As a dedicated cinephile who’s had the privilege of witnessing the blossoming of Southeast Asian cinema, I am thrilled to see M. Raihan Halim’s enchanting masterpiece, “La Luna,” selected as Singapore’s entry for the 2025 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.
2025, I’m beyond thrilled to share that the incredible Malay-language comedy-drama “La Luna,” masterfully directed by M. Raihan Halim, has been chosen as Singapore’s entry for the coveted Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards! The anticipation is palpable, and I can hardly wait to see this beautiful piece of artistry take its rightful place on the global stage!
Hailing from a collaboration between Singapore and Malaysia, this comedic flick revolves around a woman establishing a lingerie store in a tradition-bound Malaysian village, delicately exploring the contrast between old customs and contemporary society. The filming took place in the secluded town of Kuala Kangsar, nestled near Ipoh in the country’s northwest region.
The movie titled La Luna represents Raihan’s second full-length film following his debut work, Banting (2014), which was Singapore’s Malay feature film since the 70s. This production has been favorably received at various regional film events. It initially appeared in the Asian Future segment of the Tokyo International Film Festival and later showcased at the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival. More recently, it was chosen as the closing movie for the International Film Festival Rotterdam and exhibited in the International Panorama section of the Shanghai International Film Festival.
The movie titled “La Luna” was jointly created by Singaporean film companies Clover Films and Papahan Films, along with Malaysia’s ACT 2 Pictures and One Cool Film. This production stars a talented cast including Shaheizy Sam (from recent hits such as Polis Evo 3 and Malbatt), Sharifah Amani, well-known for her role in “Sepet“, Wan Hanafi Su, and Hisyam Hamid.
The venture received funding from both the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) of Singapore and the Singapore Film Commission (SFC), specifically under their Media Talent Progression Programme. The movie premiered in theaters all over Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia during the month of November 2023.
Halim expressed a mixture of humility, awe, and pride as he stated that it was an immense privilege to represent Singapore with our small film, “La Luna“. He further added, “We are absolutely thrilled beyond words! That pun was intentional.
Justin Ang, assistant chief executive at the IMDA, praised La Luna, stating it showcases Singapore’s diverse cultural makeup beautifully, resulting in captivating narratives. He expressed pride for M Raihan Halim and the entire production team and cast, and eagerly anticipates positive news at the 2025 Oscars.
Lim Teck, executive producer from Clover Films, commented: “It’s an immense honor that La Luna has been chosen as our country’s official submission. Bravo to Director Raihan and the entire team behind the scenes for this fantastic accomplishment!
In addition to the stars in the movie, they too expressed their enthusiasm. Lead actress Sam commented, “Being a part of the world’s most esteemed award ceremony has been my dream as an actor, and I am truly thankful.
Actress Sharifah Amani shared, “Playing Hanie Abdullah in La Luna was an incredibly intimate journey for me. It’s almost unbelievable now to see Singapore choose it as their nominee for the Oscars. Each film has its own unique existence, and La Luna seemed like a masterpiece that emerged from the fervor and dedication of everyone who contributed to it.
Since 2005, I’ve been cheering for Singapore as it sends its films to the Academy Awards, yet the honor of a nomination remains elusive.
On December 17, 2024, the contenders for the 97th Oscars will be disclosed. The official nominees will be announced on January 17, 2025. The grand event will occur on March 2, 2025.
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2024-10-10 12:25