Madame Arcati (played by Selena Tan) is a glitzy medium who accidentally summons the ghost of her client’s first wife while performing a séance in the play Blithe Spirit.

Honestly, how much of what you do is real?
Everything dear! I don’t bluff.

What are the dangers of your job?
Heart attacks, because after every trance I have a craving for all kinds of food like tau yu bak (soy pork). The deeper the trance, the fattier the craving.

Ever made friends or fallen in love with a spirit?
They are all my friends of course, we meet and talk so regularly. Love, ahhh, all the time! It’s like co-stars working together—a lot of chemistry lor.

Has your job scared off any potential boyfriends?
I feel if you love me, you must love my spirits. Many men are scared of spirits that are not the drinking kind. So yes, sometimes I have to suffer loneliness for my duties.

What’s the scariest spirit you have ever encountered?
Poltergeists are the worse as they always throw things around. Once, they followed me home and all my Fake Ming vases collection kana shattered.

After being dead for years, how hideous do the ghosts look?
They look just like you or me—like normal Singaporeans. Sometimes normal people look worse!

What do you do if you summon for one spirit, but several turn up?
Then tea party, lor. The more the merrier I always say.

So do you think love is everlasting and persists—even after death?
Of course. So you better be careful who you choose to love…it can really mean forever.

Have you ever asked the spirits for winning lottery numbers?
That’s a trade secret.

Have you ever conjured up dead celebrities like Marilyn Monroe or Bruce Lee?
Once I talked to Teresa Teng. She wanted me to ask you all don’t sing her song in karaokes anymore.

Whether it’s Michael Moore or Al Gore, documentaries aren’t just about boring old English guys narrating footage of slow-moving animals anymore. Hard-hitting and often controversial in nature, these documentaries have become a source for heated talking points about what’s going on around the globe—from politics to the environment and even a candid look at the lives of people from all over the world.

The 2nd Singapore Indie Doc Fest (2SIDF) brings together works from some of the most acclaimed independent documentary filmmakers around, as well as insightful talks by established author and filmmaker Andrea Richards. Here’s some of the stuff that you should check out.

Andrea Richards: Focus on Female Directors. As part of International Women’s Day, Richards goes back as far as the 1920’s to take a look at the female pioneers in filmmaking and their invaluable contributions to the craft. Mar 9, 7:30pm. Objectifs Centre for Photography and Filmmaking. (12A Liang Seah St., 6339-7535) $5-7.

That Paradise Will Be Mine. In these religiously sensitive time, this film focuses on the lives of three Dutch women who made the difficult choice to convert to Islam. Mar 9, 8:30pm. The Substation Theater. (45 Armenian St., 6337-7535) $5-7.

Andrea Richards: Directed by Women–Female Filmmakers Today. Continuing the celebration of International Women’s Day, Richards will focus on today’s most talented female filmmakers such as Sofia Coppola, Tamra Davis and Miranda July. Mar 10, 1:30pm. Objectifs Centre for Photography and Filmmaking. Free.

Searching for Sheila. The filmmakers of this film go on a quest throughout Jogjakarta, Indonesia, to find the elusive Indon rock band Shelia on 7. Mar 10, 8:30pm. The Substation Theater. $5-7.

Surviving Beijing. Follow Malaysian Chinese music label Huang Ho, as the this film focuses on the group’s journey to China to break into the international market. Mar 10, 8:30pm. The Substation Theater. $5-7.