FREE EVENT - 2 NIGHTS. Join us for a showcase of South East Asian short films from Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Aiming to increase the awareness of South East Asian screen culture, this event helps to raise the profile of South East Asian filmmakers. Each short film reflects a current social issue in the country. 

Refreshments (South East Asian desserts and snacks) will be served after the screening. No booking required, just click 'Going' on the Facebook event.

MONDAY SCREENING PROGRAMME

INDONESIA
The Malediction (Ruah), Writer/Director: Makbul Mubarak, 2017/ 20 mins, In Indonesian with English subtitles
Halim considers himself a pious Islamic man. He wishes to marry a young woman in her village as a second wife to save her from a miserable life. His wife doesn’t agree. Halim contemplates on his own decision while a weird fantasy world starts to suck him in.
Themes: gender equality, religion, local mysticism

BRUNEI
Still Vanishing Children, Writer/Director: Abdul Zainidi, 2016 / 14 mins
Told and narrated like a storybook, Still Vanishing Children is a series of stories centring missing people, spirits and abandoned houses that possess energy. The film investigates superstitions and beliefs, restrictions and to some degree, escaping the physical world.
Themes: Superstition, beliefs, restriction

Boy on Fire, Writer/Director: Abdul Zainidi, 2016 / 2 mins
A coming of age fiction story about forbidden love and the deathly themes of a tragedy that beckon. It is about wanting to be loved.
Themes: suicide, forbidden love, social restrictions

LAOS
A Long Way Home, Writer/Director: Xaisongkham Induangchanthy, 2017 / 18 mins, In Laotian with English subtitles
A Lao American young man, James, brings his father’s ashes to Laos to fulfil his last wish – to return home. His mom keeps telling him to stay away from their relatives in a village to avoid getting asked for money. He stays in a city until a stupa to house his father’s ashes is built. One day, James' relative, Joi, travels to town to look for him. They have to travel together on the mighty Mekong and endure each other’s differences.
Themes: Family bond, obligations

EAST TIMOR
Hamrok Ba Ran (Thirsty for Blood), Writer/Director: Malkriadu Cinema (Agivedo “Laka” Veralera and Thomas Henning), 2017 / 17 mins, In Tetun with English subtitles
A vampire drifts through the night in Dili seeking blood. He encounters others with appetites that also cannot be sated. The first ever horror-comedy from Asia’s newest nation.
Themes: social neglect, corruption, living dead

SINGAPORE
Poets On Permits, Director: Upneet Kaur-Nagpal, 2016 / 30 mins
'Poets on Permits' is a documentary on migrant workers in Singapore and their poetry. Read between their lines. Five captivating people from Bangladesh, Philippines, India, China and Indonesia, share their personal stories and views on the local migrant worker life. The documentary features their poetic talent and hopes to bring us closer as a society - realising that at the end of the day, we all have common goals - of home, love and happiness.
Themes: Migrant workers, home, love and family

PHILIPPINES
No Rice Grows Among the Lemongrass (Wala’y Humayan Sa Tanglad), Writer/Director: Neil Angelo Briones, 2018 / 13 mins, In Cebuano with English subtitles
A mockumentary crew go out into Philippine agricultural heartland to tail the lives made rich by miracle rice—a prized strain of the grain with almost mythic qualities. The short film tackles the issues of farming, religious cults and capitalism in a small town.
Themes: religious fanaticism, capitalism in agriculture, media literacy
 

For the programme of the Tuesday screening, click here!

Accessibility: RHB 137 is on the ground floor and wheelchair accessible. Find more accessibility information about Richard Hoggart Building on AccessAble. Please email accessibility@goldsmithssu.org if you have any questions, issues or requests regarding access.