Tan Ce Ding’s debut feature, “Somewhere in the South,” tells the story of Boon, a restless young man living in a forgotten Malaysian town who is forced to don the costume of a political party’s tiger mascot in a surprise by-election, but soon realizes he is losing himself.
The film, produced by Cannes Camera d’Or winner Anthony Chen through Giraffe Pictures with Edward Lim and Yap Kai Soon, is one of 17 in-development projects selected for the 24th Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).
Shot in Mandarin, Malaysian Cantonese, English and Malay, the drama-suspense hybrid is Chen’s latest producing venture, following the Berlinale title We Are All Strangers, which he also directed. Tan directed the short “Please Hold the Line,” which premiered in Venice in 2022.
“I have long admired Tan Ce Ding’s bold short films,” says Chen. “CD, as we affectionately call him, is truly an exciting new voice emerging in Malaysian film. Our project at HAF captures the growing confidence and urgency of this movement with its remarkable integrity and ambition.”
Chen said this collaboration has been a long time coming. “For years, CD, Edward and I have been toying with the idea of his first feature. Singapore and Malaysia are neighboring countries and I have long wanted to work on a Malaysian film, so this feels like the perfect place to start. This film is special and I look forward to working with him to bring Somewhere in the South to the international stage.”
Mr Tan explained his affinity with the subject matter. “I’ve always been interested in people who exist on the fringes of the system. In many declining small towns, young people grow up surrounded by a very obvious reality: If you want a better life, you have to leave. But not everyone is able to leave, and many end up being left behind.”
He said the concept of by-elections provided a convincing framework. “When a by-election is held in a small town, there is a sudden influx of media, politicians, and resources that temporarily thrusts a once-forgotten place into the national spotlight. In many ways, it can even become a kind of absurd political spectacle.”
“I was interested in how that moment would affect the people who had been living there all along. For someone who has spent most of their life feeling insignificant, sudden attention can easily create the illusion that their destiny might finally change. That question ultimately became the starting point for this film.”
Tan described the story as an exploration of identity and belonging. “The main character, Boone, is an ordinary young man living in a small town. But when he is asked to don the tiger suit, the campaign’s mascot, he experiences something he has never felt before. For the first time, he feels wanted. He feels noticed. This role gives him a new identity, and with it a sense of purpose and power.”
“As the story unfolds, he gradually realizes that the system doesn’t really care who he is; it just needs the role itself. As long as there’s someone inside the suit, the system can continue to function,” said the director. “The feeling of finally emerging is both strong and fragile. The more he tries to cling to that role, the further he moves away from who he really is. Eventually, he believes himself to be a tiger, only to realize that he is only a skin.”
Producer Lim outlined the project’s international ambitions. “In today’s climate, films can no longer rely on funding or distribution from a single market. By joining HAF, we hope to take our project to the international stage, meet new friends and collaborators, and explore meaningful partnerships. We believe this film has strong potential to incorporate international elements and connect with audiences beyond the region.”
The project is raising funds through a forum where filmmakers will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with investors, festival organizers and industry experts.
