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.
Cast Ranice Tay as Choo Xin Yu Nicole Lee as Vanessa Scarlett Ooi Lim Shi-An as Sofia Tay Genevieve Tan as Gina Wong Jack Kao as Uncle Phoon
Production In 2019, the project won the Most Promising Project of the Southeast Asian Film Lab, held during the 30th Singapore International Film Festival. It won the Open SEA Fund Award at the Southeast Asia Fiction Film Lab in 2021. In 2022, Tan Siyou participated at the TorinoFilmLab's ScriptLab to develop the screenplay. The project was presented at the 2023 Berlinale Co-Production Market. In August 2024, it participated at the Venice Gap-Financing Market.
In an interview with Deadline Hollywood, Tan revealed that she wanted to explore the themes of conformity and capitalism in Singapore through the film.
Release Amoeba had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival at the Discovery section on September 4. In August 2025, it was reported that Diversion acquired the film's international sales rights. It was also screened in the A Window on Asian Cinema section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival on September 18, 2025.
Reception Critical reception Writing for RogerEbert.com, Brian Tallerico praised the film for "staying true" to the protagonists. Namrata Joshi of The New Indian Express commended how the film explored "a teenage girl's inner transformation and personal assertiveness".
Accolades Award / Film Festival Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Pingyao International Film Festival 30 September 2025 Fei Mu Award for Best Actress Ranice Tay Youth Jury Award Tan Siyou Cinephilia Critics' Award QCinema International Film Festival 19 November 2025 New Horizons for Best Film Golden Horse Awards 22 November 2025 Best New Director FIPRESCI Prize NETPAC Award Taiwan Film Critics Society Award Asia Pacific Screen Awards 27 November 2025 Best Youth Film Tan Siyou and Fran Borgia
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