20 – 24 March 2019

The Happiness Film Festival is the world’s FIRST film festival that promotes happiness! Held in Singapore, we hope to raise greater awareness on happiness and well-being through films and post-film dialogue sessions.

Film is a powerful medium that can engage audiences and start meaningful conversations. The post-screening dialogues will bring together speakers to talk about issues or ideas explored in the film.

The Films

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THE SHINING STAR OF LOSERS EVERYWHERE

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HUMAN

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A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY

Director: Sara Hirsh Bordo
2015 | Documentary | USA | 78 mins | English

From the producers of the most viewed TEDWomen event of 2013 comes “A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story,” a documentary following the inspiring journey of 26 year old, 58 pound Lizzie from cyber-bullying victim to anti-bullying activist.

Born with a rare syndrome that prevents her from gaining weight, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Velasquez was first bullied as a child in school for looking different and, later online, as a teenager when she discovered a YouTube video labeling her “The World’s Ugliest Woman.”

The film chronicles unheard stories and details of Lizzie’s physical and emotional journey up to her multi-million viewed TEDx talk, and follows her pursuit from a motivational speaker to Capitol Hill as she lobbies for the first federal anti-bullying bill.

Awards:
Winner – Best Feature Film, Justice Film Festival Chicago
Winner – Documentary Spotlight Audience Award, SXSW Film Festival
Winner – Audience Award, Illuminate Film Festival
Winner – Documentary Audience Award, Newport Beach Film Festival

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SURVIVAL FAMILY サバイバルファミリー

Residing in Tokyo, the Suzuki family is a dysfunctional family, where everyone is self-centred and absorbed in their own lives.

One morning, they wake and find out that all the electricity is off. They decide to go to work and school, but the trains and cars are also out of commission. Entire weeks passes, the situation remains unchanged, and their food supplies begin to dwindle.

With no option left, they head to Kagoshima on bicycles, but the journey brings trying times they tackle to make it through.

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FINDING HYGGE

Hygge has exploded in popularity amidst growing division and distrust around the world, but the Danish word and its definition are more complicated than it seems. For those who seek happiness, this exploratory documentary travels around the globe to discover the true meaning of hygge and how to find it.

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THE WORK

Director: Jairus McLeary
2017 | Documentary | USA | 87 mins | English

Set inside a single room in Folsom Prison, THE WORK follows three men from the outside as they participate in a four-day group therapy retreat with level-four convicts. The raw and revealing process that the incarcerated men undertake exceeds the expectations of the free men, ripping them out of their comfort zones and forcing them to see themselves and the prisoners in unexpected ways.

THE WORK offers a powerful and rare look past the cinder block walls, steel doors and the dehumanising tropes in our culture to reveal a movement of change and redemption that transcends what we think of as rehabilitation.

Awards:
Winner – Documentary Award Winner, Sheffield International Documentary Festival
Winner – Documentary Feature Grand Jury Award, SXSW 2017
Winner – Best Documentary Feature Audience Choice Award, Chicago International Film Festival
Nominated – Best Documentary, Gotham Independent Film Award

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ON HAPPINESS ROAD 幸福路上

Chi grew up on Happiness Road in Taiwan but has always been living in awe of the USA. Eventually her dreams became reality when she got the opportunity to move to the USA.

However, Chi’s dream move didn’t turn out the way she hoped it would. She became lost in her seemingly happy life. On a trip home for her grandmother’s funeral, she begins to feel nostalgic about her childhood and starts to question her own supposed happiness, and the meaning of life.

Awards:
Winner – Best Animation Feature, Golden Horse Film Festival 2018
Winner – Best Animation, Taipei Film Festival 2018
Winner – Taipei Grand Award, Taipei Film Festival 2018
Winner – Audience Choice Award, Taipei Film Festival 2018
Winner – Best Animated Feature, Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2018

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MINIMALISM: A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE IMPORTANT THINGS

How might your life be better with less?

MINIMALISM: A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE IMPORTANT THINGS examines the many flavors of minimalism by taking the audience inside the lives of minimalists from all walks of life—families, entrepreneurs, architects, artists, journalists, scientists, and even a former Wall Street broker—all of whom are striving to live a meaningful life with less.

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