Malaysia’s ‘The Passport’ Gets Stamp of Approval From the Philippines’ Epicmedia
Epicmedia Productions, a prominent Philippines-based production company, has officially joined forces with Malaysia’s Sixtymac Pictures for the production of The Passport, a coming-of-age film centered on a Tamil family and their punk rock daughter. Directed by Ananth Subramaniam, in what will be his feature debut, the film is currently in the financing stage.
Set in the 1980s, The Passport follows the story of Kalki, a young woman whose punk band is invited to perform in Europe. The plot thickens when her entire family decides to accompany her, leading to a clash of cultural expectations both within and outside the family home. The narrative promises to explore themes of identity, art, and human connection, all framed within the vibrant world of Malaysian punk rock, with music sung in both Tamil and Malay.
The project has already garnered significant attention and accolades, having been pitched at various international forums, including Talent Tokyo, the BiFan IT Project Market, Full Circle Lab, and Focus Asia All Genre Project Market. It won the Bucheon Award at BiFan and the grand prize at the Bangkok ASEAN Film Festival SEAPITCH 2023. Production is expected to begin in the third quarter of next year.
Ananth Subramaniam, known for his short films that have been featured at prestigious festivals such as BiFan and Fantasia, expressed his desire to create a poignant film that delves deep into the themes of identity and art within the Malaysian punk rock scene. He emphasizes that the film will be a significant exploration of Tamil culture, self-identity, and the rebellious spirit of punk music.
Lead producer Choo Mun Bel highlighted the global relevance of the film's themes and the importance of international co-production in enriching the story. Bradley Liew of Epicmedia Productions shared his enthusiasm for the project, praising the ambitious vision of Subramaniam and Bel and expressing full commitment to bringing The Passport to life.
Epicmedia, which has recently seen success with Viet and Nam at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section, continues to expand its influence in the international film industry. The Passport is also set to be pitched at the Focus Asia project market during the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy.
Sixtymac Pictures, which previously produced Subramaniam’s short films Liar Land and The House of Brick and Stone, aims to establish itself as a major player in the Malaysian film industry, focusing on feature films and international collaborations.
