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Netflix is one of the most prolific streaming platforms, with new additions every week. The star-studded titles receive a lot of publicity, but many of the releases become silent hits, especially foreign titles.

A Normal Woman is one of them. Netflix has stepped up its foreign titles after Squid Game became a worldwide phenomenon, and most of them have turned into major hits, and the new psychological thriller continues the same trend. Released on the platform on Jul. 24, A Normal Woman only needed three days to make its impact on the charts and become one of the top streaming movies in the world, FlixPatrol reports.

The Indonesian psychological drama is currently in third place on Netflix's Top 10 movies worldwide, just behind Happy Gilmore 2, which just premiered on the platform on Jul. 25, and Kpop Demon Hunters. It sits just above the original Happy Gilmore and the recent German hit Brick.

There is a particular cruelty in the promise of perfection. For Milla, the protagonist of Lucky Kuswandi’s A Normal Woman, life is a pristine surface. She and her husband Jonathan are the aspirational faces of Eternity Life, a supplement brand that trades in the very fantasy that holds her captive.

They inhabit a world of clean lines and social graces, a life built on the brittle foundation of image. The first fissure in this facade appears not as a dramatic explosion but as a quiet, insidious suggestion: that her daughter, Angel, must be surgically altered to fit the family’s aesthetic. This proposition, an act of casual violence against her child’s form, becomes the catalyst.

A strange malady takes hold, an uncontrollable itch, a rash that blooms across her skin. Milla’s body begins to speak a language her conscious mind cannot, initiating a terrifying pilgrimage into the integrity of her own sanity.

Every woman is expected to give up a part of herself just to be accepted by society, and even in 2025, that does not feel like an exaggerated or outdated statement, sadly. A Normal Woman is a sharp reflection of how fragile a woman’s place in the world still is, no matter how privileged, successful, or seemingly perfect her life may appear. The film is a powerful reminder that when things begin to fall apart, society rarely stands by the woman. Instead, she is blamed, silenced, or expected to quietly fix everything on her own. And the same rules simply do not apply to men, who continue to be protected, praised, and forgiven far more easily. In a world that demands perfection from women and excuses cruelty in men, this film lays bare the emotional cost of simply trying to be accepted as normal.

Marissa Anita as Milla

Journalist-turned-actor Marissa...

Women have been groomed for centuries to be beautiful enough to be wanted and quiet enough to be controlled. It’s never been about who they are, only how well they perform for the male gaze and obey the man beside them. No matter how much they go through, they’re never not under scrutiny. Taking that into context, Lucky Kuswandi’s A Normal Woman is a heartbreaking tale of a woman thrown to the wolves. What makes it hit even harder is how unapologetically the film exposes the very people who let women like Milla bleed in silence. The film shows how wealthy elites hide behind polished facades, while ordinary women are the ones silenced, shaped, and groomed to maintain those illusions until one of them finally decides to break free.

Spoilers Ahead

What happens in the movie?

Milla is married to Jonathan, a wealthy influencer-celebrity, and while they...

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A Normal Woman is a psychological thriller drama film directed by Lucky Kuswandi, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Andri Cung. The Netflix film follows Milla, a socialite who mysteriously develops a rash, and as it spreads, she begins fearing getting rejected by her own husband and family. A Normal Woman stars Marissa Anita, Dion Wiyoko, Giselle Anastasia, Mima Shafa, and Widyawati. So, if you loved the thrilling psychological story, intense drama, and compelling characters in Netflix’s A Normal Woman, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

Safe (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Sony Pictures Classics

Safe is a psychological thriller drama film written and directed by Todd Haynes. The 1995 film follows Carol White, a suburban housewife leading an ordinary life as she inexplicably develops various allergies. Things soon get worse as her health...

Netflix’s latest international feature, A Normal Woman, presents a chilling proposition: that the lives we build, and the very identities we inhabit, are far more fragile than we imagine. The Indonesian psychological thriller introduces Milla, a Jakarta socialite whose meticulously constructed world begins to disintegrate when she develops a mysterious, undiagnosed illness. This affliction becomes the catalyst for a harrowing descent into paranoia and alienation. As doctors fail to provide answers and her family’s support crumbles, Milla is forced to confront the unnerving reality of a body and a life that no longer feel like her own. Directed by one of Indonesia’s most distinctive cinematic voices, Lucky Kuswandi, and anchored by a compelling lead performance from Marissa Anita, the film uses its 110-minute runtime to dissect the concept of normalcy itself. When the external signifiers of her “perfectly ‘normal’ life” are stripped away, Milla begins to actively sabotage what remains,...

Netflix has revealed its slate of original titles from Indonesia and Thailand set to premiere in 2025, including a series from the team behind box office phenomenon How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies.

Thai series Mad Unicorn follows a reformed rural street thug who dives into the express delivery industry to challenge a business mogul who once betrayed him and goes on to become the country’s first “unicorn” startup.

It marks the series directorial debut of Nottapon Boonprakob, who co-wrote Sundance 2021 award-winner One For The Road, and is executive produced by Jira Maligool and Vanridee Pongsittisak – the team behind...

Netflix has revealed its slate of original series and films from Thailand and Indonesia set to premiere throughout 2025, as the streaming service continues to invest in Southeast Asian content at a time when “the competition is pulling back,” according to Minyoung Kim, VP of Netflix Content.

The Thai slate features nine titles, following what Kim describes as “eight groundbreaking local productions that captivated audiences across Thailand and beyond” in 2024. The Thai lineup kicks off with “Dalah: Death and the Flowers” on Feb. 27, a high-society murder mystery starring Urassaya Sperbund. The series, helmed by directors Thanika Jenjesda and Alisa Pien, follows a mysterious floral designer who becomes entangled in the suspicious murder of a prime minister candidate on the eve of his wedding, with executive producer Prabda Yoon overseeing the production.

Genre offerings feature prominently in the Thai slate, including “Ziam,” a zombie action thriller directed by Kulp Kaljareuk, starring Prin Suparat...

Continuing its run of slate launches globally, Netflix unveiled new Indonesian originals premiering on its platform this year.

The streamer is working on its first collaboration with director and comedian Ernest Prakasa, titled The Actor (Lupa Daratan). The comedy-drama film is about an egocentric actor who is on the cusp of landing the lead role in a prestige biopic, but suddenly finds himself stripped of his acting abilities. The film stars Vino G. Bastian, Agus Kuncoro and Dea Panendra.

Netflix will also launch its first zombie film from Indonesia, The Elixir, from accomplished horror director Kimo Stamboel. Previously announced with the working title of Abadi Nan Jaya, the film tells the story of a potion that ends up triggering a zombie outbreak due to the ambition of a herbal medicine company’s owner. The Elixir stars Donny Damara, Mikha Tambayong, Eva Celia, Dimas Anggara, Kiki Narendra and Marthino Lio.

The...

It seems that with the toning down of censorship in Indonesia, filmmakers are now free(er) to deal with issues that could not be touched before, such as female desire, the harshness of the school system and the blight of social media, through realistic approaches. The recent “Like & Share” and “Photocopier” are two of the most renowned samples, with Lucky Kuswandi's latest work, “Dear David” also moving in the same direction.

Click on the image below to follow our Tribute to Netflix

Laras, despite being the second child of a poor family along with her brother and mother, is the student body president at an expensive private school, which she is able to attend due to a scholarship. Both the aforementioned facts (that she is poor and a straight A student) have not helped her in the school environment, with her frequently getting bullied, even more so since she is the principal,...

Dear David is a drama film directed by Lucky Kuswandi starring Shenina Cinnamon.

This high-school adolescent movie comes from Indonesia… It will not be a film that goes down in the history of movie making and doesn´t teach us anything new that we don´t already know: all over the world people make movies about teens, some have charm and others don´t.

This is one of the movies that doesn´t have any.

About the Movie Dear David (2023)

A love-struck teenage girl, in high school, more or less risqué fantasies and your diary used to be caught and now they catch your files. Nothing new under the sun on a planet Earth in which adolescents get silly, have pimples, flirt and make mistakes… and that is how the human race goes on, miraculously, based on these mistakes transformed in celluloid (or mobile phone files in this day and age) which,...

Indonesian action comedy The Big 4, directed by Timo Tjahjanto, has entered Netflix’s Global Non-English Film chart at number two for the week December 12-18 with 16.4 million hours viewed.

The Netflix Original has also entered the Top 10 Country Film list in 53 countries, including Indonesia where it is the number one film. Spanish drama God’s Crooked Lines, directed by Oriol Paulo, is currently the number one global non-English film in its second week of release.

“What a great honor to have my work recognized across the globe, a particularly Indonesian story that’s close to my heart,” said Tjahjanto. “It is thrilling to witness how the story can resonate and travel the world, which is made possible by Netflix.”

The Big 4 revolves around a by-the-book female detective who investigates the death of her father and follows a clue to a remote tropical island, only to find out his true...

International Film Festival Rotterdam has unveiled its selection of 20 feature film projects and five immersive projects for the 40th edition of CineMart, the festival’s co-production market, which runs from Jan. 29 to Feb. 1. Following two online editions, the market is hosted in-person for the first time since 2020.

Filmmakers from Indonesia, Paraguay, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ukraine are among the lineup, which features subjects such as hip-hop, migration and gender fluidity, as well as a cowboy.

Head of IFFR Pro, Inke Van Loocke, said: “In fragmented times, bringing together incredible filmmakers and projects from so many different territories continues to be an invaluable contribution to filmmaking across the world.

“Together with producers in the Rotterdam Lab, filmmakers in the selection, and our wider press and industry family, it will be a heartwarming feeling to experience the buzz of a proper IFFR in De Doelen again.”

Sweden’s Plattform...

20 features and five immersive projects will be presented at the co-production market.

International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has selected 20 feature projects for the 40th edition of its CineMart co-production market, including Eldorado, the next feature from The Unknown Saint director Alaa Eddine Aljem.

The project follows a group of migrants seeking to reach the secret utopian island of Eldorado, who actually end up in a factory of the same name that produces tomato sauce.

Scroll down for the full CineMart 2023 selection

The project is being produced by Francesca Duca for Morocco’s Le Moindre Geste.

Aljem’s debut feature The...

Makbul Mubarak’s “Autobiography” has won Best Asian Film, the top prize at the Singapore International Film Festival’s Silver Screen Awards, continuing its award-winning spree.

The film made a winning debut at Venice earlier this year and went on to win prizes at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Golden Horse, Marrakech, QCity, Jogja-netpac, Stockholm and Tokyo Filmex.

The jury, which included filmmakers Lav Diaz, Ritu Sarin and Kim Soyoung and New York Film Festival artistic director Dennis Lim, commended the film’s “control and clarity of vision” and praised it for being a “vivid character study, a powerful allegory of national trauma, an urgent dissection of the fascist mindset and how it persists,” in their citation.

The award comes with a cash prize of SGD8,000 and an online, audio post and Dcp package, audio final mix and Dcp feature worth SGD45,000 from Mocha Chai Laboratories.

“We celebrate cinema tonight despite motherfucker Putin,...

Streaming giant staged its first-ever Indonesian slate event.

Netflix has announced its most ambitious slate of upcoming Indonesian films and series from local directors including Timo Tjahjanto, Kamila Andini and Joko Anwar.

The line-up of three features and four series were unveiled at Netflix’s first-ever Indonesian slate event, held in Jakarta, with the local-language original set for release in 2022 and 2023.

First up is feature The Big 4, marking the first action comedy from Timo, who is one half of the Mo Brothers known for their action thrillers Killers and Headshot. In the upcoming film, set for release toward the end of this year,...

Netflix on Friday announced a slate of upcoming films and TV series from Indonesia. The company says this is its most ambitious outreach in the populous and influential Southeast Asian country.

The seven new titles span sci-fi thriller, comedy and period drama genres and involve big name creators Joho Anwar, Timo Tjahjanto (who is also part of the creative duo Mo Brothers) and Kamila Andini. They were announced at an in-person event in Jakarta called Waktu Netflix Indonesia (which translates as ‘Time for Netflix Indonesia).

The company said that the slate reflects its “commitment to helping the [Indonesian] industry build compelling content from the country and taking these stories to the world.”

Tjahjanto has signed a multi-project deal with Netflix. His upcoming action-comedy film “The Big 4” will upload by the end of the year. It tells the story of a by-the-book female detective who teams up with a group of down-on-their-luck...

Netflix has announced its biggest slate of Indonesian projects to date, with seven new films and TV series from leading local talents including Timo Tjahjanto (The Night Comes For Us), Joko Anwar (Impetigore) and Kamila Andini.

Tjahjanto is directing his first action comedy film for Netflix, The Big 4, about a female detective who teams up with a group of assassins to investigate her father’s murder. Known internationally for horror and action films, also including cult favorites Headshot and May The Devil Take You, Tjahjanto has signed a multi-project deal with Netflix.

Anwar, also known internationally for stylish action and horror movies, is working on a sci-fi thriller series, Nightmares And Daydreams, for Netflix. The series has multiple storylines about ordinary people encountering strange phenomena. “Indonesia is so full of unique and extraordinary stories. I’m always excited to have the chance to bring these stories to a wider audience,...

Photo: ‘Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens'/Netflix Welcome To New York New to Netflix this week is an Indonesian dramedy from director Lucky Kuswandi, ‘Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens’ or just ‘Ali & the Queens’ depending on your region. The film follows young Ali, played wonderfully Iqbaal Dhiafakhri Ramadhan, who after the death of his father travels from his home in Indonesia to New York City in search of his estranged mother who left when he was a young boy. While in New York, Ali meets a group of four women in Queens who befriend him and aid him in the search for his mother. ‘Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens’ is an incredibly heartfelt and sweet film that is full of laughs and tear-jerking moments alike. With great writing, endearing and well-rounded characters, and terrific performances, I found myself smiling more often than not at the film despite a few shortcomings. No matter its missteps,...

"I hope we can be together again. And hopefully soon." Netflix has unveiled a new trailer for an Indonesian indie comedy titled Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens, which is the final release title after switching between Ali & The Queens, or Ratu Ratu Queens. After his father's passing, a teenager from Indonesia sets out for New York City in search of his estranged mother and soon finds love and connection in unexpected places. He discovers that there are many different ways to finding the real meaning of family. The film stars Iqbaal Ramadhan as Ali, along with Nirina Zubir, Tika Panggabean, Welas Asri, Happy Salma, Marissa Anita, and Aurora Ribero. This looks charming and amusing, and I dig all the little hand-drawn touches. Another story of leaving your home country and then reconnecting in unexpected ways. This is worth a look. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Lucky Kuswandi's Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens,...

The Naff genre film project market that is attached to the BiFan fantasy festival in South Korea will expand to 40 projects at its upcoming July edition.

The 25th edition of the festival will overlap with Cannes, running July 8-18, 2021, with both online and offline screenings, as well as in person audience events, while Naff (July 8-13) will be held as a virtual event for the second successive year.

Naff organizers said that they had increased the number of selections from 30 last year to 40 this time, hailing from 29 countries and territories. These are spread across multiple different sections including the main It Project cluster, project Spotlight Korea, Works in Progress and those with partner events Nordic Genre Invasion, Blood Window and Fantastic 7. For the first time, the market has been opened to series, reflecting the impact of streaming services on the Asian production industry.

The lineup contains many familiar names from...

“Her Lullaby” from Hong Kong and “The Catch” from India were the winners of the top fiction prizes at the 2021 edition of the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum.

A total of 17 cash and in-kind prizes worth a combined Hk$1,200,000 were awarded at the conclusion of the three day project market, which was operated in parallel with the FilMart rights market.

Haf returned to its regular March slot after the 2020 edition was first delayed until August, and then went wholly online. The 2021 round showcased a total of 48 projects, including 20 works-in-progress.

Organizers report that 2021 edition attracted 7% more registered participants than the first virtual edition last year, and an substantial 80% increase in the number of online meetings arranged between producers and industry professionals.

“Learning from last year’s experience, our team has worked hard to come up with a more efficient and user-friendly online platform, and I am encouraged to see the market’s enthusiastic response,...

Indonesian director Lucky Kuswandi’s “108 Days” has all the ingredients of an explosive story. It probes into a school scandal that kindles national outrage, homophobic and racist sentiments, pseudo-nationalism and anti-foreigner rhetoric – all of which are widely in evidence across Asia today.

The project, which is being pitched for the first time at the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf), is a fictional drama. But it draws on several recent court cases, where truth and facts took a backseat to trial by public opinion.

The story kicks off with the accusation that an expatriate teacher had sexually assaulted a pupil. It ruins the reputation of the school and the teacher, sparks ever more lurid accusations and media involvement. Without evidence, the police keep the openly gay teacher in jail for nearly four months while they look to benefit from a hefty lawsuit. And only one detective believes that the teacher might be innocent.

The Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf) today unveils the lineup for its 19th edition (HAF19), with 29 projects from established Asian directors and producers such as Hur Jin-Ho, Kawase Naomi, Ning Hao, Ogigami Naoko, Wang Bing, Yee Chih-Yen, emerging filmmakers like Cai Chengjie, Oliver Chan, Roya Sadat, Yang Mingming, as well as nine first-feature directors.

Returning to its regular March slot, HAF19 will run concurrently with the 25th Hong Kong Filmart (Filmart) from 15 to 17 March. It will again take place online following Haf’s first-ever virtual edition held in August 2020.

“Despite the challenging circumstances brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, Haf remains strongly committed to filmmakers,” Haf director Jacob Wong said. “We will have our dedicated online meeting platform this year for accredited Haf and Filmart participants to schedule and conduct meetings directly. It’s hassle-free and user-friendly, requiring no download or additional log-on.”

HAF19 selected the 29 projects, including nine documentaries,...

Line-up includes nine documentaries and nine first-time feature directors.

The Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf) has announced the 29 projects selected for this year’s edition, including established Asian directors and producers such as Hur Jin-Ho, Naomi Kawase and Ning Hao, as well as emerging filmmakers and nine first-time feature directors.

Returning to its regular March slot, Haf will take place online from March 15-17, coinciding with Filmart Online, which runs March 15-18. Haf and Filmart also took place virtually in August 2020.

“Despite the challenging circumstances brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, Haf remains strongly committed to filmmakers,” said Haf director Jacob Wong.

“In the Absence of the Sun”, Lucky Kuswandi’s second feature film, won him the Best Director Award from the Indonesian Film Director’s Club, screened at a plethora of festivals all over the world, and established him as one of the most promising new directors of Indonesian cinema.

The script revolves around three women living in Jakarta, who spend an equally meaningful night in the capital of Indonesia, as they define both their pasts and their futures. Gia is a 32-year-old filmmaker who has just returned from New York, and tries to readapt to her place of birth. She decides to call Naomi, a woman whom she used to live with in New York, and seems to be more than a friend, and the two of them go out for a drink. They end up meeting in a high class, but very pretentious bar-restaurant that has a dress code...

Campaign aimed at raising $127,000 (£95,000) to fund technology improvements, product development and marketing for world cinema VOD platform.

UK-based VOD platform FilmDoo has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs and raised two thirds of its target within one week.

The campaign is aiming to raise $127,000 (£95,000) to fund technology improvements, product development and marketing, and has so far raised more than $80,000 (£60,000) from 33 investors.

Seedrs is a platform that allows UK investors to participate in the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme that offers generous tax deductions and other financial incentives for investors. See the FilmDoo campaign here: www.seedrs.com/filmdoo.

Launched at the Cannes Film Festival last year, FilmDoo streams world cinema for a global audience. The platform currently has a library of nearly 1,000 features and shorts from over 20 countries, including award-winning indie films such as God Loves The Fighter from Trinidadian filmmaker Damian Marcano and In The Absence Of The Sun (pictured) from Indonesian director Lucky Kuswandi.

The platform...

It’s aimed at raising $127,000 (£95,000) to fund technology improvements, product development and marketing,

UK-based VOD platform FilmDoo has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs and raised two thirds of its target within one week.

The campaign is aiming to raise $127,000 (£95,000) to fund technology improvements, product development and marketing, and has so far raised more than $80,000 (£60,000) from 33 investors.

Seedrs is a platform that allows UK investors to participate in the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme that offers generous tax deductions and other financial incentives for investors. See the FilmDoo campaign here: www.seedrs.com/filmdoo.

Launched at the Cannes Film Festival last year, FilmDoo streams world cinema for a global audience. The platform currently has a library of nearly 1,000 features and shorts from over 20 countries, including award-winning indie films such as God Loves The Fighter from Trinidadian filmmaker Damian Marcano and In The Absence Of The Sun (pictured) from Indonesian director Lucky Kuswandi.

The platform...

Indian filmmaker Gurvinder Singh’s The Fourth Direction won the top award of best film at the 26th Singapore International Film Festival’s Silver Screen Awards.

Japan’s Ryusuke Hamaguchi was named best director for Happy Hour, while an ensemble Turkish cast was awarded best performance for their roles in Paruk Kacihafizoglu’s Snow Pirates.

A special mention was given to Avishai Sivan’s Tikkun although its public screening was cancelled as part of the festival’s long-standing policy not to screen censored films.

The Israeli production, which touches on the nature of sexuality, life and death, received an “R21 to be passed with cuts” rating from Singapore’s Media Development Authority. It continued to compete at the Silver Screen Awards through a closed-door jury screening.

Other awards to be presented at the Silver Screen Awards ceremony on Saturday night (Dec 5) at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands included an honorary award for Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf and an...

Indian filmmaker Gurvinder Singh’s The Fourth Direction won the top award of best film at the 26th Singapore International Film Festival’s Silver Screen Awards.

Japan’s Ryusuke Hamaguchi was named best director for Happy Hour, while an ensemble Turkish cast was awarded best performance for their roles in Paruk Kacihafizoglu’s Snow Pirates.

A special mention was given to Avishai Sivan’s Tikkun although its public screening was cancelled as part of the festival’s long-standing policy not to screen censored films. The Israeli production, which touches on the nature of sexuality, life and death, received an “R21 to be passed with cuts” rating from Singapore’s Media Development Authority. It continued to compete at the Silver Screen Awards through a closed-door jury screening.

Other awards to be presented at the Silver Screen Awards ceremony on Saturday night (Dec 5) at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands included an honorary award for Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf and an...

The complete lineups for the Directors' Fortnight and Critics' Week sidebars at Cannes have been announced.Directors' FORTNIGHTOpening Film: In the Shadow of Women (Philippe Garrel)A Perfect Day (Fernando León de Aranoa)Beyond My Grandfather Allende (Marcia Tumbutti)Arabian Nights (Miguel Gomes)Les Cowboys (Thomas Bidegain)Embrace the Serpent (Ciro Guerra)Fatima (Philippe Faucon)Green Room (Jeremy Saulnier)Much Loved (Nabil Ayouch)Mustang (Deniz Gamze Ergüven)Peace to Us in Our Dreams (Sharunas Bartas)Songs My Brothers Taught Me (Chloé Zhao)The Here After (Magnus von Horn)The Brand New Testament (Jaco Van Dormael)My Golden Days (Arnaud Despleschin)Special Screening: Yakuza Apocalypse: The Great War of the Underworld (Takashi Miike)Closing Film: Dope (Rick Famuyiwa)Shorts:Blue Thunder (Jean-Marc E. Roy & Philippe David Gagné)Calme ta joie (Emmanuel Laskar)The Broken Past (Martín Morgenfeld & Sebastián Schjaer)Kung Fury (David Sandberg[/link])Pitchoune (Reda Kateb)Trials, Exorcisms (Susana Nobre)Pueblo...

Guests include John Woo, Zhang Ziyi, Juliette Binoche, Cheng Pei Pei, Tong Dawei, Chen Bolin and Nastassja Kinski.

At the 25th Singapore International Film Festival, Indian justice system drama Court won Best Film and Best Director for Chaitanya Tamhane at the Silver Screen Awards yesterday (Dec 13).

Earlier this year at the Venice Film Festival, the film also picked up Best Film in the Orrizonti section and the Lion of the Future - Luigi de Laurentiis award for a debut film.

The Silver Screen Awards jury, headed by Wang Xiaoshuai, stated: “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. A brilliant achievement.”

The Silver Screen Awards this year has two categories - the Asian Feature Film Competition and the inaugural Southeast Asian Short Film Competition. (See below for...

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...

World premieres from Goupil, Li, De La Cruz, Yeo, Yoshida and more.Scroll down for Competition line-up

The 27th Tokyo International Film Festival (Tiff) (Oct 23-31) has announced the rest of its line-up with a Competition selection that includes world premieres such as Romain Goupil’s French film The Days Come and Li Ruijun’s Chinese film River Road.

The other world premieres in Competition will be: Filipino maverick Khavn De La Cruz‘s Ruined Heart - Another Love Story Between A Criminal & A Whore; Malaysian producer of Cannes title Tiger Factory, Edmund Yeo’s feature directorial debut River Of Exploding Durians, and the previously announced single Japanese film in Competition, Pale Moon, directed by Daihachi Yoshida.

Claudio Noce’s Italian film Ice Forest will make an international premiere in Competition.

Tiff Programming director Yoshi Yatabe explained the selection was made on three criteria: “an unswerving focus on depicting humanity”, “diversity” and “auteurism”.

He said, “To sum up...

Once in a while there will be movie that represents certain people in a certain time and a certain place. Judging from the trailer, The Absence Of The Sun is offering that, a mature drama about three women in Jakarta. While it's obviously not saying we're here to entertain you, but sometimes this kind of film is a journey for us to experience, to reflect or just to see other people's life beyond our circle.Directed by Lucky Kuswandi, departing from the stle of his first feature Madame X, and producer Sammaria Simanjuntak (Finding Ucok) this film will hit Indonesian theatres this June. Here's the official synopsis:a tender, melancholic night is experienced through the eyes of three women as they struggle to find themselves in this ever-changing...

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

Meet Joko Anwar: acclaimed director of Joni's Promise, Kala and The Forbidden Door an in-demand writer and apparently perfectly comfortable in a dress and curlers. In a country where social conservatism and censorship is always a problem, Anwar is currently directing a porn-themed stage musical and is appearing as an actor with a bit part in Madame X.

Releasing in Indonesian cinemas next week Madame X is the debut film from director Lucky Kuswandi, an action film featuring tight skirts, big hair, fancy makeup and men under it all. Yup, Indonesia may be about the last place where you'd expect to discover a transsexual superhero comedy but that's what they've got on their hands here and Anwar says to expect something somewhere between Iron Pussy and a Japanese tokusatsu television series. Check out the first trailer below!