SEA Culture and Diversity: The 7th Tingin Southeast Asian Film Festival
SEA Culture and Diversity: The 7th Tingin Southeast Asian Film Festival
An initiative brought upon by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) under its Culture and Diplomacy program, the 7th Tingin Southeast Asian Film Festival returns with a triumphant beat on August 17-18, 2024 at the Red Carpet Cinemas of Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City. This year’s theme, “Enchantment for a Fragile World”, comes with a curated selection of award-winning films highlighting the rich tapestry of Southeast Asian culture interweaving with the experience of cinema.
Targeted at students and young audiences, the festival offers FREE admission for 6 full-length films and 4 short films exploring diverse myths, legends, and folklores of Southeast Asia, all coming from a roster of emerging and established filmmakers from the ASEAN region. Emphasizing the shared heritage that binds these neighboring regions, Tingin aims to further engage the youth in understanding the cultural ties and narratives of the region in hopes of widening the cultural palate of moviegoers as they offer a taste of the tales and traditions that continue to thrive in these communities.
Here is the lineup of the 7th Tingin Southeast Asian Film Festival, with each film offering unique perspectives on indigenous cultures and the moral lessons embedded within their folklores.
Laos
THE LONG WALK (2019) by Mattie Do
The Long Walk follows an old hermit as he discovers the ghost of a road accident victim can transport him back in time, fifty years to the moment of his mother’s painful death. Mattie Do’s film premiered in the Giornate degli Autori section of the 76th Venice International Film Festival and was also shown in the Contemporary World Cinema of Toronto Film Festival.
Philippines
IN MY MOTHER’S SKIN (2023) by Kenneth Dagatan
The festival will close with the Philippine theatrical premiere of In My Mother’s Skin, a supernatural psychological horror film set in the Philippines during World War II following a young girl who finds that her duty to protect her dying mother is complicated by her misplaced trust in a beguiling, flesh-eating fairy. The film premiered at the prestigious Sundance International Film Festival and shall feature a talkback in Tingin’s closing program together with its cast and crew, including producers Bianca Balbuena and Bradley Liew, as well as its director, Kenneth Dagatan.
Singapore
DREAMING AND DYING (2023) by Nelson Yeo
Dreaming and Dying is Nelson Yeo’s return to the Tingin film festival, which won the Pardo d’oro for Best Feature Film (Cineasti del Presente Competition) at the Locarno Film Festival. In this film, three middle-aged friends reunite for the first time in years, with each of them setting out to confess unexpressed feelings. Their vacation takes a surprising turn when the undercurrent of their past lives threatens to resurface.
Malaysia
ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE WAS A MOM (2023) by Lin Htet Aung
Once Upon a Time, There Was a Mom shows the day after a mother’s death in which the character of the father transforms back into his teenager self, becoming the same age as his son. Lin Htet Aung’s film won Best Screenplay at the Singapore International Film Festival and was also screened at the Rotterdam International Film Festival.
Vietnam
MEMORYLAND (2021) by Kim Quy Bui
A highly anticipated film, Memoryland revolves around three characters: A woman whose son does not want to carry out her burial wishes after her death; the widow of a young construction worker who brings his ashes to the village of his ancestors; and a painter who loses a love only met late in life. Connections between their fates, whose stories abruptly succeed one another, only become clear over time. Death and all rituals that accompany the end of life stand at the center of Memoryland, but it all came to life as Kim Quy Bui’s film traveled the festival circuit, showing at the Berlin, Busan, Hong Kong, and Moscow international festivals.
Thailand
WORSHIP (2021) by Urophong Raksasad
Worship explores the spiritual and cultural significance of rural Thai rituals, focusing on how these traditions offer a sense of community and continuity in a world that is increasingly disconnected.
Indonesia
OF OTHER TOMORROWS NEVER KNOWN (2023) by Natasha Tontey
Of Other Tomorrows Never Known delves into speculative futures through the lens of indigenous knowledge and cultural practices, challenging conventional narratives about progress and modernity.
Brunei
PART OF ME (2022) by Hazrul Aizan
Part Of Me is a deeply personal film that examines identity and belonging as it follows the journey of an individual grappling with their sense of self within the broader context of cultural heritage and modern influences.
The Tingin Southeast Asian Film Festival is more than just a film event—it's an experience worth seeing as it brings us closer to the interwoven realities and cultural heritage of Southeast Asia. With free admissions and a captivating lineup, this is certainly a festival you’d want to have your eyes on. The fest will also award the Best Themed Attire on its opening night, wherein the chosen winner will receive a cash prize of ₱10,000. Mechanics of the contest are posted on Tingin’s social media pages.
For more details on this year’s film fest, stay updated by following @tinginfilmfest on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter).
