Bangkok-based film fund Purin Pictures has announced the five projects that will receive grants in its spring 2023 funding round, including two from Vietnam and one each from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
Three narrative feature film projects will receive $30,000 each from the fund – Don’t Cry, Butterfly, a Vietnam-Singapore co-production directed by Duong Dieu Linh (pictured); Ah Girl, which is the feature debut of Singaporean filmmaker Ang Geck Geck; and Malaysian director Emir Ezwan’s fantasy-comedy Farid (see full details below).
Ezwan’s debut horror feature Roh was a breakout success that was selected as Malaysia’s submission to the 2020 Academy Awards. Ah Girl was previously awarded at the 2018 SEAFIC Lab.
Two documentary projects will received $15,000 each – Baby Jackfruit, Baby Guava, directed by Vietnam’s Quang Nong Nhat, and The Itinerant, from Thailand’s Ukrit Sa-nguanhai. The latter project previously won Most Promising Project at the 2021 SGIFF Southeast Asian Film Lab.
“Over the past several years, Vietnam in particular has proved to be a bright spot in the region for cinema. You could say we are in the midst of a Vietnamese New Wave,” said Purin Pictures co-director Aditya Assarat.
“Don’t Cry Butterfly by Duong Dieu Linh and Baby Jackfruit, Baby Guava by Quang Nong Nhat both have a confident personal style that is indicative of the new generation of Vietnamese filmmakers.”
PURIN PICTURES SPRING 2023 GRANTEES:
Don’t Cry, Butterfly – dir: Duong Dieu Linh, prods: Tan Si En, Tran Thi Bich Ngoc
Prod cos: Momo Film, An Nam Productions (Singapore, Vietnam)
After finding out about her husband’s affair, Tam decides to voodoo him back into love, not knowing that her actions may be spawning something peculiar at home.
Ah Girl – dir: Ang Geck Geck, prod: Zhi Qi Yeo
Prod co: Aggregate Films (Singapore)
Following her parents’ divorce, seven year-old Ah Girl has to choose between living with her mom or dad, a decision that will change her life forever.
Farid – dir: Emir Ezwan, prod: Nandita Solomon
Prod co: Apparat (Malaysia)
Hafiz, an unemployed man mired in debt, befriends a flesh-eating djinn who grants him wealth and success but exacts a large payment in return.
Baby Jackfruit, Baby Guava – dir: Quang Nong Nhat, prod: Trang Dao Thi Minh
Prod cos: Doc Cicada, Flaneur Films (Vietnam)
A personal documentary about a conservative mother, mentally ill daughter, and gay son as they prepare for the arrival of an unplanned baby into their family.
The Itinerant – dir: Ukrit Sa-nguanhai, prod: Tuntita Nititsopon
Prod co: Khrueamas Films (Thailand)
A documentary that explores the propaganda film operations in Cold War Thailand, tracing through memories, historical documents, and fragments of old films.