The Malaysian feature film project Somewhere in the South, written and directed by Tan Ce Ding and produced by acclaimed Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen, has been selected for the Hong Kong–Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF). The forum, taking place from 17–19 March 2026 in Hong Kong, is widely regarded as one of Asia’s most prestigious platforms for feature film development and financing.
The selection marks a significant milestone for Tan Ce Ding, whose short film Please Hold The Line premiered in the Orizzonti section of the Venice International Film Festival and went on to screen at major festivals including Clermont-Ferrand and the Golden Horse Film Festival. Somewhere in the South represents his feature-length directorial debut.
Boost For Asian Cinema
Produced by Anthony Chen, winner of the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for ILO ILO, and director of internationally recognised films including Wet Season and The Breaking Ice, the project brings together two key voices in contemporary Southeast Asian cinema. Also producing is Malaysian filmmaker Edward Lim, a long-time collaborator of Tan Ce Ding, who previously produced Please Hold The Line and has worked with Chen on earlier projects.
Set in a declining southern Malaysian town during a brief period of heightened public attention, Somewhere in the South follows a restless young man who becomes entangled with a group promising change after being asked to wear its tiger mascot suit — only to find his sense of identity gradually eroding behind the costume. The film explores themes of belonging, performance, and the quiet pressures faced by individuals caught between personal longing and collective expectation.
Through A Malaysian Lens
Anthony Chen
“This is my debut feature, a project I have been developing over the past year,” said Tan Ce Ding. “I’m excited to work on a subject that feels distinctly Malaysian, yet remains largely unexplored on screen. The script has been developed across several countries through international development programmes, and entering HAF marks an important step forward for the project.”
Anthony Chen described Tan as one of the most compelling emerging voices in Malaysian cinema. “His work carries a rare honesty and ambition,” Chen said. “Somewhere in the South reflects the growing confidence and urgency of a new generation of filmmakers in the region, and I look forward to helping bring this film to the international stage.”
Currently in script development and early financing, Somewhere in the South is conceived as a Malaysian feature with dialogue in Cantonese, Malay, and English. At HAF, the project will be presented to international producers, financiers, and industry partners as it continues its path toward production.
