Cinema is as much an auditory experience as a visual one. To mark the fourth ASEAN Film Festival, we are shifting the focus from screen to speaker with a dedicated listening programme at our Moving Image Centre. Partnering with programmer Viknesh Kobinathan, this weekend series unpacks Southeast Asia’s distinct film scores, soundscapes, and sonic traditions. From insightful talks on sound design to relaxed music sessions, drop in anytime to discover how sound drives the rhythm and emotion of screen storytelling.

22 August (Saturday) | Deep-Dive Talk: Film programmer Viknesh Kobinathan leads a session on the dialogue between music, sound design, and cinema across the ASEAN region. Drawing on selected festival highlights—including Lewat Djam Malam (After the Curfew), Turn Left Turn Right, and the short film showcase New Frequencies: Short Films of Youth and Whimsy—this talk explores how sound constructs world and mood on screen.

23 August (Sunday) | DJ Mixer & Casual Listening: Unwind alongside featured festival filmmakers for a laid-back DJ set celebrating the grooves, rhythms, and musical eclecticisms of Southeast Asia.

Viknesh Kobinathan is a cultural worker and organiser whose practice explores gatherings around sound and image as acts of care, healing, rest, and refusal. He holds a postgraduate degree in Film Studies from the National Film and Television School in England. Based in Singapore, he is part of the film programming team at Objectifs – Centre for Photography and Film. He was previously Programmer at the Asian Film Archive and Programme Manager at The Projector.