Daniel Hui, Martika Ramirez Escobar Projects to Receive Grants From Purin Pictures

As a film enthusiast who has traversed countless reels of celluloid, I find myself consistently inspired by the vibrant and diverse stories that emerge from Southeast Asia’s independent cinema scene. The latest round of grants awarded by Purin Pictures is yet another testament to this rich tapestry of talent, weaving together tales that resonate deeply with our shared human experiences.


In their latest funding cycle for the fall season, Purin Pictures – a charitable organization dedicated to fostering independent films across Southeast Asia – announced the distribution of $170,000 in grants.

The panel selected three fiction pieces and two documentary concepts to receive funding for production, and one more fiction project for assistance during the post-production phase.

Here are three upcoming films that tell captivating stories:

Two documentaries, “Black River,” helmed by director Tran Phuong Thao, and “When a Poet Goes to War,” by Aung Naing Soe of Myanmar, are each receiving $15,000 in production funding.

“The film ‘Black River,’ produced by Swann Dubus via Varan Vietnam, depicts merchants navigating temporary markets on traditional boats within the lands of Vietnam’s indigenous communities. In contrast, ‘Poet Goes to War’ tells the story of a Burmese poet and his companions who resort to armed struggle against their country’s military junta following unsuccessful peaceful protests aimed at the dictator.

Purin Pictures contributed $50,000 towards the post-production phase of “Finding Ramble,” a first film directed by seasoned TV and stage directors Megat Sharizal. The movie portrays an impersonator of P. Ramlee, Malaysia’s most recognized film director, who leads a double life amidst financial struggles and attempts to repay debts while saving his sister from danger. Syahid Johan is in charge of production through Playground Film.

Independent filmmaking in Asia is increasingly relying on grants and alternative financing methods such as soft money schemes for its financial needs.

Anocha Suwichakornpong, one of the directors at Purin Pictures, mentioned that we’ve received more projects than usual from Malaysia this time around. Interestingly, out of these two selected films, both are homages to P. Ramlee, a renowned Malaysian filmmaker. One is marketed as a ‘daylight horror’, featuring a creature that’s half-man and half-tiger causing havoc in the backdrop of Kuala Lumpur’s skyscraping development. The other is a comedy-drama set in the 1970s, focusing on an impersonator and his encounters with local gangsters.

Regarding the topic when a poet enters warfare, Suwichakornpong noted that this was an urgent undertaking, and the panel concurred that immediate financial support was necessary.

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2024-11-01 09:50