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Asia in the mid-1990s to early 2000s experienced both economic upheaval and a cinematic renaissance. As the financial crisis rippled through the region, a new wave of filmmakers emerged, crafting films that captured the turbulence of the era. World cinema witnessed the rise of several influential movements, from J-horror and Korean crime thrillers to the early days of Hallyu and the digital arthouse films of Southeast Asia that produced figures such as Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Erik Khoo, and Lav Diaz.

Between the festival regulars and national mainstream releases, are relatively underseen films that captured their times with a sense of grit. In the wake of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the region faced economic instability, widespread unemployment, and a deep sense of uncertainty about the future. Against this backdrop, a wave of filmmakers across Asia captured the struggles, aspirations, and disillusionment of those navigating an increasingly precarious world. These films, often made on modest budgets,...

By Goh Ming Siu

Fade up on a mountain of rocks in a quarry — raw material for construction, for literal nation-building, yet mining also destabilizes the land. The shot tracks along, as we hear a distant rumble – is it a storm on the horizon, far-off construction, or something more ominous? The camera comes to rest on an empty frame. The protagonist, Lim Cheng Soon (Peter Yu) and his brother Cheng Boon (Johnson Choo) rise from below, where they’ve been digging for rocks, up into frame.

An opening that encapsulates a film where everything important is operating under the surface, a film that needs one to excavate it for a meaningful experience. Hemingway-esque in its sparseness but also in its hidden richness and depth, much like the films of Edward Yang. We think we know what’s going to happen, because we’re familiar with the tropes. Yet at every turn,...

By Goh Ming Siu

Fade up on a mountain of rocks in a quarry — raw material for construction, for literal nation-building, yet mining also destabilizes the land. The shot tracks along, as we hear a distant rumble – is it a storm on the horizon, far-off construction, or something more ominous? The camera comes to rest on an empty frame. The protagonist, Lim Cheng Soon (Peter Yu) and his brother Cheng Boon (Johnson Choo) rise from below, where they've been digging for rocks, up into frame.

An opening that encapsulates a film where everything important is operating under the surface, a film that needs one to excavate it for a meaningful experience. Hemingway-esque in its sparseness but also in its hidden richness and depth, much like the films of Edward Yang. We think we know what's going to happen, because we're familiar with the tropes. Yet at every turn, we're...

One of the most popular events at the 34th Singapore International Film Festival (Sgiff) was a panorama event where six of the country’s leading indie film lights shared a panel to discuss opportunities and challenges.

Opportunities are plentiful, with the festival world embracing Singaporean films and filmmakers warmly. Hong Kong-based Anthony Chen has had a stellar year with his directorial efforts “Drift” and “The Breaking Ice” which premiered at Sundance and Cannes, respectively. The latter was selected as Singapore’s entry to the 2024 Oscars.

Among Chen’s fellow panelists, Jow Zhi Wei’s “Tomorrow is a Long Time” premiered at the Berlinale this year; Nicole Midori Woodford’s “Last Shadow at First Light” at San Sebastian; and Nelson Yeo’s “Dreaming & Dying” won two major awards at Locarno.

Also on the panel were Kelvin Tong and Chai Yee Wei whose “A Year of No Significance” and “Wonderland,” respectively,...

Prolific Singaporean filmmaker Kelvin Tong’s latest feature “A Year Of No Significance,” which has its world premiere at the 34th Singapore International Film Festival (Sgiff), mourns the loss of a generation.

Set in Singapore in 1979, the film chronicles the gradual disintegration of a middle-aged architect as changes rock the 45th year of his life. Sidelined in the office because of his inability to speak English, Lim Cheng Soon is cut further adrift when his wife inexplicably leaves him. His elderly father moves in, forcing him to confront the fact that the former has always preferred his younger brother. Robbed of his identities as architect, husband and son, Cheng Soon struggles in the dusk of his life.

The cast includes Peter Yu, Tan Tiow Im, Mandy Chen and Naomi Yeo. Tong made his feature debut with “Eating Air” and has made several features since, including “Love Story” (2006), which won best director at the 19th Sgiff.

Malaysian Tiger To Roar In Singapore

“Tiger Stripes,” the Malaysian coming-of-age, body horror film that debuted in Cannes’ Critics Week section has been set as the opening title for this year’s Singapore International Film Festival (Nov. 30 – Dec. 10). Directed by Amanda Nell Eu, the film is a multinational coproduction that involved Singapore-based Fran Borgia and Akanga Film.

A handful of other Singaporean titles have also been teased by the festival, which will not make its full lineup announcement until Oct. 25. Three will play in competition: “Tomorrow Is a Long Time,” directed by Jow Zhi Wei; “Dreaming & Dying,” directed by Nelson Yeo; and “Last Shadow at First Light,” directed by Nicole Midori Woodford.

Veteran local director Kelvin Tong will also launch his “A Year of No Significance.” The film takes audiences back more than 50 years to Singapore in the 1970s, when a Chinese-educated architect is forced to navigate the cross-roads...

Rebecca Lim, the Singaporean star of “This Land Is Mine,” “The Pupil” and the Asian adaptation of “The Bridge,” will lead the cast in creepy thriller “Confinement.” The film is to be directed by Kelvin Tong from February next year.

The story involves a pregnant painter who moves into her dream home and hires a confinement nanny. As the woman begins her one month in confinement, inexplicable incidents start mounting in the house, threatening both her and her young baby.

The production is led by Singapore-based distributor and producer Clover Films in partnership with Chinese streaming firm iQiyi and with the support of Singapore Film Commission. The project was unveiled on the first day of the Asia TV Forum and market in Singapore.

Estimated total budget is S1.2 million. Hong Kong’s Celestial Tiger Entertainment and Singapore-listed media conglomerate G.H.Y Culture & Media are on board as investors and will take presenter credits.

Besides accredited as the first Singaporean horror, Kelvin Tong’s second feature “The Maid” also broke the local horror genre box office record during its weekend opening release. It went on to win the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation Asian Film Award at the then Puchun International Fantastic Film Festival held in Bucheon, South Korea.

At the start of “The Maid”, Rosa Dimaano (Alessandra De Rossi) a young eighteen-year-old girl from the Philippines arrives in Singapore to work as a domestic maid for Mr. and Mrs. Teo. It’s also the first day of the Chinese Seventh Month, the start of the Hungry Ghost Festival. The Chinese believe that during this month, the opening of the gates of Hell enables the dead to come back and walk among the living. Therefore, they set up alters everywhere to offer food to their beloved, returning ancestral spirits. Conversely there...

The two companies will co-produce Chinese-language films directed by Kelvin Tong, Melvin Mak, Ong Kuo Sin and Tay Ping Hui.

Singapore-based Clover Films is joining forces with Chinese streaming platform iQiyi to co-produce four Mandarin-language films, from Singapore directors Kelvin Tong, Melvin Mak, Ong Kuo Sin and Tay Ping Hui.

The collaboration has been set up by Clover Films’ managing director Lim Teck and iQiyi’s Beijing-based vice president Song Jia. Both spent nine months developing the parameters of the slate during the pandemic.

The projects, budgeted at $6m in total, will be produced over the next two years. The...

Award winning film maker and Cultural Medallion recipient Eric Khoo who helms Zhao Wei Films has been credited for reviving the Singapore film industry and for putting Singapore onto the International film map in 1995. He was the first Singaporean to have his films invited to major film festivals such as Toronto, Busan, Berlin, Telluride, Venice and Cannes. Together with 12 Storeys’ co-writer James Toh and actress Lucilla Teoh, he also wrote a White Paper which resulted in the formation of the Singapore Film Commission. Khoo was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Letters, from the French Cultural Minister in 2008. Besides his filmmaking achievements, Khoo has produced several award winning films including 15 (2003) and Apprentice (2016).

Be With Me opened the Directors Fortnight in Cannes 2005 and My Magic his fourth feature was nominated for the Cannes Palme d’Or in 2008. Khoo has been profiled in Phaidon Books, Take 100 the future of Film – 100 New directors.

Exclusive: First titles to be featured on digital platform include Plame d’Or winner Ilo Ilo [pictured].

Mocha Chai Laboratories founder Chai Yee Wei’s new company A Little Seed has announced it is linking up with iTunes Singapore to showcase Singaporean films.

The first batch of 12 acclaimed Singaporean titles will be launched on the digital platform from June onwards, including Anthony Chen’s Palme d’Or winner Ilo Ilo [pictured], Boo Junfeng’s Sandcastle, Eric Khoo’s 12 Storeys, Ken Kwek’s Unlucky Plaza, 7 Letters by seven directors including Royston Tan and Kelvin Tong, and Banting by Raihan Halim (who is presenting new project La Luna at this year’s Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf)).

In addition to the Singaporean titles, Chai has plans to bring more southeast Asian films on itunes at a later stage. Chai set up A Little Seed with Objectifs Centre for Photography & Filmmaking. The latter company, headed by Yuni...

I’ve endured countless horror movies that go absolutely nowhere, but Native American Poltergeist – I mean, The Darkness – might be 2016’s most notorious offender. Even in an empty theater, engulfed by pitch-black silence, only the super-chilly air conditioning could manage to raise my hairs. Influentially, there’s never a question where filmmaker Greg Mclean draws inspiration from, but where other movies simply borrow, The Darkness repurposes. Not blatantly – like Kelvin Tong’s The Offering – but when I jokingly say Native American Poltergeist, the comparison couldn’t be more cut-and-dry. What happens when you blend together Insidious, Poltergeist, and every other paranormal haunter from the last ten years? I have no idea, but this is unfortunately worse.

Don’t you hate when your autistic child unleashes a generations-old Anasazi curse? Peter (Kevin Bacon) and Bronny (Radha Mitchell) think their Grand Canyon camping vacation is all fun and sunshine, but their son...

If The Offering is truly Singapore’s first Hollywood horror film, officials might want to call a mulligan on that footnote.

Filmmaker Kelvin Tong is no stranger to scares (having directed 2005’s The Maid), but his latest thriller struggles to find individuality amidst a hodgepodge of Us influences. Entire scenes can be classified as homages to popular American haunters, where “homage” is a nice term for “egregious ripoff.” The Conjuring, The Exorcist, and a billion movies in between help shape Tong’s vision, which is nothing but a reference-fueled grab-bag of unconnected dots. If you’ve seen Any horror movie – like, ever – then you’ve probably already seen some portion of The Offering.

It all begins when Jamie (Elizabeth Rice), a young journalist, is pulled to Singapore by the death of her sister Anna (Rayann Condy). The local coroner blames suicide, but Jamie refuses to believe her sister would commit such a sin.

An official trailer and poster have been released for Momentum Pictures’ The Offering. Set and filmed in Singapore, The Offering follows a reporter (Elizabeth Rice) on a mission to learn the truth behind her sister’s mysterious death, only to discover something sinister behind it all.

“Momentum Pictures is proud to reveal the terrifying theatrical trailer and official poster artwork to the new horror feature The Offering, coming to select U.S. theaters and VOD nationwide May 6th, 2016!

When successful reporter Jamie (Elizabeth Rice) finds out that her sister has died mysteriously, she travels to Singapore to uncover the truth. There, she discovers multiple deaths linked to her sister and must join forces with her sister’s husband (Matthew Settle) in order to defeat a demonic entity that is using new technology to complete an ancient mission.”

The Offering, directed by Kelvin Tong, stars Matthew Settle (Gossip Girl, Band of Brothers...

Kelvin Tong's horror flick The Offering will be out in U.S. cinemas and on VOD on May 6th via Momentum Pictures. A new poster and the trailer have been passed along to us. You can watch the trailer below. When successful reporter Jamie (Elizabeth Rice) finds out that her sister has died mysteriously, she travels to Singapore to uncover the truth. There, she discovers multiple deaths linked to her sister and must join forces with her sister’s husband (Matthew Settle) in order to defeat a demonic entity that is using new technology to complete an ancient mission....

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Films from 81 countries have been subitted for this year’s Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.

The Us Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed that 81 countries have submitted films for consideration for this year’s Academy Award for Best Foreign-Language Film.

Paraguay is the only first-time entrant.

The figure is down on last year, when a record 83 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Polish feature Ida, directed by Pawel Pawlikowski.

Nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 14, 2016.

The 88th Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Feb 28, 2016, televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

The 2015 submissions are:

Afghanistan Utopia, Hassan Nazer

Albania Bota, Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci

Algeria Twilight of Shadows, Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina

Argentina The Clan, Pablo Trapero

Australia Arrows of the Thunder, Dragon Greg Sneddon

Austria Goodnight Mommy, Veronika Franz, [link...

Films from 81 countries have been subitted for this year’s Foreign Language Film Oscar, among them Felix and Meira, Under Milk Wood, Labyrinth of Lies and Sunstroke (click through for full list).

The Us Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed that 81 countries have submitted films for consideration for this year’s Foreign Language Film Oscar.

Paraguay is the only first-time entrant.

The 2015 submissions are:

Afghanistan, “Utopia,” Hassan Nazer, director.

Albania, “Bota,” Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci, directors.

Algeria, “Twilight of Shadows,” Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina, director.

Argentina: “The Clan,” Pablo Trapero, director.

Australia: “Arrows of the Thunder Dragon,” Greg Sneddon, director.

Austria, “Goodnight Mommy,” Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala, directors;

Bangladesh, “Jalal’s Story,” Abu Shahed Emon, director;

Belgium, “The Brand New Testament,” Jaco Van Dormael, director;

Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Our Everyday Story,” Ines Tanović, director;

Brazil, “The Second Mother,” Anna Muylaert, director;

Bulgaria, “The Judgment,” Stephan Komandarev, director;

Cambodia, “The Last Reel,” Sotho...

Films from 81 countries have been subitted for this year’s Foreign Language Film Oscar, among them Felix and Meira, Under Milk Wood, Labyrinth of Lies and Sunstroke (click through for full list).

The Us Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed that 81 countries have submitted films for consideration for this year’s Foreign Language Film Oscar.

Paraguay is the only first-time entrant.

The 2015 submissions are:

Afghanistan, “Utopia,” Hassan Nazer, director.

Albania, “Bota,” Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci, directors.

Algeria, “Twilight of Shadows,” Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina, director.

Argentina: “The Clan,” Pablo Trapero, director.

Australia: “Arrows of the Thunder Dragon,” Greg Sneddon, director.

Austria, “Goodnight Mommy,” Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala, directors;

Bangladesh, “Jalal’s Story,” Abu Shahed Emon, director;

Belgium, “The Brand New Testament,” Jaco Van Dormael, director;

Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Our Everyday Story,” Ines Tanović, director;

Brazil, “The Second Mother,” Anna Muylaert, director;

Bulgaria, “The Judgment,” Stephan Komandarev, director;

Cambodia, “The Last Reel,” Sotho...

Writer-director-producer Greg Sneddon.s Bhutan-set drama Arrows of the Thunder Dragon is Australia.s entry for the best foreign language film Oscar.

Set in the 1970s, the story follows brother and sister Kuenphen and Jamyang who live in a remote Bhutanese village where they learn traditional archery from their old warrior grandfather.

Their mother's sudden sickness gives Kuenphen the opportunity to explore the world outside the village while Jamyang must stay home to weave, cook and get married- a fate she is not willing to accept without a fight.

The self-financed film was shot on location in the Himalayan mountains with a cast of local highland village people and a Bhutanese crew including DoP Leki Dorji, none of whom had worked on a feature. Jill Bilock is the editor.

"I'm thrilled to bits," Sneddon tell If. A former Buddhist monk, he got the idea for the film while on a pilgrimage to the country.

Son Of Saul

The Academy has announced that eighty-one countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 88th Oscars.

The Holocaust drama, Son Of Saul, won the Grand Prix at Cannes in May.

Paraguay is a first-time entrant.

The 2015 submissions are:

Afghanistan, “Utopia,” Hassan Nazer, director;

Albania, “Bota,” Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci, directors;

Algeria, “Twilight of Shadows,” Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina, director;

Argentina, “The Clan,” Pablo Trapero, director;

Australia, “Arrows of the Thunder Dragon,” Greg Sneddon, director;

Austria, “Goodnight Mommy,” Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala, directors;

Bangladesh, “Jalal’s Story,” Abu Shahed Emon, director;

Belgium, “The Brand New Testament,” Jaco Van Dormael, director;

Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Our Everyday Story,” Ines Tanović, director;

Brazil, “The Second Mother,” Anna Muylaert, director;

Bulgaria, “The Judgment,” Stephan Komandarev, director;

Cambodia, “The Last Reel,” Sotho Kulikar, director;

Canada, “Félix and Meira,” Maxime Giroux, director;

Chile, “The Club,” Pablo Larraín, director;

China,...

Exclusive: Hong Kong-based Bravos Pictures has picked up worldwide rights to two titles produced by leading Hong Kong filmmaker Pang Ho Cheung – Luk Yee-sum’s Lazy Hazy Crazy and Jason Kwan’s A Nail Clipper Romance.

Currently in post-production, A Nail Clipper Romance is a quirky tale about a young man who thinks he has fallen for the perfect woman until she admits to having unusual appetites. Chang Hsiao-chuan and Zhou Dong Yu head the cast. Kwan was DoP on Pang’s 2014 drama Aberdeen.

Lazy Hazy Crazy is a drama about three teenaged girls who make money through ‘compensated dating’. Luk previously worked with Pang as a writer on hits such asLove In The Buff, Vulgaria and Women Who Flirt.

Pang and Subi Liang’s Making Films Productions is producing both A Nail Clipper Romance and Lazy Hazy Crazy, which is currently in pre-production.

Bravos has also picked up Hong Kong and South-East Asian rights to Singaporean...

Chaitanya Tamhane’s Court picked up two prizes in the Asian Feature Film category at the Singapore Film Festival (December 4-14) including Best Film and Best Director. Tamhane received cash prizes worth Us$11,600 in total.

“This glittering gem dazzles with its simplicity, elegance and breathtaking naturalism. Every facet of this film shines, from the humanity of its screenplay, to the originality of its structure, to the assuredness of its direction,” said the jury, headed by Chinese director Wang Xiaoshuai, and comprising Thai filmmaker Kongdej Jaturanrasamee, Chinese actress Huang Lu and Singaporean filmmaker Kelvin Tong.

Court’s recent awards include the Fipresci Prize at the Vienna International Film Festival, New Talent award at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival and Grand Prix at Auteur Film Festival in Serbia.

Mda-backed Sgiff (Dec 4-14) is part of Singapore Media Festival.

The 25th Singapore International Film Festival (Sgiff) has announced its line-up with 147 films from 50 countries. After a hiatus of two years, the Sgiff will open as part of the Singapore Media Festival, which also comprises the Asia TV Forum & Market (Atf), ScreenSingapore (SS) and Asian Television Awards (Ata).

Hosted by the Media Development Authority (Mda), the Singapore Media Festival (and Sgiff) will run Dec 4-14.

Sgiff will open with Ken Kwek’s Singaporean thriller Unlucky Plaza, which premiered in Toronto last month. Making a feature directorial debut with the film, Kwek previously was screenwriter on films such as Glen Goei’s The Blue Mansion and Kelvin Tong’s It’s A Great, Great World.

The festival will close with Lucky Kuswandi’s Indonesian film In The Absence Of The Sun. A film the follows three women in the megacity of Jakara, it is Kuswandi...

Unlucky Plaza to open festival; 147 films from 50 countries.

The 25th Singapore International Film Festival (Sgiff) has announced its line-up with 147 films from 50 countries.

After a hiatus of two years, the Sgiff will open as part of the Singapore Media Festival, which also comprises the Asia TV Forum & Market (Atf), ScreenSingapore (SS) and Asian Television Awards (Ata).

Hosted by the Media Development Authority (Mda), the Singapore Media Festival (and Sgiff) will run Dec 4-14.

Sgiff will open with Ken Kwek’s Singaporean thriller Unlucky Plaza, which premiered in Toronto last month. Making a feature directorial debut with the film, Kwek previously was screenwriter on films such as Glen Goei’s The Blue Mansion and Kelvin Tong’s It’s A Great, Great World.

The fest will close with Lucky Kuswandi’s Indonesian film In The Absence Of The Sun. The film the follows three women in the megacity of Jakara, it is Kuswandi’s second feature after [link=tt...

A group of Singaporean filmmakers including Anthony Chen, Boo Junfeng, Royston Tan and Kelvin Tong has issued a statement protesting the local ban of Tan Pin Pin’s documentary To Singapore With Love.

The documentary examines the lives of Singaporean exiles, including trade unionists, student leaders and Communists, who left Singapore in the 1960s and 1970s due to their fear of being imprisoned under Singapore’s Internal Security Act.

Singapore’s Media Development Authority (Mda) classified the film yesterday as “Not allowed for all ratings”, on the grounds that it undermines national security. The classification means that the film can’t be shown or distributed in Singapore.

The group of 38 high-profile filmmakers and members of Singapore’s arts community expressed their “deep disappointment” at the Mda’s decision and called on the government body “to release their version of the events in question”, rather than banning the film outright (see full statement below).

To Singapore With Love...

Mad Men's Elizabeth Rice is set to star in The Faith of Anna Waters alongside Matthew Settle, reports Screen Daily.

According to the site, director Kelvin Tong's horror film concerns "a female crime reporter who travels from Chicago to Asia to investigate the apparent suicide of her sister. At her sister’s house she encounters a string of other bizarre suicides involving emails, internet videos and allusions to the Tower of Babel."

The post Mad Men Vet to Star in The Faith of Anna Waters appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

Elizabeth Rice (Mad Men) and Matthew Settle (Band Of Brothers) will star in Singaporean director Kelvin Tong’s English-language horror film The Faith Of Anna Waters.

The film is produced by Peter Poon, Leon Tong and Kat Goh under the Boku Films banner. Andre Morgan is executive producing through Ruddy Morgan Organization, along with Hong Kong-based Sun Entertainment Culture’s Alvin Chau and Alex Dong. Singapore’s Media Development Authority is supporting the film.

Scheduled to start shooting in early September, the film follows a female crime reporter who travels from Chicago to Asia to investigate the apparent suicide of her sister. At her sister’s house she encounters a string of other bizarre suicides involving emails, internet videos and allusions to the Tower of Babel.

The cast also includes Singapore’s Adrian Pang and Jaymee Ong, as well as Australian actors Colin Borgonon and Adina Herz. Crew includes Australian DoP Wade Muller, production designer...

Seven award-winning directors led by Royston Tan are set to create an omnibus film celebrating the 50th anniversary of Singapore and its people.

Tan is joined by Eric Khoo, director of films such as of My Magic, Jack Neo of Ah Boys To Men, Kelvin Tong of The Maid, Boo Jun Feng of Sandcastle, Tan Pin Pin of Singapore GaGa, and K Rajagopal of I Can’t Sleep Tonight.

“I like to think that the project is a microcosm of the Singapore story,” said Tan. “We all have diverse filmmaking styles, we all see different aspects of Singapore and its 50-year journey in our unique ways, yet it has given us a common sense of purpose. We hope this will shine through in the final cut

The jubilee omnibus is set for a release in the middle of 2015, and is looking to confirm an “iconic venue” for its premiere.

“Singapore and our people have influenced so many...

Seven award-winning directors led by Royston Tan are set to create an omnibus film celebrating the 50th anniversary of Singapore and its people.

Tan is joined by Eric Khoo, director of films such as of My Magic, Jack Neo of Ah Boys To Men, Kelvin Tong of The Maid, Boo Jun Feng of Sandcastle, Tan Pin Pin of Singapore GaGa, and K Rajagopal of I Can’t Sleep Tonight.

“I like to think that the project is a microcosm of the Singapore story,” said Tan. “We all have diverse filmmaking styles, we all see different aspects of Singapore and its 50-year journey in our unique ways, yet it has given us a common sense of purpose. We hope this will shine through in the final cut

The jubilee omnibus is set for a release in the middle of 2015, and is looking to confirm an “iconic venue” for its premiere.

“Singapore and our people have influenced so many...

Some quick sales news has hit our desks coming out of Cannes 2014. The Highland Group has joined forces with Anchor Bay UK to work together on several titles including the long talked about World War Dead. Read on for details.

From The Press Release

Highland Film Group has joined forces with Anchor Bay UK to introduce three genre titles to international buyers at the upcoming Marché du Film at Cannes. The slate of UK produced titles includes World War Dead, We Still Kill The Old Way, and Age Of Kill.

World War Dead stars Ray Panthaki (28 Days Later), Wendy Glenn (You’re Next) and Kacey Barnfield (Resident Evil) and is about a TV documentary team travelling to the Somme to uncover new mysteries in relation to World War I. However, what they unearth is far from a new story, but an army of the undead and a brand new war.

Exclusive: Highland Film Group has teamed up with Anchor Bay UK to handle sales on three genre titles on the Croisette.

The films are World War Dead, We Still Kill The Old Way, and Age Of Kill.

World War Dead stars Ray Panthaki, Wendy Glenn and Kacey Barnfield in the tale of a TV documentary crew who uncover an undead army while shooting on the site of the notorious Wwi battle the Somme.

Revenge thriller We Still Kill The Old Way from director Sacha Bennett follows a group of London gangsters on a vigilante killing spree when one of their own ends up dead. Ian Ogilvy, James Cosmo, Nicky Henson, Adele Silva and Dani Dyer lead the cast.

Age Of Kill centres on a disgraced black ops sniper with six hours to eliminate six targets in order to prevent the death of his kidnapped son. Martin Kemp stars and Jonathan Sothcott is the producer.

“We couldn...

Exclusive: Highland Film Group has teamed up with Anchor Bay UK to handle sales on three genre titles on the Croisette.

The films are World War Dead, We Still Kill The Old Way, and Age Of Kill.

World War Dead stars Ray Panthaki, Wendy Glenn and Kacey Barnfield in the tale of a TV documentary crew who uncover an undead army while shooting on the site of the notorious Wwi battle the Somme.

Revenge thriller We Still Kill The Old Way from director Sacha Bennett follows a group of London gangsters on a vigilante killing spree when one of their own ends up dead. Ian Ogilvy, James Cosmo, Nicky Henson, Adele Silva and Dani Dyer lead the cast.

Age Of Kill centres on a disgraced black ops sniper with six hours to eliminate six targets in order to prevent the death of his kidnapped son. Martin Kemp stars and Jonathan Sothcott is the producer.

“We couldn...

Shooting this May under the direction of Kelvin Tong is Email, a supernatural thriller starring the Twilight franchise's Nikki Reed. We've received some promo art for the film and it appropriately evokes a J-horror vibe since Email has been described as being in "the vein of The Ring and The Grudge."

The post Promo Art for the Nikki Reed-Starring Email appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

Remember a week or so ago when we got the first word on Email, starring Nikki Reed of Twilight fame? Well, with the filmmakers heading to Berlin for the European Film Market, it's gotten some brand new artwork. Check it out, and expect more on this one soon.

Writer/director Kelvin Tong’s (Rule #1) Email is being produced by Spj Enterprises, zgreen entertainment, and Boku Films. Peter Poon and Zachary Green are producing along with Leon Tong and Kat Goh in Singapore.

Jason Shuman, who produced such horror hits as The Messengers and Darkness Falls, will be executive producing with Lauren Selig. Principal photography is set to begin May 2014 in Singapore. So far Reed is the only confirmed star.

Synopsis:

In this suspenseful mystery in the vein of The Ring and The Grudge, young journalist Thea Hartley travels to Singapore to uncover the truth after her sister dies under mysterious circumstances.

Email is a horror title from director Kelvin Tong (Rule #1). This title stars Nikki Reed (Twilight) and the film is slated to shoot in Singapore May 2014. This is a Spj Enterprises, zgreen entertainment and Boku Films production. And now, the first film poster for the film has been released! The story for Email begins and ends with Thea Hartley. Hartley travels to Singapore to explore the suspicious circumstances surrounding her sister's death. A cursed email may have killed her sibling and Hartley will have to face a supernatural force, before it takes her or another victim. The graphic for the film shows the email's cursed nature. In the vein of The Ring and The Grudge, a ghost lays in wait. Blood reds in the title signal the violence which will be forthcoming. This movie poster shows that Email will be a truly terrifying experience. This title will show at the European Film Market in Berlin,...

Actress Nikki Reed (below), known best for her part as Rosalie Hale in the 'Twilight' franchise, has landed the leading role in director Kelvin Tong's new horror 'Email'. The project being described in the vein of classic J-horror's 'The Ring' and 'The Grudge' does feel like its treading very familiar ground, at least going on the synopsis. I mean cursed emails for God sake...let's hope the technology terror has more going for it than simply that. Spj Enterprises, Zgreen Entertainment and Boku Films will all co-produce the feature which is set to begin shooting this coming May in Singapore. Check out the full plot details below....

The Twilight Saga may have been a shamefully terrible chapter in teen-targeted cinema, but the series did act as a launch-pad for multiple actors and actresses, most notably Ashley Greene and Nikki Reed. Greene has demonstrated considerable acting talent in projects like Cbgb and ABC’s short-lived Pan Am, while Reed was one of the best parts of recent action fare like Catch .44 and Empire State. Greene already made her bid to become a Hollywood scream queen with 2012 flop The Apparition, and now, it’s Reed’s chance. The actress has just signed on to topline a Singapore-set horror film called Email, which will start shooting on location in Singapore this May.

Singaporean director Kelvin Tong will helm the flick for Spj Enterprises, a production company also based out of Singapore. Tong previously directed The Maid, which was widely considered to be one of the country’s first horror...

• Shia Labeouf is not retiring, it seems. The Nymphomaniac star, thrust into the spotlight recently by an ever-escalating plagiarism controversy, has signed on to Barry Levinson’s Rock the Kasbah alongside a host of high-profile names including Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Zooey Deschanel, Danny McBride, and Kate Hudson. The film follows a past-his-prime rock manager who takes his sole client on a Uso tour in Afghanistan. While in Kabul, the manager discovers a young talent and enters her into the Afghan Star contest — Afghanistan’s version of American Idol. [The Wrap]

• Bill Hader, who showed his dramatic chops in the Sundance pic The Skeleton Twins,...

Visions

Anson Mount ("Hell On Wheels") and Gillian Jacobs ("Community") are set to star in Kevin Greutert's thriller "Visions" for Blumhouse Productions.

Isla Fisher plays an expectant mother plagued by strange and terrifying visions of a sinister hooded figure only she can see when she and her husband (Mount) move to the countryside. Jacobs plays a woman who befriends Fisher's character. [Source: Deadline]

Manhattan Nocturne

Adrien Brody, Yvonne Strahovski, Campbell Scott and Jennifer Beals have hopped on board Brian DeCubellis' indie crime thriller "Manhattan Nocturne" with filming to begin in July.

Brody will portray a devoted husband and accomplished journalist who is asked by a seductive stranger (Strahovski) to dig into the unsolved murder of her husband. [Source: Variety]

Email

Nikki Reed ("Twilight") will star in Kelvin Tong's horror tale "Email" for Spj Enterprises. Peter Poon will produce and filming begins in May in Singapore.

Reed plays a young journalist who...

Nikki Reed (Twilight) will star in director Kelvin Tong's (Rule Number One), suspenseful new horror film, Email, which is being produced by Spj Enterprises, zgreen entertainment and Boku Films. Peter Poon and Zachary Green are producing along with Leon Tong and Kat Goh in Singapore. Jason Shuman, who produced such horror hits as The Messengers and Darkness Falls will be executive producing with Lauren Selig. Principal photography is set to begin May 2014 in Singapore and Highland Film Group (Hfg) will handle worldwide sales and introduce the title to buyers at Efm in Berlin.

In the vein of The Ring and The Grudge, young journalist Thea Hartley travels to Singapore to investigate the mysterious circumstances of her sister's death and discovers a string of bizarre killings involving a cursed email. Along the way she meets Ted, an ex-pat technology reporter, and together they face the supernatural forces and unravel a...

While I'm still trying to figure out just why I'm getting e-mails from No Sender dated 12/31/69 every day, there are others who are going through a great deal more than I am when it comes to EMail. Take Twilight's Nikki Reed for instance...

Reed (pictured) will star in director Kelvin Tong’s (Rule #1) suspenseful new horror film, Email, which is being produced by Spj Enterprises, zgreen entertainment, and Boku Films. Peter Poon and Zachary Green are producing along with Leon Tong and Kat Goh in Singapore.

Jason Shuman, who produced such horror hits as The Messengers and Darkness Falls, will be executive producing with Lauren Selig. Principal photography is set to begin May 2014 in Singapore, and Highland Film Group (Hfg) will handle worldwide sales and introduce the title to buyers at Efm in Berlin.

Synopsis:

In the vein of The Ring and The Grudge, young journalist Thea Hartley travels to...

The actress will star in Spj Enterprises, zgreen entertainment and Boku Films’ horror thriller. Highland Film Group handles world sales at the Efm.

Kelvin Tong will direct Email and Peter Poon and Zachary Green are producing along with Leon Tong and Kat Goh in Singapore. Jason Shuman serves as executive producer with Lauren Selig.

Principal photography is set to begin May in Singapore on the story centres of a journalist who travels to Singapore to investigate her sister’s death and discovers a cursed email.

Highland’s Berlin sales slate includes The Wright Girls and Sanctuary, both from Atlas Independent.

Twilight's Nikki Reed will star in Kelvin Tong’s horror film Email for Singaporean producer Peter Poon's Spj Enterprises. Spj is teaming with Zgreen Entertainment and Boku Films on the project, which Highland Film Group will launch at Berlin's upcoming European Film Market. Poon will produce alongside Zachary Green, Leon Tong and Kat Goh. Photos: 35 of 2014's Most Anticipated Movies: 'X-Men: Days of Future Past,' 'Mockingjay,' 'Spider-Man 2' Tong is set to start shooting in May in Singapore. In the vein of The Ring and The Grudge, Email stars Reed as a young journalist who travels

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Nikki Reed ( Twilight ) is set to headline director Kelvin Tong's ( Rule #1 ) new supernatural thriller, Email . Principal photography is scheduled to begin in May in Singapore with Highland Film Group handling worldwide sales and introducing the title to buyers at European Film Market in Berlin. Likened in tone to The Ring and The Grudge , Email follows a young journalist, Thea Hartley, who travels to Singapore to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding her sister's death, soon discovering a string of bizarre killings involving a cursed email. Along the way she meets Ted, an ex-pat technology reporter, and together they face the supernatural forces and unravel a mysterious conspiracy far bigger than they expected. Email is being produced by Spj Enterprises,...

As third-annual event kicks off welcoming 4000 buyers and sellers; organisers announce week-long event for 2014 combined with film festival and awards.

The third ScreenSingapore and 14th Asia TV Forum (Atf) opened today at the Marina Bay Sands with Singapore’s minister for communications and information Dr Yaacob Ibrahim announcing the combined event will from next year also be held in conjunction with the revamped Singapore International Film Festival and the Asian Television Awards (Ata).

“The week-long event, featuring local and international content, will be launched in end of 2014. On top of the present format of trade market, conferences, screenings and world premiere, we will introduce a new festival component, including film awards for trade professionals and public screenings for Singaporeans,” he said.

The minister anticipates the Singapore International Film Festival will help make the combined event “a window to Southeast Asian films for the world.”

“For more than 20 years, it has been bringing international films to local film buffs...

Ilo Ilo (Anthony Chen, Singapore)

Quinzaine Des RÉALISATEURS

Set in Singapore on the verge of the Asian crisis of 1997, Anthony Chen's first feature starts with a blurred shot: the back of a young boy doing something noisy and strange in front of a window. It works as a metaphor of what the film will tell: blurred reality, blurred futures, blurred conscience of the world in a young boy's mind before affection will make him grow up.

In young Jiale's middle-class family, Dad is a not too successful sales executive and Mom is a public officer, and she's expecting her second child. This is why she insists on hiring a maid. And since it is how the market goes, the maid will be Filipino. Teresa arrives in the family's small flat: not talkative, a good Catholic, keeping much to herself but frequently listening to music from home on her Walkman.

By Erin Lashley, MoreHorror.com

Since supernatural horror movies from Asia became popular worldwide, I have often heard complaints that there are too many of them and that they are too formulaic. While I agree that many fall under the second category, I don’t believe there is such a thing as too many supernatural horror movies.

What keeps a movie from becoming more of the same old “I have long black hair and I am mad at you because I am dead” stuff is fresh writing and the effective drama contained within. You have to have human drama to tell a good ghost story; otherwise you’re just watching a ghost and her effects team find creative ways to kill people. Because I am on a quest to watch every movie with a ghost in it, I can help you wade through the flood of ectoplasm.

Here are five...

Singapore has of late been turning out a number of effective supernatural outings, such as Kelvin Tong’s “The Maid” and “Rule no.1”, and now the 2009 “Blood Ties”, which marked the feature length debut of upcoming director Chai Yeewei. The film is an interesting blend of crime drama, revenge thriller and ghost chiller, making good use of Chinese folklore in a modern urban setting and exploring themes of police corruption and life after death. Chai managed to pull together an impressive cast, headed by David Leong (“Painted Skin”), Cheng Pei Pei (the Shaw Brothers sword maiden, more recently in Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”) and gangster veteran Kenneth Tsang (“A Better Tomorrow”, “The Killer”), with child actress Joey Leong carrying the film in the central role. The film revolves around the brutal murder of David Leong’s honest officer Shun, who before his death is forced to watch...

We lasst reported on Christopher Hatton's Robotropolis back in March, bringing word of the Singapore-shot cult scifi action / horror hybrid with the first image from the shoot. Backed by Kelvin Tong's Boku Films - who are also the driving force behind The Host 2 - and Blieberg Entertainment this one is aiming straight for the midnight movie crowd.A group of reporters are covering the unveiling of a new facility that is completely maintained by robot prototypes. When one of the robots goes haywire, the reporters find themselves not just reporting on the malfunction, but fighting for their lives.That first image has now been followed by a trailer featuring a great many robots doing bad things to a great many people. Take a look...

It’s somewhat of a mystery why Singaporean writer director Kelvin Tong isn’t better known than he is, having helmed one of the better modern Asian ghost films in “The Maid”, found success with romance in “Love Story”, and conquered Hong Kong with his awesomely unpredictable “Rule No.1”. For his latest outing “Kidnapper”, Tong returned to Singapore, trying something different with one of the country’s very rare hard boiled crime thrillers, co-scripting along with Ken Kwek (“The Blue Mansion”). A fast paced tale of child snatching and desperate deceptions, the film stars popular local television actor Christopher Lee (“The Shaolin Warriors”) in the lead, with Jack Lim (“Ah Long Pte Ltd”) as the ruthless villain of the title. Lee plays Lim, a taxi driver whose wife has abandoned him and his young son Wei Siang, leaving him struggling to make ends meet. His life is one day thrown...