Latest news with #MotherBhumi
Broadcast Pro
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Red Sea Fund awards nine projects post-production grants in 2025
To date, the Red Sea Fund, has supported over 280 film projects, including titles that have gone on to screen at major international festivals and reach wide audiences. The Red Sea Fund, part of the Red Sea Film Foundation, has announced nine winning projects for its first cycle of 2025 post-production grants, supporting distinctive films as they complete their final production stages. Selected projects span a diverse range of countries across the Arab world and Asia, including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, Turkey and Tunisia. The grants are designed to help these films prepare for international distribution and to promote richer, more varied storytelling from the region to audiences around the globe. Among the recipients are Promised Sky by Erige Sehiri, produced across France, Tunisia and Qatar; FUXI: Joy in Four Chapters by Jiongjiong Qiu, a collaboration between Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, France and Saudi Arabia; and Mother Bhumi by Malaysian director Keat Aun Chong. Other selected titles include Pangku (On Your Lap) from Indonesia, Ghost School from Pakistan, A Winner is Seen at the Start from Kazakhstan, The Baronnesses from Belgium, France and Luxembourg, Round 13 from Tunisia, and Veha from Turkey. Commenting on this announcement, Emad Eskandar, Head of the Red Sea Fund, said: 'These nine projects embody the richness of captivating narratives from the Arab world and Asia, and we are proud to be part of their creative journey. Last year, we expanded our scope to include Asian projects, driven by our deep belief in the immense potential of filmmakers across the continent. Today, we are witnessing the fruits of this approach through this remarkable selection of projects with unique cinematic visions.' Since its inception, the Red Sea Fund has backed more than 280 film projects, many of which have achieved recognition at major international festivals. Among its recent successes are HOBAL, which premiered at the fourth Red Sea International Film Festival and drew over 190,000 viewers in Saudi cinemas, and The Tale of Daye's Family, the opening film of the same festival edition that was later selected for the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fan Bingbing Starrer ‘Mother Bhumi' Nabbed by Rediance Ahead of Cannes Market (EXCLUSIVE)
Beijing-based sales outfit Rediance has acquired worldwide rights to 'Mother Bhumi,' the Fan Bingbing-starring drama from acclaimed Malaysian filmmaker Chong Keat Aun. The company has released an exclusive still from the production as buyers head to the upcoming Cannes Film Market. More from Variety Lloyd Lee Choi's 'Lucky Lu' Lands French Distribution Ahead of Cannes' Directors' Fortnight Premiere (EXCLUSIVE) Hubert Bals Fund Teams With Brazil's Spcine, RioFilme, Projeto Paradiso on Pioneering Development Initiative (EXCLUSIVE) Argentine Icon Diego Peretti's Directorial Debut 'Death of a Comedian' Gets First Trailer (EXCLUSIVE) The film centers on Hong Im, a widowed farmer who leads a double life – tending paddy fields by day and serving as a ritual healer for villagers by night. When confronted with revelations about her husband's death, she struggles to maintain equilibrium while seeking resolution for herself and her children. The cast also includes Taiwan's Bai Run-yin (Golden Horse winner 'Old Fox') and Hong Kong's Natalie Hsu ('Suk Mung') as Hong Im's son and daughter, respectively. Chong has established himself as a rising voice in Malaysian cinema. His debut 'The Story of Southern Islet' (2020) earned him Best New Director honors at the Golden Horse Awards and a Fipresci prize at Hong Kong International Film Festival. His follow-up, 'Snow in Midsummer' (2023), premiered at Venice and took home the Firebird Award at Hong Kong, while his most recent work 'Pavane for an Infant' bowed at Tokyo International Film Festival last year. 'We have closely followed Chong's cinematic evolution since his critically-acclaimed debut. We're also utterly captivated by Fan Bingbing's career-redefining performance through daring characterization in this film,' said Meng Xie, CEO of Rediance. 'We anticipate sharing this masterful work with global cinephiles and industry partners alike.' Fan's past credits include 'Lost in Beijing,' 'Buddha Mountain' and 'I Am Not Madame Bovary.' While Fan remains one of China's most recognizable stars, 'Mother Bhumi' sees her undergoing a physical transformation for the role. 'There is no such thing as a good or bad looking character in a movie. Even during the filming, some of my friends would not recognize me when they came to visit me,' she revealed during a press conference last year. 'I think this shows how committed the whole production team was in helping me transform into Mother Bhumi.' The film is produced by Malaysia's Janji Pictures Production and Southern Islet Pictures alongside Italy's Volos Films Italia. Producers include Wong Kew Soon ('Snow in Midsummer'), Stefano Centini ('Heads or Tails,' 'Magellan') and Zoey Teng ('Pavane for an Infant'). Walter Fasano, known for his editing work on 'Call Me by Your Name,' serves as editing consultant. At Cannes, Rediance's slate also includes Critics' Week documentary 'Imago' by Déni Oumar Pitsaev and 'Lili' by Zhaoguang Luo and Shuhan Liao in the Short Films Competition. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
