Media Statement on the film Dear You

Singapore, 22 June 2026 – We thank members of the public and industry partners for their feedback and interest in the release of Dear You. We welcome the broader conversation it has sparked about Chinese dialects and cultural identity in Singapore.

The Government's longstanding policy has been to promote Mandarin as one of our four official languages. This has helped to strengthen Mandarin proficiency across generations and facilitate communication among Chinese Singaporeans from different dialect backgrounds. These objectives remain relevant today.

At the same time, dialects are an important part of Singapore’s cultural heritage. They carry rich traditions, stories and ways of expression, and help many Singaporeans maintain a connection to their cultural roots and community histories. There is also growing interest, including among younger Singaporeans, in learning and appreciating dialects as part of understanding their heritage. 

The Government welcomes efforts by community groups, clan associations and cultural practitioners to sustain interest in dialects and deepen public appreciation of them. Today, the Government supports the use of dialects in practical ways, including through the communication of important public information in dialects, Mediacorp programmes for seniors, and arts and cultural productions.  

We hear the calls for dialect films to be more freely screened in cinemas. Under the current framework, applications have to be made for such screenings. However, IMDA will take a more flexible approach in considering these applications. In the case of Dear You, IMDA has, in addition to the initial ten screenings in Teochew in cinemas, recently supported eight more screenings. We remain open to facilitating and supporting further Teochew screenings should the distributor wish to apply for them, in response to audience interest.

Mandarin continues to play an important unifying role among Chinese Singaporeans, while dialects remain a valued part of Singapore’s cultural heritage and identity. We are encouraged by the growing interest in dialects, including among younger Singaporeans.  We will continue to engage industry and community stakeholders, and keep our approach under review, to support the appreciation and use of dialects in Singapore.