EXCLUSIVE: Taiwanese sales company Applause Entertainment is bringing acclaimed Malaysian actress Lee Sinje’s directorial feature debut Wanita to Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM).
The drama tells the story of three Southeast Asian women from different ethnicities and backgrounds who long to find a way out of adversity. When an incident brings them together, their struggles mirror a greater defiance against the constraints and injustices of a traditional society.
Shot in Malaysia’s Klang Valley, the cast is led by Lee, known for her role in seminal 2002 horror The Eye and 2019 historical drama The Garden Of Evening Mists. The cast also includes award-winning Malaysian actress Sangeeta Krishnasamy (Adiwiraku) and Indonesia’s Asmara Abigail (Stone Turtle). Lee co-wrote the screenplay with Malaysia’s Ang Siew Hoong.
A first look at Lee in the film can be seen above.
“I’ve dreamed of becoming a director since I was in my 20s,” said Lee. “I hope to bring the unheard voices and unseen characters of the world to light through my greatest passion, filmmaking, so they can be seen, understood, and cared for. This year, I turned 50, and after accumulating more than two decades of experience, I have finally embarked on this journey.”
She has previously produced and directed one of the four-part educational documentary series Dear Child, How Are You? and directed one of the vignettes featured in the omnibus film, The Tales Of Taipei.
She was also an executive producer on Abang Adik for director Jin Ong, who is producing Wanita along with Kevin Hsu. Malaysia’s Empire Film Capital film investor Cindy Kao and Chinese music label Rock Records among the backers.
Applause’s ACFM lineup also includes Kethsvin Chee’s romantic drama Dead Tide, co-written and co-produced by Lee; and Tang Shiang-chu’s Sayang. Both have received five nominations each at the upcoming Golden Horse Awards.
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