Amoeba (2025 film)

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Amoeba
Amoeba 2025 film poster.jpg
Official poster
Directed byTan Siyou
Written byTan Siyou
Produced by Fran Borgia
Starring
  • Ranice Tay
  • Nicole Lee
  • Shi-An Lim
  • Genevieve Tan
CinematographyNeus Ollé
Edited byFélix Rehm
Production
companies
  • Akanga Film Asia
  • Volya Films
  • Les Films d'Antoine
  • Mararía Films
  • Widelog Office
Release date
  • September 4, 2025 (2025-09-04)(Toronto)
Running time
98 minutes
Countries
  • Singapore
  • Netherlands
  • France
  • Spain
  • South Korea
Languages
  • English
  • Mandarin

Amoeba is a 2025 film written and directed by Tan Siyou in her directorial debut. The film is a co-production of Singapore, Netherlands, France, Spain, and South Korea.

Contents

The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on September 4.

Premise

Four students form a gang and resist authoritarian rules at their all-girls school. [1]

Cast

Production

In 2019, the project won the Most Promising Project of the Southeast Asian Film Lab, held during the 30th Singapore International Film Festival. [2] It won the Open SEA Fund Award at the Southeast Asia Fiction Film Lab in 2021. [3] In 2022, Tan Siyou participated at the TorinoFilmLab's ScriptLab to develop the screenplay. [4] The project was presented at the 2023 Berlinale Co-Production Market. [5]

In an interview with Deadline Hollywood , Tan revealed that she wanted to explore the themes of conformity and capitalism in Singapore through the film. [6]

Release

Amoeba had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival at the Discovery section on September 4. [7] In August 2025, it was reported that Diversion acquired the film's international sales rights. [8] It was also screened in the A Window on Asian Cinema section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival on September 18, 2025. [9]

Reception

Critical reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 100% of 11 critics' reviews are positive. [10] Writing for RogerEbert.com , Brian Tallerico praised the film for "staying true" to the protagonists. [11]

Accolades

Award / Film FestivalDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Pingyao International Film Festival 30 September 2025 Fei Mu Award for Best ActressRanice TayWon [12]
Youth Jury AwardTan SiyouWon
Cinephilia Critics' AwardWon
Golden Horse Awards 22 November 2025 Best New Director Pending [13]
FIPRESCI Prize Pending [14]
NETPAC Award Pending [15]
Asia Pacific Screen Awards 27 November 2025 Best Youth Film Tan Siyou and Fran Borgia Pending [16]

References

  1. ↑ Merican, Sara (August 26, 2025). "'Amoeba' Trailer: Singaporean Teenage Misfits Find Companionship in Tan Siyou's TIFF-Bound Feature". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  2. ↑ "SGIFF 2019: Southeast Asian Film Talents Recognised at the 30th Singapore International Film Festival's Silver Screen Awards". Bakchormeeboy. December 1, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  3. ↑ Frater, Patrick (January 11, 2021). "SEAFIC Project Development Lab Hands Prizes to 'Oasis of Now' and 'Amoeba'". Variety . Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  4. ↑ Niola, Gabriele (March 10, 2022). "Torino reveals 2022 ScriptLab projects". Screen International . Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  5. ↑ "20 Year Anniversary of a Continuing Treasure Trove for Tomorrow's Film Hits: At the Berlinale Co-Production Market, 33 Film Projects Will Meet International Co-producers". Berlin International Film Festival . January 9, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  6. ↑ Shackleton, Liz (October 1, 2025). "Singapore's Tan Siyou Talks Teenage Rebels Tackling A Conformist Society In Award-Winning Debut, 'Amoeba' – Pingyao". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  7. ↑ Erbland, Kate (July 23, 2025). "John Early's Surprise Directorial Debut 'Maddie's Secret' Will Open TIFF 2025's Discovery Section". IndieWire . Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  8. ↑ Wong, Silvia (August 20, 2025). "Toronto-bound Singapore drama 'Amoeba' lands at Diversion". Screen International. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  9. ↑ "A Window on Asian Cinema". Busan International Film Festival . Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Amoeba". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media.
  11. ↑ Tallerico, Brian (September 14, 2025). "TIFF 2025: Blue Heron, Amoeba, Meadowlarks". RogerEbert.com . Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  12. ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (September 29, 2025). "'Deep Quiet Room,' 'The President's Cake' Take Top Prizes at Pingyao Film Festival". Variety . Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  13. ↑ Wong, Silvia (1 October 2025). "'A Foggy Tale', 'Left-Handed Girl' lead Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards nominations". Screen Daily . Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  14. ↑ "2025 國際影評人費比西獎 FIPRESCI AWARD". Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2025-10-28. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  15. ↑ "2025 亞洲電影促進聯盟奈派克獎". Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2025-10-29. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  16. ↑ Ntim, Zac (October 15, 2025). "Asia Pacific Screen Awards: 'Samsara' & Jafar Panahi's 'It Was Just an Accident' Among Leading Nominees". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 16, 2025.
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