Launch of The Violinist in cinemas on 17 September

Singaporean animated feature The Violinist has made history at Annecy 2026, winning the Cristal Award for Best Feature Film and the SACEM Award for Best Original Soundtrack. The Cristal Award is the highest honor for a feature-length animated film at the world’s leading animation festival.

🎬 Launching 17 September in cinemas
🌐 Available in English and Mandarin
🎟️ Singapore Culture Pass eligible

The 114-minute film has strong ties to NTU School of Art, Design and Media (ADM). Director Ervin Han serves on ADM’s Industry Advisory Committee, while NTU ADM is an official educational partner on the film.

ADM alumni Jasper Liu (Class of 2016) and Angelina Tan (Class of 2024) also played key roles in the production. Jasper served as a layout artist, while Angelina worked as production coordinator and joined the team at Annecy.

Set in 1930s Singapore, The Violinist follows childhood friends Fei and Kai whose lives are transformed by war, love and music across eight decades.

Following its historic wins at Annecy, The Violinist was selected for the Centrepiece programme at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and will continue its festival journey at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in South Korea, as the film continues to bring a story shaped by Singapore and Southeast Asian history to audiences worldwide.