Asian Perspectives – Feature
The Myriad of Faces of The Future Challengers (Segudang Wajah Para Penantang)
The Myriad of Faces of The Future Challengers
91 minutes | 2022 | Indonesia | Documentary | Indonesian | sub. English | 13+

Schedule
XXI 4 | TUE 29 NOV | 17:45
XXI 5 | FRI 2 DEC | 20:30
Synopsis
During the leadership of President Soeharto (1966-1998) under the New Order government, Indonesian Cinema brought forth important names that are still being discussed until now. It was a period in which censorship operated firmly to regulating and maintaining the narrative that may or may not appear on the screen. That was an era when the opposition could only be represented through the perspective of the New Order regime itself, to conserve a danger of latent–a spectral enemy. However, can cinema represent the faith of its own era? Can cinema speak about what should not be expressed or has not been expressed?
Director
I Gde Mika, Yuki Aditya
Production Company
Forum Lenteng
Contact:
yukiaditya.yuki@gmail.com
Director's Profile

I Gde Mika, Yuki Aditya
I Gde Mika is a cultural worker currently studying at the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ) majoring cinema studies. He is a member of Forum Lenteng and a participant of the Milisifilem Collective. Actively in collaboration in making films with friends as a cameraman in the film "Dolo" (2020) directed by Hafiz Rancajale, as realisator with Yuki Aditya in the film "The Hypothesis of Wandering Images of Jakarta" (2021) and "The Myriad of Faces of Future Challengers" (2022).
Yuki Aditya graduated from University of Indonesia majoring in Fiscal Administration. He once worked as a Tax Auditor at a Public Accountant in Jakarta. He is now the Festival Director of ARKIPEL International Documentary and Experimental Film Festival since 2013, and also acting as producer of films produced by Forum Lenteng; "Golden Memories: Petite histoire of Indonesian Cinema" (2018), "Om Pius…This is My Home Come the Sleeping" (2019), "Dolo" (2021). Along with I Gde Mika as realisator in the films "The Hypothesis of Wandering Images of Jakarta" (2021) and "The Myriad of Faces of Future Challengers" (2022).
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Ajoomma
90 minutes | 2022 | Singapore, South Korea | Narrative
Mandarin, Korean | sub. English | 13+

Schedule
XXI 3 | SAT 3 DEC | 12:45
Synopsis
A middle-aged, Korean-drama obsessed widow from Singapore travels out of the country for the first time to Seoul, and ends up getting lost. Her journey becomes an unexpected road of self discovery, as she comes to terms with the life she truly wants for herself, beyond her roles of daughter, wife and mother.
Director
He Shuming
Production Company
Girraffe Pictures
Contact:
jing@rediancefilms.com
Director's Profile

He Shuming
He Shuming is a writer-director from Singapore. He was educated at the Puttnam School of Film and Animation, LASALLE College of The Arts in Singapore and then at the American Film Institute Conservatory (AFI), where he completed his MFA in directing. AJOOMMA is his debut feature film.
Most recently, he was conferred the Young Artist Award by the National Arts Council, one of the most distinguished honors for the arts in Singapore.
Look At Me, Touch Me, Kiss Me
114 minutes | 2022 | Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea | Narrative | Indonesian, Malay, Korean | sub. English & Korean | 13+

Schedule
XXI 4 | MON 28 NOV | 20:15
XXI 4 | WED 30 NOV | 17:00
Indonesia Premiere
Synopsis
Chapter 1: Kuala Lumpur
“Look At Me”
Nana had to work in an illegal loan company because she had a huge debt. Go-kart racing gives her a chance to break free from her miserable life. The go-kart owner Adam is attracted to Nana, and slowly the silent heart is awakened by the ripples. Pandemic makes things unpredictable, and Adam decides to help Nana pay back her debt regardless of everything.
Chapter 2: Jakarta
“Touch Me”
This is a story about Ben, a photographer-turned-bar-owner who once had a crush on Nay, a model, who had just divorced. They meet again after 5 years, finding a touch of serendipity in each other.
Chapter 3: Korea
“Kiss Me”
Gi-nam is an excavator driver, he has never kissed but is in love with a woman – So-yeon. So-yeon works for the so-called “Kiss room”. After Gi-nam finds out So-yeon is in trouble, she decides to sell her excavator to save So-yeon.
After going through many ups and downs, So-yeon never imagined that she would be able to find love, especially during this turbulent epidemic.
Director
Djenar Maesa Ayu, Ho Yuhang, Kim Tai Sik
Production Company
Sinemavio & Trimoving PicturesVLP, Happy Together Pictures, Film Line
Contact:
veralasut@vlpindonesia.com
Director's Profile

Kim Tai Sik
After majoring in film studies at Seoul Institute of the Arts, KIM went to study in Japan in 1980. After studies at Japan Institute of the Moving Image, majoring in film directing, he worked since 1986 as a coordinate producer for film, TV and commercials in Japan, Australia and Hong Kong. He was selected as the 1st Berlinale Talents at the 53rd Berlin International Film Festival for his short film 32nd DEC: Where is Mr. President? (2003). His first feature film Driving With My Wife's Lover (2007) was invited to over 30 international film festivals, including Sundance, Rotterdam IFF, and the film won nine awards. A Korean-Japanese co- production film Tokyo Taxi (2010) is his second feature. KIM had continued to expand his creative scope through his films Red Vacance Black Wedding (2011) and Heartbreak Hotel (2015). Recently, he directed the Filipino-Korean co-production film Sunshine Family (2020)

Ho Yuhang
Yuhang Ho lahir di Malaysia. Dia adalah seorang sutradara dan aktor yang terkenal berkat: "Rain Dogs太阳雨" (2006) yang memenangkan dua penghargaan: Sutradara Terbaik di Festival des 3 Continents dan Sutradara Baru Terbaik di Hong Kong Asian Film Festival. "In The End Of Daybreak 心魔" (2009) dan "Mrs K" (2016). "Folklore" (HBO horror series, 2017), "The Ghost Bride" (Netflix; 2019)

Djenar Maesa Ayu
Dikenal sebagai sastrawan, pemeran, penulis skenario, sutradara dan produser. Ia telah menerbitkan 6 buku kumpulan cerpen, sebuah novel dan menyutradarai 5 film panjang, 1 film pendek dan 1 film omnibus.
Film pertamanya, 'MEREKA BILANG, SAYA MONYET! meraih piala citra untuk Skenario Adaptasi Terbaik. Film ketiganya 'NAY' mendapat penghargaan NETPAC AWARD kategori Best Asian Feature Film di Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival 2015.
Djenar menyutradarai film pendek pertamanya 'TRIS' di tahun 2021 dan memenangkan Best Picture & Favorite Short Film IFF Melbourne Short Film Competition 2022.
Summer Holiday
96 minutes | 2022 | Bangladesh | Narrative | Bangla | sub. English | All Ages

Schedule
XXI 5 | SUN 27 NOV | 19:00
XXI 5 | TUE 29 NOV | 20:00
World Premiere
Synopsis
An eight-year-old city boy Shuvo is restricted from mixing with others. He goes to spend the summer holiday in the village with his grandmother and enjoys freedom for the first time. Here, Shuvo meets Moinna whom everybody believes is a ‘bee fated’ boy that gets attacked by the bees wherever he goes. Bitten by honey bees, recently Moinna has been captivated at home under the strict surveillance of his mother. Feeling claustrophobic, Moinna conspires with his younger brother Anaira to get out of home exploiting Shuvo. Wandering around the village with Moinna, Shuvo starts discovering a new world but suddenly Moinna is found missing.
Director
Muhammad Nuruzzaman
Production Company
Cine Maker
Contact:
mnzaamaan@yahoo.com
Director's Profile

Muhammad Nuruzzaman
"Bangladeshi writer-producer-director Mohammad Nuruzzaman is a graduate of architecture. ""Summer Holiday"" is his debutant full-length feature film.
So far he produced three short films ""Junction"" (2010), ""The Journey"" (2014), ""A Family"" (2015) and a documentary ""Image of A City"" (2021), and he directed all but ""A Family"".
His second feature film ""Mastul"" is in the post-production phase and recently started shooting the third one, ""Deep Inside The Soul"". Besides, he produced the feature film ""The Instinct"" (2022) that achieved both NETPAC Jury and Silver Saint George award at Moscow International Film Festival 2022"
Stone Turtle
92 minutes | 2022 | Malaysia | Narrative | Malay, Indonesian, Mandarin | sub. English | 17+

Schedule
XXI 4 | WED 30 NOV | 14:45
XXI 4 | THU 1 DEC | 19:30
Synopsis
Zahara, a stateless refugee, lives on a small remote island in Malaysia, where she makes a living selling turtle eggs. One day, Samad, claiming to be a university researcher, visits the island, wanting to employ Zahara to show him around. As the day goes on, Zahara and Samad become entangled in a dangerous dance of duplicity and deception.
Director
Woo Ming Jin
Production Company
Greenlight Picture
Contact:
edmund@edmundyeo.com
Director's Profile

Woo Ming Jin
One of the leading voices of the Malaysian New Wave, director Woo Ming Jin’s is the first Malaysian director in history to represent the country in the ‘Big Three’ International Film Festivals: Cannes, Berlin and Venice Film Festival. Woo’s first film "Monday Morning Glory" (2005) having been selected to Berlin. His second "Elephant and the Sea" (2007) won awards in Torino and Spain. His third film "Woman on Fire Looks for Water" (2009) is only the second Malaysian feature film ever selected for Venice Orrizonti section, while "Tiger Factory" (2010) was only the third Malaysian film officially selected for Cannes.
Neighbours
124 minutes | 2021 | Switzerland - Kurdistan | Narrative | Kurdish, Arabic, Hebrew | sub. English | 13+

Schedule
XXI 5 | MON 28 NOV | 20:30
XXI 4 | WED 30 NOV | 20:45
Indonesia Premiere
Synopsis
With a fine sense of humor and satire, the film tells of a childhood, which, between dictatorship and dark drama, also has its light moments. How much friendship, love and solidarity are possible in times of repression and despotism?
Director
Mano Khalil
Production Company
Frame Film GmbH
SRF Swiss Television
ARTE G.E.I.E.
Contact:
mano.khalil@bluemail.ch
Locarno International Film Festival 2021
Official Selection
Shanghai International Film Festival 2021
Official Selection
Director's Profile

Mano Khalil
Born in Syria, Mano Khalil is Kurdish director/scriptwriter. He studied directing in Czechoslovakia and earned his MBA in Film & TV Directing. He moved to Switzerland, in 1996, and started his filmmaking journey as a director on several short films. He made numerous award-winning documentaries, including "Triumph of Iron" and "The Place Where God Sleeps." In 2003, he directed his feature debut "Colorful Dreams", followed by many significant films, including "The Bee Keeper", "Die Schwalbe" and "Hafis & Mara". His most recent film is "Neighbors"
Maika: The Girl From Another Galaxy
105 minutes | 2022 | Vietnam | Narrative
Vietnamese | sub. English | All Ages

Schedule
XXI 5 | THU 1 DEC | 20:00
XXI 5 | FRI 2 DEC | 15:45
Synopsis
After losing his mother to illness and his best friend to an unexpected move, a young boy discovers a crashed spaceship and makes a new friend with awesome powers (although she does need a little help with her earthly social skills). Together, they embark on a zany, fun-filled adventure while taking on the bad guys and helping Maika find her way home.
Director
Ham Tran
Production Company
BHD Films
EAST Films
IFA Media
Contact:
oldphotofilms@gmail.com
Sundance Film Festival 2022
Official Selection
Sydney Film Festival 2022
Official Selection
Director's Profile

Ham Tran
Ham Tran received his MFA in Directing from the UCLA School of Film and Television, where his short
films won numerous accolades including the title of National Finalist for the Student Academy Awards®
for his short films "The Prescription" (2000) and "Pomegranate" (2001). Tran's thesis film "The Anniversary" was top ten for the 2004 Academy Awards® for Best Live Action Short. In the spring of 2006 Tran premiered his first feature film, Journey From The Fall", at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. This film went on to receive 16 international film festival awards for Best Feature Film.
Jiseok
117 minutes | 2022 | South Korea | Documentary | Korean | sub. English | 13+

Schedule
XXI 4 | THU 1 DEC | 14:30
XXI 4 | FRI 2 DEC | 15:30
Indonesia Premiere
Synopsis
We will never forget you.
In May 2017, KIM Jiseok, a head programmer at the Busan International Film Festival, suddenly died of a heart attack during a business trip to the Cannes Film Festival. Over his unexpected death, his longtime friends and colleagues, directors, actors, and festival officials, look back on their happy memories with him, which was very special and full of passion for movies.
Director
Kim Young-jo
Production Company
Soulfilm
Contact:
alice@mline-distribution.com
Busan International Film Festival 2022
Official Selection
Director's Profile

Kim Young-jo
Kim Young-jo graduated at the Department of Film and Theatre from the Kyungsung University and studied Documentary at the University Paris 8. His filmography includes "My Family Portrait" (2007), "Taebaek", "Land of Embers" (2008), "The Last Miner" (2008), "A Fishbone in the Throat" (2009), "The Hunt" (2013), and "Punch Bowl" (2018). "My Family Portrait" won the Jury Special Prize at the Millenium Documentary Film Festival in Brussels.
Blood Flower
102 minutes | 2022 | Malaysia | Narrative | Malay | sub. English | 17+

Schedule
XXI 4 | SUN 27 NOV | 20:45
XXI 4 | MON 28 NOV | 15:15
Asian Premiere
Synopsis
Iqbal, an apprentice faith healer and exorcist with psychic abilities, is tormented by visions of the dead and spirits from other dimensions. When a malicious spirit begins to wreak havoc around him, Iqbal is forced to confront his supernatural gifts to save his family and friends.
Director
Dain Said
Production Company
Apparat, D’Ayu Pictures, Skop Productions
Contact:
nansolo@gmail.com
Sitges – Catalonian International Film Festival 2022
Official Selection
Stockholm International Film Festival 2022
Official Selection
Director's Profile

Dain Said
Dain Said is an award-winning Malaysian writer, visual artist and filmmaker whose stories explore themes of memory, cultural hybridity and the human condition. His versatile directing career spans features, creative documentaries and video installations that have been produced and screened internationally. His critically acclaimed features, Bunohan (2011), Interchange (2016), and Dukun (2018), have led to Dain’s recognition as a significant voice in contemporary Malaysian cinema. He co-founded production company, Apparat, in 2009. Dain served as the festival director for the 2022 SeaShorts Film Festival. He is a member of the After Monsoon artist collective who will be staging their first group exhibition in December 2022.