M’sian film nominated for Golden Horse
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian film Shuttle Life has received two nominations at the 54th Taipei Golden Horse Awards.
The film is up for Best New Director for Tan Seng Kiat and Best Cinematography for Taiwanese cinematographer Chen Ko Chin at the prestigious event to honour excellence in Chinese cinema.
Tan said he was overjoyed to have received a nomination for the film, which will open in Malaysia on Oct 12.
The 31-year-old filmmaker based in Kuala Lumpur made Shuttle Life
to tell a story about poverty.
“Shuttle Life is meant to tell people about the lives of those struggling to make a living in the big cities,” he said when contacted.
Tan said the idea for the film was inspired by various news pieces depicting families in financial turmoil.
The premise for Shuttle Life was first pitched at the 2014 Golden Horse Film Project Promotion in Taiwan where it won a NT$1mil (RM120,500) cash grant.
Producer Jin Ong said Shuttle Life
was shot in 21 days in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, last year.
“We have a production budget of RM2mil and part of it is made possible thanks to funding by the National Film Development
Corporation Malaysia (Finas),” he said.
Shuttle Life revolves around a family of three living in a low-income apartment in the city.
Jack Tan plays a jobless youth who steals car parts to support his mentally-ill mother (Sylvia Chang) and five-year-old sister Hui Shan (Angel Chan).
Shuttle Life has received widespread recognition as an emotionally-charged film about a hard-hitting life.
At the recent 29th Malaysia Film Festival, Shuttle Life was presented with a Special Jury award.
Tan received a Best Director nomination and Jack was also nominated for Best Actor.
Shuttle Life also achieved phenomenal success at the Asian New Talent Awards announced at the Shanghai Film Festival, winning Best Film, Best Cinematography and Best Actor for Jack.
He also received the Best Actor award at the 12th Chinese Young Generation Film Forum Awards in Wuhan, China, last week.
Shuttle Life had its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September where it was described as a “must-see” by festival programmer Giovanna Fulvi.
The results for the 54th Taipei Golden Horse Awards will be announced on Nov 25.
At the event last year, Malaysian film OlaBola received the award for Best Original Song. The theme song Arena Cahaya was written by Zee Avi and Rendra Zawawi.
Read about Shuttle Life’s lead star Jack Tan in Star 2 on Thursday.