“#LookAtMe” is the sophomore feature by Singaporean director Ken Kwek, and premieres at the New York Asian Film Festival. In it, twins Sean and Ricky Marzuki (portrayed brilliantly by yao) are small-time YouTube pranksters ready to trick their mother Nancy (Pam Oei) for some views. The problem is, no one is watching. One night, Sean is invited by his girlfriend Mia (Ching Shu Yi in her feature debut) to attend her church. There, he witnesses an extremely homophobic monologue by Pastor Josiah Long (magnificently flamboyant and detestable Adrian Pang) that openly vilifies people like Sean’s gay brother, Ricky. Angry at the pastor and his congregation, Sean makes a fiery YouTube video making fun of the pastor. The problem is, homophobia is somewhat permitted due to Section 377A of the Penal Code of Singapore, which criminalizes sexual relations between men, while fighting it openly is not. This brings numerous...
- 3/5/2023
- by Martin Lukanov
- AsianMoviePulse
Vesoul Unveils Asian Lineup
The Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema has unveiled its 85-title lineup for the edition that starts later this month. Elements include a 10-film competition section, a 10-film documentary film section, a tribute to the Turkish director Semih Kaplanoglu; a thematic section “Asian Diaspora Cinema” offering a panorama of works by directors from Asian countries living in exile; and a Philippines cinema sidebar.
Fiction films in competition include: Azerbaijan’s “Cold as Marble,” by Asif Rustamov; China’s “In Our Prime,” by Liu Yulin; Korea’s “A Letter from Kyoto,” by Kim Min-ju; India’s: “Behind Veils,” by Praveen Morshhale; Iran’s “No End,” by Nader Saievar; Mongolia’s “The Sales Girl,” by Sengedorj Janchivdorj; The Philippines’s “Feast,” by Brillante Mendoza; Singapore’s “#LookAtMe,” by Ken Kwek; and Vietnam’s “Memento Mori: Earth,” by Marcus Vu Manh Cuong. The president of the jury is Lee Yong-kwan,...
The Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema has unveiled its 85-title lineup for the edition that starts later this month. Elements include a 10-film competition section, a 10-film documentary film section, a tribute to the Turkish director Semih Kaplanoglu; a thematic section “Asian Diaspora Cinema” offering a panorama of works by directors from Asian countries living in exile; and a Philippines cinema sidebar.
Fiction films in competition include: Azerbaijan’s “Cold as Marble,” by Asif Rustamov; China’s “In Our Prime,” by Liu Yulin; Korea’s “A Letter from Kyoto,” by Kim Min-ju; India’s: “Behind Veils,” by Praveen Morshhale; Iran’s “No End,” by Nader Saievar; Mongolia’s “The Sales Girl,” by Sengedorj Janchivdorj; The Philippines’s “Feast,” by Brillante Mendoza; Singapore’s “#LookAtMe,” by Ken Kwek; and Vietnam’s “Memento Mori: Earth,” by Marcus Vu Manh Cuong. The president of the jury is Lee Yong-kwan,...
- 2/20/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Ken Kwek’s newest feature “#LookAtMe” tells the story of Singaporean YouTuber Sean Marzuki (played by yao) who is prosecuted and jailed after uploading a video in which he makes fun of a homophobic megachurch pastor for a sermon demonizing gay people like Sean’s twin, Ricky (played also by yao). A visceral experience like few others, the movie takes the viewers on a rollercoaster ride through different emotions and genre influences.
On the occasion of “#LookAtMe” premiering at the New York Asian Film Festival, we talk with director Ken Kwek, producer and actress Pam Oei, and actor yao.
“#LookAtMe” is screening on New York Asian Film Festival
First, congratulations on the movie finally premiering. Can you please tell us how the movie was received?
Pam Oei: We’ve waited a long time to meet an audience and when we finally did, it was a relief. It was very nice...
On the occasion of “#LookAtMe” premiering at the New York Asian Film Festival, we talk with director Ken Kwek, producer and actress Pam Oei, and actor yao.
“#LookAtMe” is screening on New York Asian Film Festival
First, congratulations on the movie finally premiering. Can you please tell us how the movie was received?
Pam Oei: We’ve waited a long time to meet an audience and when we finally did, it was a relief. It was very nice...
- 8/11/2022
- by Martin Lukanov
- AsianMoviePulse
The 20th anniversary edition of the New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff) closed out an epic 17-day run on Sunday night, after welcoming nearly 100 acclaimed filmmakers, international stars and other notable guests from across Asia and the US, screening over 60 films in-theater at Film at Lincoln Center (Flc) and Asia Society from July 15 – 31, hosting a range of masterclasses and compelling talk sessions, and smashing festival attendance records.
The 20th anniversary lineup included six world premieres, eight international premieres, 20 North American premieres, four US premieres, and 15 East Coast/New York premieres, showcasing the most exciting new action, comedy, drama, thriller, romance, horror, and art-house films from Hong Kong, Japan, China, South Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Mongolia, Singapore, and the United States.
Prior to the screening of the Nyaff Closing Film, time-travel sci-fi epic Alienoid, from blockbuster Korean director Choi Dong-hoon, the festival announced two Audience Award winners and...
The 20th anniversary lineup included six world premieres, eight international premieres, 20 North American premieres, four US premieres, and 15 East Coast/New York premieres, showcasing the most exciting new action, comedy, drama, thriller, romance, horror, and art-house films from Hong Kong, Japan, China, South Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Mongolia, Singapore, and the United States.
Prior to the screening of the Nyaff Closing Film, time-travel sci-fi epic Alienoid, from blockbuster Korean director Choi Dong-hoon, the festival announced two Audience Award winners and...
- 8/6/2022
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
Janchivdorj Sengedorj’s ‘The Sales Girl’ picked up best feature film
Korean comedy drama ‘Perhaps Love’ and Coba Cheng’s Hong Kong family comedy Chilli Laugh Story took home the audience awards at New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff), which wrapped its 20th edition on July 31.
Chilli Laugh Story was a box office hit in Hong Kong cinemas, having beaten out Thor: Love And Thunder, and screened in the Next/Now strand during the festival’s 17-day run.
Other Nyaff winners included Janchivdorj Sengedorj’s Mongolian coming-of-age comedy The Sales Girl, which took the Uncaged award for best feature given...
Korean comedy drama ‘Perhaps Love’ and Coba Cheng’s Hong Kong family comedy Chilli Laugh Story took home the audience awards at New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff), which wrapped its 20th edition on July 31.
Chilli Laugh Story was a box office hit in Hong Kong cinemas, having beaten out Thor: Love And Thunder, and screened in the Next/Now strand during the festival’s 17-day run.
Other Nyaff winners included Janchivdorj Sengedorj’s Mongolian coming-of-age comedy The Sales Girl, which took the Uncaged award for best feature given...
- 8/2/2022
- by Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
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