Following a historic double win at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Singapore-led animated feature The Violinist is set to make its highly anticipated homecoming with a Singapore Gala Premiere at Capitol Theatre on Thursday, 3 September 2026, ahead of its nationwide release in Golden Village cinemas on 17 September 2026. The Violinist is supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).
The event brings together voice actors Ayden Sng, Tan Kheng Hua and Fang Rong from Singapore and Kazuya Tanabe from Japan, Golden Horse Award-winning Singaporean composer Ricky Ho and Singaporean violinist Joy Yong, the Robot Playground Media production team, industry partners, and members of Singapore’s arts and cultural community for an evening celebrating Singapore storytelling, animation, music, and people behind the
award-winning production.
The Singapore premiere marks the latest chapter in an extraordinary international journey for The Violinist. At this year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the film became the first Singapore-led animated feature to receive the Cristal for a Feature Film, the festival’s highest honour. It also received the SACEM Award for Best Original Soundtrack in a Feature Film, recognising its evocative score and music-led storytelling.
Building on its success at Annecy, The Violinist has also been named in the Official Selection in the 2026 Centrepiece programme at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), further extending the film’s international journey and bringing its Singapore-rooted story to audiences on another major global film stage.
Following its global recognition, the film will now return to where its story began, giving Singapore audiences the opportunity to experience a story rooted in the country’s shared history.
Ervin Han, Co-Director and Co-Writer, says, “Bringing The Violinist home to Singapore is particularly meaningful for all of us. While the film has had the privilege of travelling internationally, this is ultimately a story inspired by the people, memories and history of this region. We hope audiences will not only be moved by its story, but also see reflections of our collective past, the resilience of those who came before us, and the enduring power of music to
connect generations.”
Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive, IMDA, added, “At this year’s National Day Rally, the Prime Minister spoke about facing challenges with courage and grit. Ervin has shown us what this means, pressing on through COVID and shifting production plans to co-direct The Violinist. With its double win at Annecy and selection for the Toronto International Film Festival, the film has shown that Singapore stories rooted in our own history and culture can stand confidently on the world stage. IMDA is proud to have supported Ervin and his team throughout their journey, and we will continue to champion their global ambitions.”
The Violinist is a Singapore-Spain-Italy co-production by Robot Playground Media, TV ON Producciones and Altri Occhi, directed by Ervin Han and Raúl García, with Singaporean Executive Producers Leonard Lai and Justin Deimen.
The film also features an original score by award-winning composer Ricky Ho, alongside Isabel Latorre, with lead violin performances by Singaporean musician Joy Yong. Rather than serving simply as a soundtrack, music forms an integral part of the narrative that moves across different stages of the film, linking personal stories with a wider exploration of memory, identity and resilience.
Its success at Annecy has marked a significant milestone for Singapore animation on the global stage, with the film now preparing for its most important audience yet at home. Following the Gala Premiere on 3 September, The Violinist will open at Golden Village theatres across Singapore on Thursday, 17 September 2026.
