Latest news with #LadyBoonleung
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Thailand's Engfa Waraha & Dream Thanika Jenjesda Want ‘Lady Bee' To Re-Define The Female Gaze In Thai Filmmaking — Cannes Studio
Upcoming Thai film Lady Bee presents a re-imagining of the 1960s Thai novel 'The Story of Jan Dara,' with popular singer-actress Engfa Waraha headlining the film as the enigmatic Lady Boonleung. In an interview at Deadline's Cannes studio, Waraha, alongside the film's co-writer and co-director Dream Thanika Jenjesda, shared that they are excited to present a new adaptation of the story — which has been remade before — from a female perspective for the first time. More from Deadline Cannes Film Festival 2025: Read All Of Deadline's Movie Reviews Bi Gan's 'Resurrection' Hits Cannes With 7-Minute Ovation At World Premiere 'Resurrection' Review: Bi Gan's Dream Scenario Is The Perfect Cure For Insomnia - Cannes Film Festival Starring in just her second feature film after box office hit Paradise of Thorns, Waraha said, 'There's a lot of pressure because Paradise of Thorns was so well-received. This is my second role and I'm under pressure to do my best. I want to challenge myself as an actor and not just a star.' Waraha won the Best Actress prize at the 2025 Thailand Box Office Awards for her role in family drama feature The Paradise of Thorns. Besides acting, Waraha has also ventured into singing, appearing in the seventh season of The Voice Thailand. She revealed that the late legendary Thai singer Pumpuang is her biggest singing inspiration. On her singing career, Waraha said, 'It was one of my biggest dreams and whenever I received good opportunities, I did my best to be the best I could.' Set to begin principal photography in late-2025, Lady Bee follows Lady Boonleung, a woman unbound by the morality or power structures of her time and driven by a yearning for connection. 'My goal is not to be too vogue, vocal or preachy about it,' said co-writer and co-director Jenjesda. 'In Thailand, we're still a little bit conservative, a little bit suppressed in these of having male-dominated leading roles.' She named directors Sofia Coppola and Wim Wenders among her filmmaking inspirations. Lady Bee will also be co-directed by Rutaiwan Wongsirasawad (Dalah), with Julien Favre also onboard as co-writer. Pantham Thongsang will produce the film. Looking ahead, Waraha has set her sights overseas too. 'I want more opportunities at an international level, perhaps taking a role alongside a Hollywood movie star or well-known international stars,' said Waraha. 'I want to challenge my English-speaking abilities.' Lady Bee is represented by Singapore-based sales company Mokster Films. { pmcCnx({ settings: { plugins: { pmcAtlasMG: { iabPlcmt: 1, }, pmcCnx: { singleAutoPlay: 'auto' } } }, playerId: "32fe25c4-79aa-406a-af44-69b41e969e71", mediaId: "3b3f6cc7-4129-44c5-bda0-2d9b33bcbea3", }).render("connatix_player_3b3f6cc7-4129-44c5-bda0-2d9b33bcbea3_1"); }); Best of Deadline Every 'The Voice' Winner Since Season 1, Including 9 Team Blake Champions Everything We Know About 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' So Far 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mokster Films Unveils ‘Lady Bee' Film Starring Thai Singer-Actress Engfa Waraha
EXCLUSIVE: Singapore-based sales company Mokster Films has unveiled new film project Lady Bee, an adaptation of Thai literary classic 'The Story of Jan Dara,' ahead of this year's Cannes Film Festival. Lady Bee will star Thai singer-actress Engfa Waraha. Waraha won the Best Actress prize at the 2025 Thailand Box Office Awards for her role in family drama feature The Paradise of Thorns. More from Deadline Vincent Maël Cardona Talks Lottery Ticket Thriller 'No One Will Know' + First Clip - Cannes Midnight Screenings Scarlett Johansson And Miles Teller To Star Opposite Adam Driver In James Gray's Next Film 'Paper Tiger'; Filming To Begin Next Month & Sales To Continue At Cannes Market Demi Moore & Colman Domingo Board Roger Ross Williams' 'Strange Arrivals' For See-Saw Films Lady Bee is set to begin principal photography in late-2025. 'The Story of Jan Dara' is a 1960s novel written by Utsana Phloengtham and the film adaptation seeks to tell the story 'for the first time through the eyes of its most enigmatic female character, Lady Boonleung.'The film is developed and produced by Writer Lab, a subsidiary of Plenti Corporation. Produced by Pantham Thongsang and Julien Favre, Lady Bee is directed by Rutaiwan Wongsirasawad (Dalah) and Thanika Jenjesda (Me Always You). Both directors also wrote the screenplay, alongside Favre. The film follows Lady Boonleung, a woman unbound by the morality or power structures of her time. Driven by a yearning for connection that transcends judgment, she navigates both physical and emotional realms with intensity and grace. 'Lady Bee is a film about transformation, not just of a character, but of an entire narrative tradition,' said producer Thongsang. 'By shifting the lens to Lady Boonleung, we reclaim a voice that has long been overshadowed and reframe a story that resonates anew in today's world.' Best of Deadline All The Songs In Netflix's 'Forever': From Tyler The Creator To SZA 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery
