Opening last weekend in local cinemas was “Roh”, the latest offering from Kuman Pictures. Following this, the horror movie is set to make its premiere in North America next.
In the newly updated lineup of the 19th New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), the Emir Ezwan-helmed title was listed among the three films – all making their North American premiere – that will be representing Malaysia.
The other two films are Areel Abu Bakar’s “Geran” and Layla Zhuqing Ji’s “Victim(s)”, the latter was also selected for the 22nd Udine Far East Film Festival (FEFF22) along with “Roh”.
Technically, there is another Malaysian film making its North American premiere at this year’s NYAFF but since it is a co-production with Taiwan, it is listed under the latter. Called “Miss Andy”, it’s helmed by Teddy Chin (“In My Heart”) and stars Jack Tan (“Shuttle Life”) alongside Taiwanese actress Ruby Lin.
This year’s NYAFF is set to run from 28 August until 12 September. It will be a special virtual edition, as is the norm with any event held in 2020, with a focus on women filmmakers: “Women Transforming Film”.
It also focuses on new filmmakers, highlighting five works in the “Uncaged” Competition section, which include the abovementioned “Victim(s)” vying for the top prize against “IWeirDo”, “Moving On”, “Legally Declared Dead”, and “They Say Nothing Stays the Same”.
Its theatrical release previously delayed following Malaysian cinemas’ temporary closure due to the pandemic, “Roh” finally hit the big screen last week on 6 August.
It placed fifth on the local weekend box office chart on its opening weekend and, based on the posts on Kuman Pictures’ social media, is showing promising attendance growth as glowing reviews kept pouring in from movie-lovers.