Pavane for an Infant
| Pavane for an Infant | |
|---|---|
TIFF poster | |
| Traditional Chinese | 搖籃凡世 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Yáo Lán Fán Shì |
| Jyutping | Jiu4 Laam4 Faan4 Sai3 |
| Directed by | Chong Keat Aun |
| Written by | Chong Keat Aun |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Leung Ming Kai |
| Edited by | Emily Leung |
| Music by |
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Production companies | SunStrong Entertainment
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| Distributed by | Parallax Films[1] |
Release dates |
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Running time | 117 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Languages |
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Pavane for an Infant (Chinese: 搖籃凡世) is a 2024 drama film co-produced by Malaysia and Hong Kong, written and directed by Chong Keat Aun, and starring Fish Liew, Natalie Hsu, Ben Yuen and Pearlly Chua.
The film premiered at the at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival [2][3] as part of the Asian Future on 30 October 2024. It went on to receive the Youth Jury Award at the 39th Fribourg International Film Festival[4] and was honored as the Opening Film of the 49th Hong Kong International Film Festival.[5]. The film was selected as the Malaysian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.[6]
Premise
In multicultural Malaysia society, the mere existence of a baby hatch remains a whispered taboo, condemned and branded as an enabler of moral decay, punishable by God. Three committed employees of a Kuala Lumpur baby hatch facility navigate a maze of societal opposition to empower women from diverse backgrounds grappling with the complex notion of bodily autonomy.
Cast
- Fish Liew as Lai Sum
- Natalie Hsu as Siew Man
- Ben Yuen as Keong
- Pearlly Chua as Kam
- Yuan Teng as Ming
- Jasmine Suraya as Nurul
- Tan Mei Ling as Fatimah
- Mia Sabrina Mahadir as Lead Plate Dancer
Release
The film had its world premiere at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival[2][3] and was subsequently released theatrically in Hong Kong on 19 June 2025, Malaysia on 14 August 2025 and later in Taiwan on 19 September 2025.
Accolades
- 37th Tokyo International Film Festival - World Premiere | Asian Future Competition
- 39th Fribourg International Film Festival - Youth Jury Award
- 12th Silk Road International Film Festival - Golden Silk Road Award for Best Screenplay
- 49th Hong Kong International Film Festival - Opening film
- 44th Istanbul Film Festival - Official Selection
- 27th Shanghai International Film Festival - Asian Collection
- 24th New York Asian Film Festival - Official Selection
- 6th Hainan International Film Festival - Feature Film Competition
- Bremen Film Festival 2025 - German Premieres Competition
- Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival 2024 - Gala Premiere
See also
- List of submissions to the 98th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
- List of Malaysian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References
- ^ "Parallax picks up Tokyo titles 'Pavane For An Infant'". Screen Daily. 17 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Malaysian Director Chong Keat Aun Spotlights Abandoned Babies Crisis in Tokyo Selection". Variety. 28 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Malaysian director Chong Keat Aun's film on baby hatch sparks international buzz at Tokyo film fest". The Star. 29 October 2024.
- ^ "FIFF Award winners 2025". FIFF. 30 March 2025.
- ^ "'The Brightest Sun', 'Pavane For An Infant' To Open HKIFF". Deadline Hollywood. 17 March 2025.
- ^ Pond, Steve (24 October 2025). "Oscars International Category Sends 86 Films to Voters". TheWrap. Retrieved 24 October 2025.