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Paris-based sales company Alpha Violet has come on board to represent Taiwan-based Singaporean filmmaker Chen Weiliang’s debut film Mongrel. The film will have its world premiere at Cannes’ Directors Fortnight next month.
Set in the mountains of Taiwan, Mongrel stars Thai actor Wanlop Rungkumjad (Eternity, Manta) as Oom, an illegal immigrant who takes care of a rural family in need. There is. Homme struggles to maintain his humanity while caring for his family. elderly and disabled people.
Rungmujad is joined by newcomer Kuo Shuwei, who plays Hui, a patient who develops a bond with Om. Upon hearing that this film had been selected for the Cannes Film Festival, director Kuo said, “I never thought that this film would have the opportunity to be seen by so many people.” We worked hard to achieve this because Hui is a character with weaker abilities than me, so I remembered the friends I had met and used them as references for my character. .”
Chen and producer Lai Weijie said: [Kuo] Shuwei attended the premiere with us and we got to watch the world premiere of the film together. ”
Other main cast members of “Mongrel” include Lu Yiqing (“The River”, “Stray Dogs”), Hong Yuhong (“Bad Education”, “Miss Shampoo”), Achara Swan (“By the Time it “Gets”). dark”).
The film was screened for approximately 15 minutes at the Rotterdam International Film Festival in January, where it was screened as a work in progress. It was previously developed at TorinoFilmLab ScriptLab, Talents Tokyo and Cannes Residence and won a CNC Development Award.
Mongrel is produced by Lai and Elizabeth Wijaya of E&W Films, Ling Chen and Chu Yunting of Le Petit Jardin in Taiwan, and Marie Dubas of Deuxième Ligne Films of France (Taste, The Yellow Cocoon Shell). Produced by “Inside”). Executive producers include Taiwanese new wave pioneers Hou Hsiao-hsien and Liao Ching-sung, who have been involved with the project since its inception.
E&W Films and Deuxième Ligne Films are also co-producers on Truương Minh Quý’s Việt and Nam, which was selected for the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes.
“We are truly honored to screen Chen Weiliang’s feature debut. His short films have been highly acclaimed at major film festivals such as Berlin and Venice, and now his journey continues at Cannes. For us, Mongrel is a pure cinematic discovery, giving a powerful voice and humanity to the invisible,” said Virginie Devesa of Alpha Violet.
Chen earned a degree in Communication Studies from Nanyang Technological University and a Master’s degree (Film Directing) from Taipei National University of Arts. For the past ten years he has been based in Taiwan, where his work focuses on Southeast Asian migration and diaspora in contemporary Asia.
Chen’s 2015 film No Anchoring won the Audi Short Film Award at the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival. His recent short films “Luzon”, “Nyi Ma Lay” (both his 2017), and his VR short film “Only the Mountain Remains”, which was in competition at the 2018 Venice Film Festival, explore the He continues to explain his difficult life.
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