We refer to your messages to IMDA on 17 November 2021 and to Minister Josephine Teo on 23 November 2021 on your interest to watch the film “Anita” in Singapore in the Cantonese version.

In line with the government’s Speak Mandarin Campaign, IMDA adopts a differentiated approach to the amount of dialect content that can be used on different media platforms depending on reach. This means that while the full dialect versions of Chinese films can be screened at film festivals, Mandarin versions catering to the mass market are generally used for commercial theatrical release.

This is also the case for “Anita”. As you have noted, “Anita” was screened in its original language as part of the Singapore Chinese Film Festival on 23 November. As for commercial theatrical release, the film distributor had submitted a Mandarin-dubbed version of the film to IMDA for classification.

We understand your interest in the Cantonese version and that it was difficult to get tickets to the screening at the Singapore Chinese Film Festival. You may wish to enquire with the festival organisers whether they would be open to organise further festival screenings. In addition, the full dialect version of “Anita” may also be available to interested viewers through other avenues such as DVDs/Blu-ray, and Video-on-Demand services over the Internet, should the distributor choose to use them.