DISCOVER THE FILM
NOTHING COMES BY CHANCE
As Singapore marks 60 years of independence, we are proud to unveil a short film that celebrates the nation in all its complexity and brilliance. A love letter and an ode, this film is a reflection on Marina Bay Sands’ journey with Singapore, shaped by imagination, resilience, transformation, and unshakable optimism.
Bringing together a constellation of individuals who have helped define Singapore’s global presence, alongside voices that embody its spirit from within, the film honours the values, idiosyncrasies, and visionary mindset that make this city unlike any other. From quiet reflections to bold leaps, these human stories unfold in a timeless portrait of Singapore. Here’s to the dreams waiting to be imagined and the future we will build together.
Discover More
- Our Storytellers
- Behind the Scenes
- A Poetic Declaration
Tan Kheng Hua
Tan Kheng Hua is a pioneer of Singapore’s arts scene, recognised internationally for her role as Kerry Chu in Crazy Rich Asians and for her longstanding contributions to theatre, including Beauty World. A recipient of the 2003 Asian Television Award for Highly Commended Performance by an Actress, she is known for her discipline, emotional acuity, and cultural insight.
Pierre Png
Pierre Png is a seasoned actor with a career spanning over two decades. Known for roles in Crazy Rich Asians, The Little Nyonya, and This Land Is Mine, he has become a familiar face in Singaporean storytelling. With multiple acting accolades, he brings a consistent blend of grounded elegance, focus, and quiet authority to every performance.
Jasmine Sokko
Jasmine Sokko is one of Singapore’s most distinctive music artists. After participating in Rave Now and winning an MTV EMA for Best Southeast Asia Act, she has carved a space for her minimal, emotionally charged electronic sound. Her work blends introspection with restraint, offering a soundscape that is both contemporary and deeply personal.
Lim Shi An
Lim Shi An is a rising talent, her notable screen credits include Alienated, Come Closer and Under My Skin. As part of a new generation of Singaporean performers, she brings quiet intensity, emotional precision, and a fearless sensitivity that feels both grounded and unafraid.
Quah Zheng Wen
Two-time Olympian and SEA Games gold medalist Quah Zheng Wen stands among Singapore’s most accomplished athletes. Trained in the United States and competing globally, he is respected for his discipline and humility — traits that have defined his journey in and out of the pool.
Lana Rice
Lana Rice is a young chess talent from Singapore. A member of the Singapore U12 National Squad, Rice has competed in multiple international tournaments, including a standout performance in June 2025 where she placed second in the Women’s category at the Teplice Open Group B in Czechia. Focused, composed, and quietly formidable, her achievements reflect both technical discipline and growing international experience — signs of a bright future ahead.
HIRFAN ROMZI
Designer, creative and founder of Aliwal Chess Club, Hirfan is redefining what it means to play the game. What started as a casual chess meetup on wooden crates has grown into a movement bringing people together over strategy, street culture, and teh tarik. From hosting neon-lit matches in Kampong Glam to collaborating with local creatives, Hirfan is making chess feel fresh, fun, and fiercely inclusive. For him, it’s not just a game, it’s a metaphor for life.
Kirsten Tan
Kirsten Tan is an internationally lauded New York-based filmmaker known for stylistically daring and emotionally evocative work spanning global cinema, fashion, and branded storytelling. Her trailblazing debut Pop Aye made history as the first Singaporean film to win at both Sundance and Rotterdam, and was Singapore’s official Oscar entry. With poetic clarity and existential edge, her cinema probes the absurdities of contemporary life.
Amanda Lee Koe
Amanda Lee Koe is the youngest winner of the Singapore Literature Prize for her short story collection Ministry of Moral Panic, and the author of the novels Delayed Rays of a Star, and Sister Snake, which received international critical acclaim. Her writing resists convention, combining emotional precision with political edge. Bold, genre-defying, and unflinching, her voice challenges and expands the literary canon.
Dive into the world of Nothing Comes by Chance and discover what it is like to be on set.
A cinematic homage to Paul Morphy’s 1858 Opera Game—chosen for its visual movements across the board and theatrical flair across the screen.
Our talented cast played gentle archetypes of themselves and each brought a distinct texture and flavour to the film. We conveyed their humanity, and together, they form a layered living mosaic of Singapore, one that pulses richly beneath the surface. A Singapore not just admired for her sheen, but felt for her depth.
- KIRSTEN TAN, DIRECTOR
On an island such as the one we call home
Chances are
Time is precious
Space, finite
Well,
that has never stopped us from pouring dreams into concrete
And tomorrow into today
Thinking three, five steps ahead
Going out on a limb
Holding our center
Shining under bright lights
Playing our hearts out
Catching a breath
Taking stock
We’ve come so far
As far as dreamers go, there’s always a new game
Truth is, nothing comes by chance
And the best victories
Are the ones still in the making
The ones that are ever searching
The ones born to go beyond
– Amanda Lee Koe
Unpacking the Film
Director Kirsten Tan and writer Amanda Lee Koe unpacks craft, chemistry and the creative vision behind the film’s iconic scenes.
OUR BRAND STORY: BORN OF BEYOND
Since its inception in 2010, Marina Bay Sands was built to defy and exceed expectations. Designed by Moshe Safdie, it stand as an architectural marvel and the crown jewel in Singapore’s skyline.
Within a year of our opening, Singapore’s tourism had grown by 20% as the destination drew excitement from around the world. Today, it has redefined the cityscape in what is an integrated destination where architecture, retail, culture, Michelin-starred dining, nightlife and community converge. With further re-investment planned in the near future, Marina Bay Sands is set to deepen its long-term contribution to Singapore’s growth. More than a landmark, it is a living part of Singapore’s story, shaped by vision and driven by transformation.
