Oversteer (film)

Oversteer
Poster for the movie Oversteer (2024).
Directed byDerrick Lui
Written byDerrick Lui
Produced byDerrick Lui
StarringZhang Yao Dong; Yu Tian Long; Hanrey Low; Jannassa Neo; Aden Tan
CinematographyDaven Raghavan
Music byAlex Oh
Production
company
Vogue Films
Release date
  • 31 January 2024 (2024-01-31)
Running time
86 minutes
CountrySingapore
LanguagesMandarin, Cantonese, English

Oversteer is a 2024 Singaporean comedy-action film directed by Derrick Lui,[1][2] who also produced and wrote it. It marks what is billed as Singapore's first car-racing film,[1][3][4] and was released theatrically on 31 January 2024.[5][6]

Plot

Oversteer is a film based on a true incident.[5] It follows the story of Wind, a young man whose passion for cars creates tension within his family and leads him into challenges for which he is unprepared.[1][3] As he faces personal and financial difficulties in the racing community,[1] Wind receives support from unexpected allies. The film is set against the backdrop of auto racing and explores themes such as friendship, perseverance, and the pursuit of aspirations.[7][8]

Cast

  • Aden Tan[9] as Wind, the film's protagonist
  • Yaodong Zhang[9] as Tony, assumes the role of Tony, Wind’s father
  • Yu Tian Long[10]  as Ah Long, the principal supporting cast
  • Hanrey Low[3] as Fu, portrays Wind’s close friend and mechanic partner
  • Grace Teo[3] as Grace, plays Wind’s sister
  • Jannassa Neo[9] as Cloud, plays Wind’s love interest
  • Kazuto Soon[7][11] as Kazuto
  • Tammie Chew as Kelly (StepMum)
  • Alan Tan as Alan (Cloud's Father)

Production

The film was produced as a regional collaboration involving Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Myanmar.[4] Director Derrick Lui developed the project over a period of ten years.[2][3] After losing major funding,[1][12] he self-financed the production.[3] Principal photography was completed in 14 days in early 2020,[7] and the film’s post-production process was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as political instability in Myanmar following the 2021 coup.[7]

Release

Oversteer was released theatrically in Singapore on 31 January 2024,[5][6] at Golden Village cinemas and in Malaysia, at Golden Screen Cinemas[10] and TGV Cinemas.[13]

Themes/cultural significance

Oversteer holds a place in Singaporean cinema history as the first locally produced car-racing feature movie, breaking new ground in the industry's genre.[4][14] At its core, the movie is an underdog story that mirror the filmmaker's decade-long struggle to realize a low-budget passion project driven by sheer determination and personal investment.[7][9][14] These themes are echoed in the plot, which focuses on Fung (Wind), who, conflicted with his family, pursues his dreams of becoming a racer while navigating heartbreak, financial strain, and camaraderie.[8][9][14]

The movie emphasizes authenticity in its depiction of motorsport, using real cars and professional drifters, all shot without the use of Computer-Generated Imagery.[4][8][14] Its indie aesthetic, marked by intimate cinematography and grounded realism, stands in contrast to blockbuster racing movies, adding emotional texture and narrative immediacy.[8][9]

Moreover, Oversteer illustrates regional collaboration in Southeast Asian filmmaking. Though a Singaporean team produced the movie, key sequences were filmed in Malaysia.[4][7]

Festivals and awards

Oversteer was submitted to several film festivals before and after its release, where it received recognition and industry awards. These include:

  • 2025 – Best Feature Film and Best Director at the Vienna Independent Film Festival[15][16]
  • 2025 – Official Selection at the Vienna Independent Film Festival, Austria.
  • 2025 – Opening Film, Official Selection, Best Feature Film at the Dili International Film Festival, Timor-Leste.
  • 2025 – Official Selection at the Flight Deck Film Festival, New York, United States.
  • 2025 – Official Selection at the Southern Cone International Film Festival, Valparaíso, Chile.
  • 2025 – Official Selection at the Belgrade International Film Festival, Serbia.
  • 2025 – In competition at the RED Movie Awards, Reims, France; received an Honorable Mention for Best Feature Film.
  • 2025 – Official Selection at the Auguri Film Festival, Turin, Italy.
  • 2025 – In competition at the Bangkok Movie Awards, Thailand; won Best Narrative Feature (LGBTQ category).
  • 2025 – In competition at the Chambal International Film Festival, Kota, India; received a Special Mention.
  • 2024 – Official Selection at the Oltre lo specchio Film Festival, Milan, Italy.[17]
  • 2024 – Official Selection at the Blue Chair Film Festival, Luang Prabang, Laos.[18][19]
  • 2024 – In competition at the London International CINEVERSE Film Festival, United Kingdom; nominated for Best Director and Best Actor (Aden Tan).
  • 2024 – Official Selection at the Begur Costa Brava International Comedy Film Festival, Begur, Spain.
  • 2024 – In competition at the Urban Action Showcase, New York, United States; won Best Action Comedy.[20]
  • 2024 – In competition at the International Motor Film Awards, London, United Kingdom; nominated for Best Drama Feature.
  • 2024 – Official Selection at the Hokkaido Film Festival, Japan.[21]
  • 2022 – Participated in the NAFF Project Market at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), South Korea; won the NAFF SBA Award.[22][23][24]
  • 2017 – Selected for the Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), Hong Kong.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Zulraez, Yasmin (30 September 2024). "Passion project lacks speed". thesun.my. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b Zalizan, Taufiq (28 April 2024). "Not so fast: Oversteer director tells why Singapore's first car-racing film took 10 years to hit the screens". CNA. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Lim, Bryan (9 February 2024). "'We think that it's stolen': Oversteer director shares run-in with Malaysia cops over Singapore's first racing movie". Yahoo News. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e Lee, Tjoe (12 January 2024). "Fast Lane: Singapore's first car-racing film, Dakar Rally kicks off, new Nio ET9 unveiled". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Williams, Emily (21 February 2024). "Firsthand: Local filmmaker, 48, poured savings & 10 years into making S'pore's 1st car-racing film". mothership.sg. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  6. ^ a b Lim, Bryan (15 January 2024). "Oversteer, Singapore's first-ever race car movie, will be speeding into cinemas on 31 January". Yahoo News. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Chakraborty, Drima (29 January 2024). "How was it shooting Singapore's first car racing movie Oversteer? Director says 'everything that could go wrong went wrong'". AsiaOne. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d Sahu, Ipsita (2 March 2024). "Film Review #103: Oversteer". Singapore Film Society. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Kotzathanasis, Panos (12 November 2024). "Film Review: Oversteer (2024) by Derrick Lui". Asian Movie Pulse. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Oversteer". www.gsc.com.my. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  11. ^ "OVERSTEER – Silk Route Entertainment Pte Ltd". Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  12. ^ Sherman, Erik (1 February 2024). "Singapore's First Racing Movie 'Oversteer' Had Serious Problems". MotorBiscuit. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  13. ^ "TGV Cinemas". www.tgv.com.my. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  14. ^ a b c d Leckenby, Nora (3 March 2024). "Film Review #104: Oversteer". Singapore Film Society. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  15. ^ Schneider, Daria (17 September 2025). "Oversteer Dominierte VIFF 2025: Preis für Besten Spielfilm und Beste Regie". MeinBezirk.at (in German). Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  16. ^ Qiwen, Li (19 September 2025). "《速战人生》勇夺维也纳两大奖 雷坚钦：10年坚持终获肯定". www.zaobao.com.sg (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Film in Concorso – Oltre lo Specchio Film Festival" (in Italian). Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  18. ^ Frater, Patrick (7 November 2024). "'Autobiography,' 'Cu Li Never Cries' Head for Blue Chair Film Festival in Luang Prabang". Variety. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  19. ^ Chanlivong, Kheuakham (9 November 2024). "Blue Chair Film Festival Lights Up Luang Prabang with Southeast Asian Cinema". Laotian Times. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  20. ^ "本地电影《速战人生》 美国夺最佳动作喜剧片". www.zaobao.com.sg (in Simplified Chinese). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  21. ^ "Feature Films". 北海道国際映画祭. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  22. ^ Wong, Silvia. "Genre filmmakers look to the future at Korea's NAFF project market". Screen. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  23. ^ Festival, Asian Film (5 June 2022). "NAFF Project Market – Selected Projects 2022". Asian Film Festivals. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  24. ^ "Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival". BIFAN. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
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