Amoeba (2025 film)
| Amoeba | |
|---|---|
Official poster | |
| Directed by | Tan Siyou |
| Written by | Tan Siyou |
| Produced by | Fran Borgia |
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Neus Ollé |
| Edited by | Félix Rehm |
Production companies |
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Release date |
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Running time | 98 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Languages |
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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.
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
- Ranice Tay as Choo
- Nicole Lee as Vanessa
- Shi-An Lim as Sofia
- Genevieve Tan as Gina
- Jack Kao as Uncle Phoon
- Janice Koh as Auntie Angelica
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 August 2024, it participated at the Venice Gap-Financing Market.[6]
In an interview with Deadline Hollywood, Tan revealed that she wanted to explore the themes of conformity and capitalism in Singapore through the film.[7]
Release
Amoeba had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival at the Discovery section on September 4.[8] In August 2025, it was reported that Diversion acquired the film's international sales rights.[9] It was also screened in the A Window on Asian Cinema section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival on September 18, 2025.[10]
Reception
Critical reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 12 critics' reviews are positive.[11] Writing for RogerEbert.com, Brian Tallerico praised the film for "staying true" to the protagonists.[12] Namrata Joshi of The New Indian Express commended how the film explored "a teenage girl's inner transformation and personal assertiveness".[13]
Accolades
| Award / Film Festival | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pingyao International Film Festival | 30 September 2025 | Fei Mu Award for Best Actress | Ranice Tay | Won | [14] |
| Youth Jury Award | Tan Siyou | Won | |||
| Cinephilia Critics' Award | Won | ||||
| QCinema International Film Festival | 19 November 2025 | New Horizons for Best Film | Won | [15] | |
| Golden Horse Awards | 22 November 2025 | Best New Director | Nominated | [16] | |
| FIPRESCI Prize | Won | [17] | |||
| NETPAC Award | Nominated | [18] | |||
| Taiwan Film Critics Society Award | Won | [19] | |||
| Asia Pacific Screen Awards | 27 November 2025 | Best Youth Film | Tan Siyou and Fran Borgia | Won | [20] |
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (January 11, 2021). "SEAFIC Project Development Lab Hands Prizes to 'Oasis of Now' and 'Amoeba'". Variety. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
- ^ Niola, Gabriele (March 10, 2022). "Torino reveals 2022 ScriptLab projects". Screen International. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ de Marco, Camillo (June 27, 2024). "The Venice Gap-Financing Market selects 61 projects". Cineuropa. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Wong, Silvia (August 20, 2025). "Toronto-bound Singapore drama 'Amoeba' lands at Diversion". Screen International. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
- ^ "A Window on Asian Cinema". Busan International Film Festival. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
- ^ "Amoeba". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
- ^ Tallerico, Brian (September 14, 2025). "TIFF 2025: Blue Heron, Amoeba, Meadowlarks". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
- ^ Joshi, Namrata (October 14, 2025). "Cinema Without Borders: Rebel with a cause—Amoeba". The New Indian Express. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (September 29, 2025). "'Deep Quiet Room,' 'The President's Cake' Take Top Prizes at Pingyao Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (November 22, 2025). "Cannes Winner 'A Useful Ghost' Takes Top Honors at QCinema in Philippines". Variety. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
- ^ Wong, Silvia (1 October 2025). "'A Foggy Tale', 'Left-Handed Girl' lead Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards nominations". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
- ^ "《大濛》榮獲第62屆金馬獎觀眾票選最佳影片獎 《核》勇奪2025國際影評人費比西獎". Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2025-11-21. Retrieved 2025-11-21.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "《禍禍女》榮獲NETPAC奈派克獎 《核》贏得台灣影評人協會獎". Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2025-11-19. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ^ Keast, Jackie (November 28, 2025). "'It Was Just an Accident' takes home Best Film at Asia Pacific Screen Awards". IF Magazine. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
External links
- Amoeba at IMDb
- Amoeba at Rotten Tomatoes