Thursday July 23, 2009
First Malaysian gunning for top prize in European film fest
By SETO KIT YAN
PETALING JAYA: Independent filmmaker Ho Yuhang’s At the End of Daybreak will create history as the first Malaysian film to be in competition for the Golden Leopard Award at the 62nd Locarno International Film Festival.
In an e-mail interview, the Malaysian filmmaker said he was “very, very happy” to learn that his film was selected to compete for the top prize in the international competition category at the prestigious European film festival.
“My producer Lorna Tee sent me a text message from Hong Kong to say we’re in,” said Ho.
Made in Malaysia: Chui getting his hair trimmed by fellow actress Kara who plays his mother in Ho’s new picture. — Picture courtesy of DANNY LIM Elated that his film would be exposed to a wider audience, Ho said: “In making this film, I’ve done a lot of rethinking about my own film-making abilities and also the sort of stories I want to tell in some of my upcoming projects.”
Held annually in the city of Locarno, Switzerland since 1946, the festival is one of the oldest in the world.
This year’s festival will run from Aug 5 to 25 and will feature a Manga Night, a section dedicated to Japanese animation in line with its focus on the impact of manga on Western cinema.
The festival has in the past showcased a special Malaysian programme featuring 10 films, and Yasmin Ahmad’s Muallaf made its world premiere there alongside a retrospective of her films.
Yet, no Malaysian film has been selected to compete until Ho’s latest full-length feature.
At the End of Daybreak is a Malaysia-South Korea-Hong Kong co-production filmed entirely in Malaysia, mainly Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur.
Its main cast features two Hong Kong lead actors – Kara Wai Ying Hung and Chui Tien You. Local leads include Jane Ng Meng Hui, Chew Kin Wah and Mandy Chong.
The film, Ho’s fourth full-length feature, will compete in the international competition category against 17 other films from 15 countries, including seven first works.
Ho’s previous film, Rain Dogs, competed in the Venice Film Festival’s Horizon section.
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