Singapore selects director M. Raihan Halim’s Malay-language comedy moon as an entry in the 2025 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.
The film, a Singaporean-Malaysian co-production comedy, tells the story of a woman who opens a lingerie shop in a conservative Malaysian village, dealing with themes of tradition and modernity in a light-hearted way. The film was shot in Kuala Kangsar, a remote town near Ipoh in northwestern Malaysia.
moon Marking Raihan’s successor Banting (2014), Singapore’s first Malay film since the 1970s. The film was well received at several regional film festivals. The film premiered in the Asian Future section of the Tokyo International Film Festival and screened at the Yogyakarta-Netpac Asian Film Festival. Earlier this year, the film was selected as the closing film of the Rotterdam International Film Festival and screened in the International Panorama section of the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Produced by Singaporean companies Clover Films and Papahan Films in partnership with Malaysian ACT 2 Pictures and One Cool Film, moon The cast includes Shaheizy Sam (from recent blockbusters) Evolution Police 3 and malbat), Sharifah Amani (best known as basket), Wan Hanafi Su and Hisyam Hamid.
The program is supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) and the Singapore Film Commission (SFC) through the Media Talent Development Programme. The film will be released in cinemas in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia in November 2023.
“I am humbled, surprised and honored to be able to represent Singapore with our little film, moon,” Halim said in a statement. “My team and I are absolutely ecstatic! Pun intended.
“moon IMDA Assistant Chief Executive Officer Justin Ang said this is a testament to Singapore’s multi-lingual and multi-ethnic character and has spawned interesting stories. “We are proud of M Raihan Halim, the production team and cast, and we look forward to great news at the 2025 Academy Awards.”
Lim Teck, Executive Producer of Clover Films, added: “We are extremely honored moon was selected as Singapore’s official entry. Kudos to director Raihan, cast and crew for this achievement.
Movie stars also shared their excitement. moon Lead actor Sam said: “It’s every actor’s dream to attend the most prestigious awards show in the world and I’m so grateful.”
Actress Sharifah Amani added: “Playing Hanie Abdullah moon It was a deeply personal experience for me, and now, to see it recognized by Singapore as an official selection for the Academy Awards is simply surreal. Every movie has its own life moon It feels like a work of art, born from the passion and hard work of everyone involved.
Singapore has been submitting films to the Academy Awards since 2005, but the country has never been nominated.
The shortlist for the 97th Academy Awards will be announced on December 17, 2024, and the final nominations will be announced on January 17, 2025.
