Singapore has officially selected the Malay-language comedy-drama La Luna as its submission for the 2025 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. Directed by M. Raihan Halim, La Luna tells the story of a woman who opens a lingerie shop in a conservative Malaysian village, sparking discussions on tradition versus modernity. The film was shot in the remote town of Kuala Kangsar, Malaysia, and was well-received at regional film festivals.

The film, a co-production between Singapore and Malaysia, had its world premiere in the Asian Future section of the Tokyo International Film Festival. It has since screened at various international festivals, including the International Film Festival Rotterdam, where it was the closing film and the Shanghai International Film Festival.

Director M. Raihan Halim, known for his previous work on Banting (2014), expressed his gratitude for the selection. “I am at once humbled, amazed and honored to represent Singapore with our little film, La Luna,” Halim said. “My team and I are truly over the moon!”

The film features an ensemble cast, including Shaheizy Sam, Sharifah Amani, Wan Hanafi Su and Hisyam Hamid. Executive producer Lim Teck of Clover Films praised the team, saying, “Kudos to Director Raihan, the cast and crew for this achievement.”

Justin Ang, assistant chief executive at the Infocomm Media Development Authority, highlighted the film’s significance. 

“La Luna is a great testament to Singapore’s multi-lingual and multi-ethnic makeup that gives rise to interesting stories,” Ang said.

While Singapore has submitted films to the Academy Awards since 2005, the country has yet to secure a nomination. The shortlist for the 97th Oscars will be announced on December 17, 2024, with final nominations revealed on January 17, 2025. The ceremony is set to take place on March 2, 2025.