‘Redha’ and ‘Beast’ Among Winners at Luang Prabang Festival

Malaysian film, “Redha” was named as the winner of the audience prize at the Luang Prabang Film Festival, in Laos. The 8th edition of the festival, concluded last week.

The film, directed by Tunku Mona Riza, is the story of a couple who struggle to come to terms with the disabilities presented by their autistic son.

The festival, which focuses on Southeast Asian cinema, played 32 feature films and four programs of short films.

Variety contributor, Kong Rithdee curated the spotlight on Thailand section comprising a full day of screenings and discussion of the issues facing Thai filmmakers today. Filmmakers in attendance included Anocha Suwichakornpong (“By the Time it Gets Dark”), Sompot Chidgasornpongse (“Railway Sleepers”), Boonsong Nakphoo (“Wandering’), Laddawan Rattanadilokchai (“The Couple”), Sakchai Deenan (the upcoming “Memories of New Years’), and Sanchai Chotirosseranee (Thai Film Archive, representing “Santi-Vina”). Other discussions included one on Muslim voices in cinema, and another on documentary film making.

In co-operation with the Tribeca Film Institute, the festival put on a second edition of the LPFF Talent Lab, its ASEAN-focused film project market. Lao-Filipino drama, “Raising A Beast” was selected by a jury as the winner and will next travel to the 2018 edition of the Tribeca festival. The project is written and to be directed by Xaisongkham Induangchanty (Laos), and produced by Abigail Lazaro of The Philippines.

Another project, “Cat Island,” pitched by writer-director Siege Ledesma and producer Ang Alemberg, received $10,000 as an award from the Aurora Media film fund.

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