Private Project

Salam Gembira (Happy Greetings)

Moe, a Singaporean Malay man, cohabits with his Dutch girlfriend Sam in The Netherlands, which is forbidden in Islam. When his devout parents surprise him with a visit, Moe gets his girlfriend to swap living situations with her gay brother, so they can pretend they are bros who flat share. Before long, Moe’s parents start to suspect that their son is gay too.

  • Dzul Sungit
    Director
    Co-director "I Hugged the Berlin Patient" (documentary)
  • Remi M. Sali
    Writer
    Not My Mother's Baking, Konpaku
  • Dzul Sungit
    Writer
  • Pak Kin Ho
    Producer
    Not My Mother's Baking
  • Remi M. Sali
    Producer
    Not My Mother's Baking, Konpaku
  • Mariana Ismail
    Producer
  • Agnes Gerrits-Lim
    Producer
  • Rizal Aiman
    Key Cast
    "Moe"
  • Mitchell van Kleef
    Key Cast
    "Daan"
  • Rozita Abu
    Key Cast
    "Rosmah"
  • Rafaat Haji Hamzah
    Key Cast
    "Sugiman"
  • Vincent Tee
    Key Cast
    "Daud"
  • Anees Hameed
    Key Cast
    "Saleem"
  • Zac Denver Lee
    Key Cast
    "Mateen"
  • Mariana Yati
    Key Cast
    "Yati"
  • Pak Kin Ho
    Cast
  • Ernest Seah
    Cast
    Bugis Street
  • Sari Kartina
    Cast
  • J.T. Loh
    Cast
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 51 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 30, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    Singapore
  • Country of Filming:
    Netherlands
  • Language:
    Chinese, Dutch, English, Malay
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Scope
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • World Premiere in Singapore @ the Projector Cineleisure Orchard
    Singapore
    Singapore
    June 30, 2024
    World Premiere
  • Theatrical Release
    Singapore
    Singapore
    July 4, 2024
  • Jogja NETPAC Asian Film Festival
    Yogyakarta
    Indonesia
    December 4, 2024
    International Premiere
  • European Premiere in Schiedam
    Schiedam
    Netherlands
    December 15, 2024
    European Premiere
Distribution Information
  • Filmgarde Singapore
    Distributor
    Country: Singapore
    Rights: Theatrical
  • Studio59 Concepts
    Sales Agent
    Country: Singapore
    Rights: All Rights
  • GerritSlim Creative Consultancy
    Distributor
    Country: Netherlands
    Rights: All Rights
    Country: Belgium
    Rights: All Rights
    Country: Germany
    Rights: All Rights
    Country: Luxembourg
Director Biography - Dzul Sungit

Dzul Sungit is a Singaporean Malay director of various crime drama series for Singapore's television network Mediacorp, including "Mata-Mata", "CrimeWatch" and "9 Nyawa".

He is the editor of two Dutch feature documentaries, "Sayed, Soccer Talent", which won Honourable Mention at the Gulf Film Festival in Dubai, and "Voordeel van de Twijfel", which premiered at the Dutch Film Festival. He has experience directing in 16 countries for 2 seasons of the Singapore travelogue series OIe Ole Temasya and won Best Scriptwriting Award during Pesta Perdana in 2017 for the first season.

His independent feature documentary "I Hugged the Berlin Patient" (with co-director Edgar Tang) is broadcast on MTV Latin America and won the Excellence Award at the Canada Film Festival. In 2019, Remi M Sali’s "Konpaku", of which Dzul is the Director of Photography, is shown at the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy. In 2020, they paired up again with Dzul as Art Director and Editor for the feature film "Not My Mother’s Baking".

Currently, Dzul lives in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where he works as a freelance director/editor.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

When I discovered there was no way I could be with my partner legally in Singapore, I made the decision to migrate. I was advised by friends then not to come out yet, to protect my parents who are Muslims. Some have heard horror stories of peers being disowned by their families, but my main concern was that my parents would have to suffer guilt and handle nasty remarks from relatives and friends. It was easier for me to hide the real reason I was moving abroad, so I created a story that was as close to the truth as possible.

This is still going on today, 23 years on! Looking back, I am amazed at how I juggled it all - putting up a front for my family, keeping the peace and most importantly keeping myself and my partner sane!

The repeal of Section 377A (the colonial law that criminalises sex among men) in Singapore in 2023 and the many discussions that followed, prompted Salam Gembira to be made. I hope the film will promote the idea that despite our differences, we can all coexist.