportunity. As the city modernised, they share how technology played its part in their lives and in the society around them. Last Time is a tender reflection on progress, and what we leave behind.

This film follows Aatif, a quadriplegic living with cerebral palsy, as he maintains his relationship with his eldest brother, Adib, through calls and voice notes while they live apart. Technology gives Aatif agency and independence, from navigating his computer and playing games to sending voice notes when he needs help. As Adib returns home to Batu Pahat, their ordinary moments together reveal how Aatif navigates daily life, connection and love across distance.

The Shades of Love is an intimate journey into the loves, lives and losses of 3 sex workers in Singapore. As an ordinary day in this city unfolds, the voices of these women take us beyond the everyday we dwell in, into the lived experiences they inhabit. Moving beyond the one-dimensional perception of sex workers, these women are also lovers, daughters, therapists, entrepreneurs, and educators. By shedding light on the humanity, dignity, and power of this marginalised and underserved community, their stories teach us one thing - love and life come in various shades.

This film tells a story about Fafa, a schizophrenic who faces discrimination from her surrounding community. Since an early age, she not only had to struggle with the strange voices inside her head, but also had to deal with the voices of people around her who often do not understand her condition. This consciousness has made Fafa voice out more strongly to raise awareness about mental disability in our country.

We are taught to be polite, respectful and mindful of others. But when politeness becomes restraint, the courage to speak, question and challenge can be mistaken for disrespect. Inspired by Usman Awang’s Kurang Ajar, this documentary explores the tension between manners and courage, conformity and freedom. Through the work of Freedom Film Network, we discover how film can become a space to question, provoke and speak truth to power — while asking: can we challenge without losing our sense of adab?

Chili powder and thinner painted the based on true story of young Malaysian boys in police custody, where they were brutally beaten and lost a dear friend.

Every day, people are on their phones scrolling TikTok with the algorithm built for them. A video about confidence becomes a gateway to the manosphere. A makeup tutorial leads to a spiral of unattainable beauty standards. Curiosity tips into radicalisation. The ‘Gendered Feed’ follows a team of young researchers who set out to understand how this happens, creating blank accounts, watching what the feeds become, and tracking how gender shapes the spiral.

This micro-documentary examines Gen Z’s relationship with an online world increasingly designed to capture and commodify attention. Through an intimate conversation between two siblings, the film explores the role digital spaces play in shaping identity, connection and belonging, and how our relationship with the internet can influence the relationships we maintain offline.

As elders pass away and formal education in Malaysia overlooks native rights, Sabah’s Indigenous knowledge and adat (customs) faces a severe risk of disappearing. ‘Who Teaches Us?’ follows the Sekolah Adat as they confront the digital age on their own terms. Battling fleeting algorithms, AI biases, and predatory online scams exploiting traditional medicine, the film probes the core of Indigenous Data Sovereignty: who truly owns traditional knowledge? Guided by community elders, the documentary captures a vital shift from digital extraction to reclaiming their cultural narrative.

Despite having no background or training in journalism, Terry Xu is chief editor, videographer, writer and webmaster of The Online Citizen, one of Singapore's few independent media outlets. With a lean team and a tight budget, it's a struggle to keep the entire enterprise afloat in an environment where mainstream media is government-controlled and the ruling party doesn't look kindly upon dissent. But with the introduction of anti-"fake news" legislation that would allow government ministers to become arbiters of truth, the environment in Singapore might become tougher than it's ever been. "An Online Citizen", released in 2019, remains relevant today amid the increasing number of activists being arrested for expressing dissent against the state.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in the creative process, ‘Draw The Line’ follows filmmakers in Singapore grappling with what it means to create in a world where ideas, images and stories can be generated in seconds. Blending personal reflection, interviews and experimental visuals, the film explores fear, fascination, authorship and dependency, ultimately asking not where everyone should draw the line, but what we choose to protect when we do.

In a country where possession of cannabis is punishable with death, Siti finds herself pulled into the unfamiliar world of lengthy legal proceedings and prison visits when her 60 year old father is arrested for allegedly using medical cannabis to treat his chronic illnesses. In her journey to save her father from the death penalty, Siti finds herself succumbing to fear and anxiety as she navigates through her own personal challenges - all the while fearing that she might never see her father again. All in all, ‘Ayahku, Dr. G’ is a story about a daughter’s quest for her father’s justice from a law that puts punishment before public health.