All 40 additional Dear You Teochew screenings sold out; distributor seeks 100 more
Demand for the Teochew-language version of Dear You continues to surge in Singapore, with nearly 14,000 tickets for 40 additional public screenings snapped up within three hours. The distributor has now applied for approval to add another 100 screenings to meet overwhelming public demand.
- Clover Films has applied to IMDA to add 100 more Teochew-language screenings after overwhelming ticket demand.
- Nearly 14,000 tickets for 40 additional public screenings were almost sold out within three hours on 29 June 2026.
- The film has sparked renewed interest in Teochew language and cultural heritage across generations in Singapore.
SINGAPORE: The distributor of Dear You (给阿嬷的情书) has applied for approval to add another 100 Teochew-language screenings in Singapore after demand for the film's original dialect version continued to exceed supply.
The latest move comes after nearly all 14,000 tickets for 40 additional public screenings were snapped up within three hours of going on sale on 29 June 2026.
Checks on Golden Village's official website on the morning of 30 June showed that all tickets for the additional screenings had been taken up, with no public seats remaining.
According to Lianhe Zaobao, local distributor Clover Films and cinema operator Golden Village have submitted a fresh application to the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) seeking approval for another 100 screenings.
Clover Films managing director Lim Teck said he hoped the authorities could grant approval quickly so that the additional sessions could begin as early as the coming weekend.
"We know many people were disappointed because they could not get tickets for the original-language version. We expected the additional 40 screenings to be popular, but the speed at which they sold was beyond our expectations," Lim said.
He also thanked audiences for their continued support.
"I am extremely grateful and encouraged. This is not a mainstream commercial blockbuster in China, yet it has moved so many people. It proves that audiences will support films made with sincerity. I hope this encourages local filmmakers not to give up," he said.
Ticket demand remains exceptionally strong
The latest batch of 40 public screenings went on sale at 3pm on 29 June 2026 through Golden Village's website and ticketing counters across Singapore.
Queues began forming outside cinemas from midday, with around 100 people waiting outside GV VivoCity before sales opened.
Many of those interviewed by Zaobao were Teochew-speaking residents who had failed to secure tickets during previous online sales and instead chose to queue in person.
Huang, 69, arrived with her son at about 10am and waited five hours before becoming the first customer to purchase two tickets.
Lee Minling, 52, took leave from work so she could queue for tickets for family members and friends.
Several elderly moviegoers said the original Teochew-language version carried greater emotional significance and authenticity than the Mandarin-dubbed release.
Some recalled personal experiences similar to those portrayed in the film, including sending salted pork and bicycles back to relatives in their hometowns.
Younger audiences also adopted a dual strategy of trying online sales while queueing at cinemas, with several saying physical queues ultimately proved more effective.
Screenings expanded across Singapore
The newly approved 50 Teochew-language screenings announced on 25 June included 40 commercial sessions across five Golden Village cinemas and 10 community screenings organised with grassroots organisations and community groups.
Besides GV VivoCity, the film is now screening at Golden Village cinemas in Tampines, Bishan, Yishun and Jurong.
The 10 community screenings aim to allow more Singaporeans, particularly members of the Pioneer Generation, to experience the film in its original Teochew dialogue while reconnecting with their cultural heritage.
Separately, SPH Media's Chinese Media Group will host four free screenings between 2 July and 5 July at Golden Village cinemas in Yishun, Tampines and VivoCity.
Tickets for the free screenings, organised by Zaobao, Shin Min Daily News, Capital 95.8FM and UFM100.3, were fully claimed within one minute after registration opened on the morning of 29 June.
Film continues to drive cultural discussion
Dear You opened in Singapore on 18 June after achieving major commercial success in China.
The film was initially approved only in its Mandarin-dubbed version for commercial release, while the original Teochew-language edition was limited to special screenings.
Public demand for wider access prompted authorities to approve additional screenings and later signal a more flexible approach towards future dialect-language film applications.
In a joint statement issued on 25 June, IMDA and the Ministry of Digital Development and Information said they recognised the strong public interest generated by both the Mandarin and Teochew versions of the film.
Earlier, on 22 June, the ministry also said it remained open to facilitating further Teochew-language screenings if distributors submitted additional applications.
Directed and co-written by Lan Hongchun, Dear You follows two interconnected storylines, including a grandson searching for his long-lost grandfather in present-day Thailand and a young man who leaves China for Southeast Asia during the 1940s in search of work.
The film has become one of China's biggest box-office hits this year, grossing more than 1.91 billion yuan (approximately S$360 million), while its Singapore release has also performed strongly.
Since opening on 18 June, the film has collected S$1.1 million at the local box office within 11 days.
Of that total, S$910,000 came from the Mandarin version, while the Teochew-language screenings contributed S$190,000 despite their comparatively limited availability.
