Latest news with #15thBeijingInternationalFilmFestival
Daily Express
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Movie on Papar is shown at Beijing fest
Published on: Wednesday, May 07, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 07, 2025 Text Size: Melissa (left) and Michelle (centre) at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival. Kota Kinabalu: The Story of Papar Town made its official debut at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival in China, bringing Sabah's rich heritage to the global stage. The heartfelt documentary was among two Malaysian films showcased at the prestigious event, held from April 18 to 26, highlighting the country's cultural diversity and community spirit. Malaysian filmmaker Michelle Xin represented the nation at the festival, presenting The Story of Papar Town and The Rise of Lion II, an inspiring feature film rooted in traditional lion dance culture. Produced by WSG Group, led by prominent Sabahan property developer Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen, The Story of Papar Town is a poignant memoir of her mother, Datin Seri Chen Si Mui, who endured immense hardship during her childhood in 1940s Papar. The film, directed by Michelle Xin, took two months to prepare, 10 days to shoot and involved 80 actors across locations in Sandakan, Tenom, Keningau, Kinabatangan, Papar and Kota Kinabalu. Melissa Wong, Susan's daughter and a director at WSG Group, played the younger version of Chen in the film. She hoped the documentary would foster cultural exchange while sharing Malaysia's unique narratives with the world. Susan, deeply moved by her mother's struggles, had long dreamed of turning her family's history into a film. 'My mother endured a difficult childhood, her father died tragically and she was sold as a child bride, living like a slave. 'I wanted future generations to know her story of resilience,' Susan said. Set against the backdrop of World War II, the film recounts how Chen escaped her oppressive life one stormy night, finding refuge from a kind-hearted landowner, Kapitan Chen Chee On, who became her saviour. His intervention changed her fate, leading to a life of hope and dignity. The Beijing International Film Festival, celebrating 130 years of global cinema and 120 years of Chinese cinema, serves as a vital platform for cultural exchange. Michelle sees Malaysia's participation as a significant step in promoting the country's stories internationally. 'I hope for more collaborations to bring Malaysian narratives to the world and to bring global perspectives back to our communities,' she said. For Susan, the film is more than a tribute, it is a legacy. 'Today, I have finally fulfilled my dream of sharing my mother's extraordinary journey,' she said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Malaysian films shine at Beijing International Film Festival
KOTA KINABALU (May 5): Two Malaysian films shot in China and Sabah shone at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival which was held from April 18 to 26. Malaysian filmmaker Michelle Xin has represented Malaysia in showcasing the two works that highlight the rich cultural and community spirit of Malaysia. The first, The Rise of Lion II, produced by Xin World Sdn Bhd, is an inspiring feature film rooted in the traditional art of lion dance, telling a story of perseverance, heritage and belief. The film starred Melissa Wong and Ricky Lee in the leading roles, and was filmed in Chengdu, China. The second is the heartfelt The Story of Papar Town, presented by Melissa of WSG Group, featuring an inspiring story about Datin Seri Panglima Chen Si Mui. 'I look forward to more international collaborations in the future, to bring more Malaysian stories to the world stage, and to bring the world back into our local communities,' Michelle the Beijing International Film Festival. This year also marks the 130th anniversary of cinema in the world and 120th anniversary of the birth of Chinese cinema. The Beijing International Film Festival not only showcases Chinese films to the world but also provides a gateway for foreign films to enter the Chinese market, serving as a platform for cultural exchange between filmmakers from China and around the globe. Michelle added that the participation in the Beijing International Film Festival marks an important step in strengthening cultural exchanges and promoting Malaysia's unique narratives globally. The Story of Papar Town made its official debut at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival in China recently. Produced by the WSG Group spearheaded by Sabahan property developer, Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen, the film showcases Malaysia's rich and diverse cultural heritage and communities. Its screening at the film festival not only brought the story of Sabah to the global stage, but also invited the world to step into the heart of the local community. Directed by Michelle, The Story of Papar Town was meticulously crafted over two months of preparation. The film involved 80 actors and took 10 days to shoot, and a month to edit. Filming took place across several locations, including Sandakan, Tenom, Keningau, Kinabatangan, Papar and Kota Kinabalu. The Story of Papar Town stars Melissa, Susan's daughter, in the lead role. She portrays the childhood version of her grandmother, Datin Seri Panglima Chen Si Mui. The male lead in this documentary short film is 37-year-old Sam Loo from Penang, who plays the younger version of Datuk Seri Panglima Wong Kwok. Sabah-born singer Wesley Liew takes on the role of the Chen's saviour, Kapitan Chen Chee On. Melissa, who is also a director of the WSG Group, brought The Story of Papar Town to the 15th Beijing International Film Festival. In an interview at the event, she expressed hope that the film would promote cultural exchange whilst share Malaysia's unique story with the world. Meanwhile, Susan said she often listened to her mother recounting stories about Papar when she was little. 'I would follow my mother to my grandmother's house in Papar every school holiday. 'That's why Papar has left a deep impression on me — its memories are etched in my mind.' Susan said her mother has endured a difficult childhood in her hometown. 'I told myself that one day, when the time was right, I would turn my mother's stories into a documentary short film, so that future generations of our family, as well as the world, could understand the incidents that took place in the small town of Papar during the 1940s. 'Today, I have finally fulfilled that dream.' Told in the form of a memoir, the film recounts the hardships and struggles faced by Datin Seri Panglima Chen Si Mu during her early life in her hometown of Papar. It is a touching and emotional narrative, which culminates in a satisfying and fulfilling ending. The film highlights the remarkable resilience of individuals in the face of adversity. Set during the 1940s, amid the turmoil of World War II, the story depicts the difficult childhood of Chen, who came from a poor family. Her father tragically died after being tortured by the Japanese army, leaving her mother to raise several young children on her own. In her early teenage years, Chen was sold by her mother to a wealthy family as a child bride — but in reality, she lived a life of hardship akin to that of a slave. She had to wake up before sunrise at 4 am, to chop firewood, fetch water, and grind grains — taking on every household chore. Her meals consisted only of leftovers from the family, and at night, she slept on a wooden plank in a corner outside the house. As a teenage girl, she endured unbearable suffering. She recalled that another girl who had shared the same fate had once been tortured to death in that very place. And that planted the seed of escape in her heart. One dark, windy night, under the cover of darkness, she seized the moment while her masters were fast asleep. She ran with all her strength, heading toward a place where she saw lights in the distance. That night, she arrived at the home of Kapitan Chen, a prominent landowner in Papar town. Fortunately, he took her in with kindness and gave her refuge. The next day, the family tracked her down at the Chen's residence and came to reclaim her. After some negotiation, Kapitan Chen paid to redeem her freedom and kept her on as a helper in his household. From that moment on, Kapitan Chen became her life saviour.
Daily Express
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Sabah stories shine at the Beijing International Film Festival
Published on: Monday, May 05, 2025 Published on: Mon, May 05, 2025 Text Size: Melissa (left) and Michelle (centre) elaborated on the film at the festival. KOTA KINABALU: Sabahan filmmaker Michelle Xin represented Malaysia at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival held from April 18 to 26, marking the 130th anniversary of global cinema and the 120th of Chinese cinema. Two Malaysian productions were showcased — The Rise of Lion II, highlighting the traditional lion dance, and The Story of Papar Town, a poignant tale set in wartime Sabah. The Story of Papar Town, produced by the WSG Group led by Datuk Susan Wong and starring her daughter Melissa, tells the true story of Datin Seri Panglima Chen Si Mui's harrowing childhood in 1940s Papar. Directed by Michelle and filmed across Sabah, the documentary recounts Chen's escape from servitude, her rescue by Kapitan Chen, and her journey from oppression to safety during the Japanese occupation. Both Michelle and Melissa expressed hopes that the film would promote cultural exchange, with Susan saying it was a dream fulfilled to immortalise her mother's story for future generations. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Korea Herald
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
'The Old Woman With the Knife' invited to Beijing film fest
Min Kyu-dong's action thriller continues international festival run after Berlin debut Director Min Kyu-dong's action-thriller "The Old Woman With the Knife" has secured an official invitation to the 15th Beijing International Film Festival's Panorama section, marking another international recognition for the film following its screening at the Berlin International Film Festival and Brussels Fantastic Film Festival. The Beijing International Film Festival, to take place April 18-26, ranks alongside the Shanghai International Film Festival as one of China's premier cinema events. "The Old Woman With the Knife" will screen out of competition in the Panorama section, the festival's most eclectic program known for showcasing films of artistic merit across genres. Min expressed his excitement about the invitation. "I'm thrilled that 'The Old Woman With the Knife' will be screened in Beijing. I hope the film's entertainment value and emotional depth will resonate with audiences there," he said. The film's selection carries additional significance as Korean productions have historically had a limited presence at Chinese film festivals. It follows the 2024 invitation of box office hit "Exhuma" to the festival's Midnight Thrill section. "The Old Woman With the Knife" stars veteran actor Lee Hye-young as Hornclaw, an aging killer with nearly five decades of lethal expertise. Her carefully controlled life begins to unravel when she encounters Bullfight (Kim Sung-cheol), an ambitious young killer whose obsessive pursuit suggests motives far deeper than professional rivalry. The 131-minute film, based on Gu Byeong-mo's bestselling novel, features the 61-year-old Lee in an unconventional role that puts an older woman at the center of an action-driven assassin narrative. Following its world premiere at Berlin in February, the film is scheduled for release in South Korea on May 1.
