PURIN PICTURES ANNOUNCES
GRANT RECIPIENTS FOR FALL 2020
NOVEMBER 1, 2020 - Bangkok
Bangkok-based film fund Purin Pictures has finalized the grantees for the Fall 2020 session. After evaluation and discussion of the submissions, the reading committee chose four fiction projects and two documentary projects to support. A total of 185,000 USD will be given out this session to the following projects:
Production Grants (30,000 USD in cash for fiction, 15,000 USD in cash for documentary)
INSIDE THE YELLOW COCOON SHELL (Vietnam, Singapore)
Director: Pham Thien An, Producer: Jeremy Chua, Production Company: Potocol
A drama following Thien, who goes on a search for his long-lost brother into the wilderness of Vietnam, following the death of his sister-in-law in Saigon.
VIET AND NAM (Vietnam, Philippines)
Director: Minh Quy Truong, Producer: Bradley Liew, Production Company: Epicmedia Productions
A drama about two coal miners, Viet and Nam, who must confront the ghosts of Vietnam’s past as they search for a better future for themselves.
SKIN OF YOUTH (Vietnam)
Director: Ash Mayfair, Producer: Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, Production Company: An Nam Productions
A drama of lovers San and Nam as they court the criminal underworld of 90s Saigon to find enough money for San’s gender reassignment surgery.
BREAKING THE CYCLE (Thailand)
Director: Aekaphong Saransate, Thanakrit Duangmaneeporn, Producer: Komtouch Napattaloong, Production Company: Vertical Films
A documentary that captures the current political awakening of the young generation, whose talisman, Thanatorn Juangroongruangkit, has called for an end to the era of military coups in Thailand.
Post-production Grants (50,000 USD in services for fiction, 30,000 USD in services for documentary)
VENGEANCE IS MINE, ALL OTHERS PAY CASH (Indonesia)
Director: Edwin, Producer: Meiske Taurisia, Production Company: Palari Films
A drama following the life of Ajo, a violent young man who is unable to get an erection and his love for Iteung, a girl with great skill in the martial arts.
HOURS OF OURS (Thailand)
Director: Komtouch Napattaloong, Producer: Noorahaya Lahtee, Production Company: Vertical Films
A documentary about a Sundanese refugee family in Thailand who, after waiting for six years, finally receive a phone call about their resettlement to Canada.
This Fall 2020 session saw the highest number of submissions ever received to our granting program. This was likely due to many filmmakers locked down at home during the Covid-19 pandemic having plenty of time to finish writing their scripts. After deliberation, the reading committee chose one Indonesian, two Thai, and three Vietnamese projects to receive grants. Says Purin Pictures co-director Aditya Assarat, “Even among a very strong batch of projects from across the region, the Vietnamese ones stood out in particular. There are not just one or two interesting filmmakers, but a whole group who are working together and influencing each other. The new wave there looks to have real staying power.” Heading into the final months of the year, the Covid-19 situation still leaves a lot of question marks for the SEA film community. Says Purin Pictures co-director Anocha Suwichakornpong, “Some projects feel more comfortable delaying, not only because of national medical protocols for shooting, but also the uncertainty of festivals and commercial cinema prospects moving forward”.
The call for entries for the Spring 2021 session opens on February 1st.
