THEME
Since its inception, the photograph’s indexical quality has led photographers and filmmakers to document critical points in history, allowing all of us to witness the atrocities and triumphs of the modern age.
In Bearing Witness, we acknowledge not just documentary’s long and storied history in shaping the way we understand the world, but ask, who bears witness and why? What does bearing witness mean in an age where anyone is able to record and share their own experiences?
We ask these questions as an invitation to explore the possibilities of the documentary genre, and reflect on the role that images play in our lives.
OPEN CALL
Develop your documentary practice through mentorship, peer exchange, and critical dialogue alongside photographers from across Southeast Asia.
ABOUT
The Singapore Documentary Festival (SGDF) is a photography and film festival that gathers image-makers, cultural workers, researchers and communities in Southeast Asia to consider non-fiction visual storytelling and its impact. We hope to bring visual stories from the region in critical conversation with each other, and hold space for engagement and exchange to open new pathways of understanding. Organised by Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film, the inaugural edition takes place from April to June 2027 in Singapore.
The festival is the culmination of Objectifs’ efforts in supporting and promoting non-fiction visual storytelling, including initiatives such as the Objectifs Documentary Awards and Lenscape. This development comes at a critical juncture, where funding for independent documentary projects is waning. Yet, ethical, truthful and creative storytelling is more critical than ever as a means towards generating empathy, improving visual literacy, and building communities.
In such a climate, SGDF is an invitation to explore notions of truth, resistance, and the profound ways images shape our lives and histories.
ABOUT
Established in 2003 in Singapore, Objectifs is an independent non-profit gallery and educational space that is committed to advancing the practice and appreciation of film and photography. Our mission is to build a community of image-makers and visual storytellers, creating and sharing artistic works that foster dialogue around local and international issues through educational programmes, exhibitions, screenings, artist residencies and mentorships.
We are located at 155 Middle Road, at the heart of the arts and cultural Bras Basah Bugis district.