AGP Executive Report

Local Screen: Bryan Wong and Kym Ng revive their beloved City Beat characters in City Beat Rewind, a 10-episode series that brings the duo back together nearly three decades later. Singapore Stories: Two new graphic novels draw on local history, from the tiger killed at Raffles Hotel in 1902 to a little-known medical panic in 1967. Arts Calendar: Objectifs is holding its first short-film festival, part of a Singapore arts programme running from Oct 14 to Dec 6. On Stage: Attack on Titan: The Musical makes its South-east Asian debut in Singapore next April. Design: Singapore designers Asami Takahashi and Jason Lim describe a local design identity shaped by cultural diversity, dense neighbourhoods and constant change.

Screen & Stage: The Singapore Media Festival is adding a Creator Summit, an AI zone and a focus on microdramas. Objectifs will also hold its first short-film festival. Live Music & Theatre: Damien Rice’s 25th-anniversary tour for O will include Singapore, while Attack on Titan: The Musical begins its world tour here in April 2027. BigBang fans are also gearing up for the group’s comeback concerts. Arts & Culture: The National Taiwan Symphony returns with a programme featuring Singapore composers and musicians. Singapore-led animated historical film The Violinist tells a story of resilience and friendship. Event Disruptions: Haze concerns have led to Purple Parade events being postponed or cancelled.

Singapore Arts: Objectifs is staging its first short-film festival, part of a packed arts calendar running through Dec 6. Student works in the UOB Painting of the Year competition tackle social issues, including overattachment to devices, while a sparsely attended screening of local film The Sandbox has renewed debate about support for Singapore cinema. Stage & Screen: Attack on Titan: The Musical makes its Southeast Asian debut here in April 2027. The Singapore-led animated historical film The Violinist explores resilience and friendship. Live Music: Kenshi Yonezu brings his world tour to Singapore Indoor Stadium on Jan 29, 2027; Damien Rice’s 25th-anniversary tour also includes Singapore. BTS has Singapore on its Arirang world-tour itinerary, while local musician Charlie Lim is composing for Singapore films Pace and We Are All Strangers.

Gaming: Ubisoft plans to cut 70 jobs at its Singapore studio, about a fifth of its workforce, as part of wider restructuring; the company says the studio remains part of its global production network. Local Games: Singapore-linked publisher 4Divinity has set a Dec 8 release for Guns of Eschaton, an occult Western coming to PC and consoles. Regional Film: Singapore filmmakers are among those attending Davao’s Ngilngig Asian Fantastic Film Festival, running Oct 24–28 with 55 short and feature films from across Asia. On Stage: Attack on Titan: The Musical will begin its world tour in Singapore next April, bringing the hit anime adaptation to Southeast Asia first. Singapore Screen: Singer-songwriter Charlie Lim is composing music for local films Pace and We Are All Strangers.

Live Music: Sixteen-year-old America’s Got Talent winner Nene Royal joined Avenged Sevenfold onstage in Singapore, capping a busy week for the young rocker. Singapore Cinema: Singer-songwriter Charlie Lim has made his first feature-film scores for Pace and We Are All Strangers, both now showing in cinemas. Jailer 2 also drew fans to packed early screenings in Singapore. On Stage: Attack on Titan: The Musical will make its Southeast Asian debut in Singapore next April. Film & Arts: Objectifs is set to hold its first short-film festival, featured in a new Singapore arts guide covering events through Dec 6.

Live Music: 16-year-old America’s Got Talent winner Nene Royal opened for Avenged Sevenfold at Singapore Indoor Stadium on Tuesday, performing a five-song set of rock covers. Games: Ubisoft says 70 roles have been affected at its Singapore studio as it adjusts upcoming production; the studio remains part of its global production network. Arts Calendar: Objectifs’ Singapore arts guide runs through Dec 6 and highlights the centre’s first short-film festival. Stage: Attack on Titan: The Musical will make its Southeast Asian debut in Singapore in April 2027, launching its world tour here. Local Film: A The Sandbox screening attended by just seven moviegoers has renewed discussion about support for Singapore films. Homegrown Talent: The Singapore Symphony Orchestra and violinist Chloe Chua have begun a seven-city China tour, opening to a warm reception in Shanghai. K-pop: BigBang fans are gearing up for the group’s comeback concerts in Singapore, with pop-ups, light shows and exclusive merchandise among the attractions.

Live Music: BigBang return to Singapore this weekend for two sold-out National Stadium shows, marking 20 years since their debut and their first local concerts since 2016. Stage: Singapore will host the Southeast Asian debut of Attack on Titan: The Musical in April 2027, kicking off its world tour. Concerts: Lana Del Rey drew an estimated 60,000 fans to the Padang during the F1 weekend and hinted she would return. Classical Music: The Singapore Symphony Orchestra and violinist Chloe Chua have begun a seven-city China tour, opening in Shanghai. Local Film: A screening of The Sandbox attended by just seven people has reignited discussion about support for Singapore-made films.

Live Entertainment: CORTIS brought a high-energy set to the Singapore Grand Prix, performing for 60,000 fans, while BigBang’s Singapore visit sparked fan activity around pop-ups, merchandise and Marina Bay light shows. Theatre: Attack on Titan: The Musical will make its Southeast Asian debut in Singapore in April 2027, opening its world tour in the city. Local Film: A screening of The Sandbox drew just seven moviegoers, renewing discussion about support for Singapore films. Heritage: The Singapore History Gallery has reopened with new exhibits and interactive displays; a Singapore-made documentary on Unit 731 is also bringing wartime history to global audiences.

K-pop & Giving Back: G-Dragon’s Juspeace Foundation will hold a charity pop-up at Leisure Park Kallang from Oct 16 to 18, alongside BigBang’s Singapore concert weekend. Proceeds from limited-edition bracelets will support the foundation’s social programmes. New K-pop Act: Singapore-headquartered A2O Entertainment, led by SM founder Lee Soo-man, has unveiled boy group A2O Soul and girl group A2O Lite, with debut singles due Tuesday. Local Film: A screening of Singapore film The Sandbox drew just seven moviegoers, prompting cast members to speak out about the challenges facing independent films and the uncertainty of securing a streaming release. Theatre: Attack on Titan: The Musical makes its Southeast Asian debut at Sands Theatre in April 2027, bringing the Japanese production to Singapore with English surtitles. Race-weekend Music: The Singapore Grand Prix’s entertainment lineup drew major crowds, with K-pop group CORTIS performing for 60,000 fans and Lana Del Rey closing the race weekend.

Museum & Heritage: Singapore History Gallery has reopened with new exhibits and interactive displays. Homegrown TV: Mediacorp’s dating format Wingman, co-created with Beach House Pictures, is heading to international buyers through a Fremantle deal, putting Singapore-made entertainment on the global stage. F1 Weekend Soundtrack: Lana Del Rey closed the Singapore Grand Prix with a performance, while Janet Jackson paid tribute to Michael Jackson; CORTIS also performed, though litter left by concertgoers drew complaints. Arts & Community: Goodman Arts Centre’s festival invited visitors into artists’ studios for workshops and live music. Fashion & Design: Lewis Hamilton’s Plus44 brought its Spaceman collaboration and Orbit 44 exhibition to Singapore.

Music and Fashion: Big Bang will bring a Singapore-exclusive Dover Street Market collection to the city ahead of its weekend concerts, with a special shirt and water bottle available locally. Live Entertainment: K-pop group CORTIS performed for a crowd of 60,000 during the Singapore Grand Prix, adding to a weekend packed with music and celebrity appearances. Art and Creativity: Apple’s “Draw Your Own Rangoli on iPad” sessions, created in India, will run in Singapore for the first time from Oct 14 to Nov 9. Screen: Singaporean performer Simonboy discusses addiction and recovery in new movie Pace, while a Crazy Rich Asians TV series is in development, with production expected to begin in 2027.

Grand Prix Entertainment: Max Verstappen claimed his first Singapore Grand Prix win, but CORTIS also stole the show: the K-pop group performed a 50-minute set for a crowd of about 60,000 at Marina Bay. Lion Dance: Singapore’s Yi Wei Athletic Association placed second in both the high-pole and women’s traditional categories at the MGM Cup championship in Macau. On the Arts Calendar: Singapore’s Side A record fair returns on Oct. 24, while Esplanade’s da:ns focus weekend brings together Malay folk dance, rope art and Vedic metal. Film: A Singapore award-winning documentary on the wartime atrocities of Unit 731 is drawing renewed attention to the history it seeks to preserve.

Singapore Grand Prix: Max Verstappen won Saturday’s rain-hit sprint at Marina Bay after George Russell crashed out of the lead; McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided on the final lap. The main race is set for Sunday. Arts Scene: Tang Contemporary Art’s Delfi Orchard gallery was locked and its lifts disabled over alleged unpaid rent, leaving the sixth-floor space shut. Race-Week Culture: Visit Qatar’s Garden Souq at Raffles Hotel drew more than 1,700 visitors with Qatari food, crafts and live oud music. Local Talent: Singer-actor Nathan Hartono says he prefers to follow creative opportunities as they come; he stars in local mockumentary The Sandbox. Screen: HBO is moving ahead with a Crazy Rich Asians sequel series, while the Singapore Film Festival is standing by controversial opening film The Assassin(s).

Singapore GP Drama: Max Verstappen won a rain-hit sprint and claimed his 50th F1 pole at Marina Bay, while a last-lap collision between McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri cost the team valuable points. The Grand Prix is set for Sunday. Screen News: HBO has greenlit a Crazy Rich Asians series, with original stars including Constance Wu and Henry Golding returning. On the Arts Calendar: Goodman Arts Centre’s festival invites visitors into artists’ studios for workshops and live music, while the Singapore International Film Festival is standing by its controversial opening film, The Assassin(s).

Screen Comeback: HBO has ordered a Crazy Rich Asians drama series, reuniting original stars Constance Wu, Henry Golding and Michelle Yeoh for a new chapter. Singapore on Screen: SPH Media’s first microdrama, CONNECTED, brings together more than 40 local creatives for three ghost stories, using hybrid visual effects and AI-assisted techniques. Local Talent: Singaporean actress Gladys Bay won Outstanding Asian Star at the Seoul International Drama Awards. Animation Spotlight: Singapore’s Magic Atlas is among nine films selected for the Aichi Nagoya International Animation Film Festival’s feature competition. Race-Week Entertainment: The Singapore Grand Prix’s outdoor entertainment plans remain unchanged despite unhealthy haze; JJ Lin and CORTIS are among the acts drawing attention.

Screen: HBO has ordered an eight-episode Crazy Rich Asians sequel series, with Constance Wu, Henry Golding and Ronny Chieng returning and Michelle Yeoh appearing as a recurring character. The story continues after the 2018 film; production is slated to begin in 2027. Race-week culture: Visit Qatar’s Garden Souq wrapped up at Raffles Hotel after drawing more than 1,700 visitors, with oud performances, Qatari food, crafts and fragrance workshops. Lewis Hamilton’s Plus44 also brought a Singapore collaboration and Orbit 44 exhibition to the city. Local arts: Goodman Arts Centre is hosting a festival featuring artist open studios, workshops and live music.