PRODUCER
Apl.de.Ap
Ian Takahashi
Corinna Vistan
Dan Vo

DIRECTOR
Corinna Vistan

WRITER
Mark Kramer

PRODUCTION COMPANY
Bata LLC

PHILIPPINES

Logline:

In a world dominated by giants, one quiet Filipino underdog climbs the ranks of professional billiards, armed with only grit, instinct and a cuestick- turning his personal triumph into a nation's symbol of pride.

Synopsis:

Efren “Bata” Reyes. the Greatest Billiards Player of all Time, is a Philippine legend who rose from humble beginnings and dominated. the global stage.

Born in Pampanga and raised in poverty, Efren was sent to Manila as a young boy to work at his uncle’s billiards hall. With no bed to call his own, he often slept on the pool tables themselves. It was there that he began beating older players, earning the nickname “Bata” (“kid”) as he hustled grown men with uncanny skill and quiet confidence.

As his talent sharpened, Efren ventured beyond the Philippines, traveling across Asia and eventually to the United States under pseudonyms like “Mr. Lee” and “Cesar Morales.” In smoky pool halls and underground tournaments, he built his reputation as an unstoppable player who saw the table differently, often hitting shots no one else saw or believed possible. His unassuming demeanor and easy smile hid a fierce competitor whose brilliance at the table would eventually shock the professional world.

The film centers around Efren’s most famous showdown: the legendary “Color of Money” match against American Champion Earl Strickland. In front of a roaring Hong Kong crowd, the Filipino underdog took on the brash, all-American star in a cultural clash that would redefine the sport. As the match unfolds, the story cuts back to pivotal moments from Efren’s life, his childhood in Pampanga, the nights in Manila hustling for survival, his secret travels through foreign halls, and the sacrifices that shaped his journey.

Told similarly to “Slumdog Millionaire”, the narrative interweaves the present-day drama of the match with flashbacks that reveal how every moment, every shot, and every risk prepared Efren for this defining moment. The tension builds until the final rack, where not only the title but also Efren’s place in history hangs, in the balance.

This is more than a sports story. It’s the tale of an unlikely hero, the overlooked Filipino who turned hardship into mastery, outwitted the world with intellect and skill, and inspired millions across cultures. Efren “Bata” Reyes is not just the GOAT, he is a symbol of grit, genius, and the belief that greatness can come from anywhere, a symbol that Filipinos and the rest of Asia, can rally behind. It is a movie that can remind them to be proud of who they are, where they come from and believe in what they can achieve.

PRODUCER
Master Jack Ye
Ellery Ngiam

DIRECTOR
Ellery Ngiam

WRITER
Ellery Ngiam

PRODUCTION COMPANY
One Unicorn Pte. Ltd.

SINGAPORE

Logline:

After her mother’s mysterious death, a brilliant forensic scientist teams with a feng shui master to decode ritual clues tied to Singapore’s colonial past—unearthing a secret bloodline and spirits demanding justice, as family sins threaten the nation’s future.

Synopsis:

When Dr. Lian Tan, Singapore’s top forensic pathologist, investigates her mother’s mysterious death, she uncovers more than a crime — she uncovers a curse. Her search leads her to Master Wei, a reclusive feng shui adept who believes that the city’s violent past has left spiritual “scars” in its landforms. Together, they follow a trail of murders, hidden maps, and Bagua-coded architecture that reveal a secret bloodline reaching back to colonial Singapore. Each episode peels away layers of intergenerational trauma, political intrigue, and metaphysical danger, until Lian realizes that her family is the final key in a centuries-old struggle to restore balance to the island’s qi.

PRODUCER
Min Lim
Richard Johns

DIRECTOR
Zahir Omar

WRITER
Choong Chi-Ren

PRODUCTION COMPANY
Double Vision (Malaysia)
Argofilms (United Kingdom)

MALAYSIA

Logline:

“Empayar” is an action martial arts, crime drama — a modern retelling of “The Epic of Hang Tuah”, one of the oldest and most enduring legends in Southeast Asia.

Synopsis:

Empayar” is a bold reimagining of “The Legend of Hang Tuah” taking its themes of love, duty, loyalty and friendship and setting it an the heightened reality of a criminal underworld. In this world, orphans are raised to become the soldiers in a criminal organization known as The Sultanate.

It is into this life that our characters are born. There is Tuah, a bodyguard to Mansur, the gang’s undisputed ruler. Jebat, Tuah’s best friend is assigned as an enforcer to maintain discipline among the lower ranks. But the death of Mansur’s eldest son and heir sparks political infighting and machinations from without and within, all leading to a potential war that could end tragically for everyone.

When Tuah is tasked with guarding Teja, the daughter of a powerful Indonesian gangster, who is being brought in for a marriage of convenience with Mansur’s second son, he ends up falling in love with her. Like the legends, Tuah is forced to choose between love and loyalty.

Meanwhile, Jebat investigates a murder of his mentor and uncovers a betrayal by the man he has sworn to serve, Mansur. Unlike Tuah, Jebat chooses friendship over loyalty and wages war against the Sultanate. This brings him into conflict with Tuah and these two friends and brothers in all but blood are drawn into a final battle where only one will survive!

PRODUCER
Kyle Ong
Uttsada Panichkul

DIRECTOR
Kyle Ong

WRITER
Wayne Rée
Uttsada Panichkul

PRODUCTION COMPANY
Hantu Pte Ltd

SINGAPORE

Logline:

A mysterious Collector travels around Singapore, charting stories of the supernatural—one street at a time.

Synopsis:

Based on the award-winning podcast, Ghost Maps follows a mysterious Collector, as he interviews people all around Singapore and Southeast Asia to chart the region’s many tales of the supernatural.

Ghost Maps mostly follows the classic horror anthology series format: a different story every episode, bookended by an intro and a closing. However, there are key differences that elevate Ghost Maps beyond just another anthology series.

Every episode’s main story is self-contained, focusing on the supernatural experiences of The Collector’s interviewees, and how those experiences have affected them: from the emotional fallout of their encounters to how their relationships with their loved ones have been drastically altered. Each story will be tied to a specific area or neighbourhood, exploring these locations’ histories and what they mean to people, beyond just settings for ghost stories.

However, there is also an overarching plot about The Collector’s own origins and motives. We learn over the season, through his conversations with the interviewees, that he is part of The Penjaga, a group that has existed in Southeast Asia for centuries. Their purpose is to preserve stories of the supernatural. These stories are what keep our local spirits and creatures— such as the pontianak or the pocong—“alive”.

If these creatures cease to exist, older and more dangerous entities—entities that prey on ordinary spirits or the more familiar creatures of folklore—will turn their attention to humans.

PRODUCER
Liem Truong
Hang Trinh

DIRECTOR
Jack Carry On

WRITER
Kay Nguyen

PRODUCTION COMPANY
Silver Moonlight Entertainment

VIET NAM

Logline:

Cursed to see ghosts after 6PM, a Saigon teenager discovers his best friend is already dead. With a water demon closing in, he teams up with a shadowy “Evil Banisher” to battle dark spirits and save the boy’s soul.

Synopsis:

Minh Nhut, a lonely high schooler in Saigon who can see ghosts after 6PM, forms an unlikely alliance with a mysterious “Evil Banisher” named Tich Duong to help lost souls cross over. But when his only friend, Phi Long, suddenly vanishes, Nhut uncovers a heartbreaking truth: Long has been a ghost ever since a tragic accident ten years ago. To save him from the grip of a vengeful water demon, Nhut must confront the past, battle dark forces, and ultimately choose between holding on or letting go. In doing so, he embraces his “curse” as a gift—and sets out on a new journey with Duong to help other lost souls find peace.

FOUNDER(S)
Sabrina Poon
Wayne Chia

COMPANY
The Bruh Collective Pte Ltd

SINGAPORE

Concept Overview:

“Home, Grown” is a new venture developed by the creative minds of the original docuseries of the same name. Adopting a media-first approach, “Home, Grown” which started off as a documentary series, now expands into a digital community platform that supports local and global entrepreneurs through storytelling, community-building, and startup tools.

FOUNDER(S)
Tesadesrada Ryza
Rahabi Mandra

COMPANY
Temata Studios

INDONESIA

Concept Overview:

"Lebih Terang" is a creative education venture designed to solve the critical skills gap and high workforce turnover rate (64%) plaguing Southeast Asia's booming film industry. The platform offers practical, bite-sized online and offline classes taught by working professionals, focusing on the essential soft, applied, and micro-skills that academic institutions often lack. Ultimately, the project aims to build a sustainable talent pipeline to support the region's content demand, with a clear roadmap to scale into a comprehensive creative learning hub.

PRODUCER
Ming-chung Soung

DIRECTOR
Lan-Chi Chien

WRITER
Lan-Chi Chien
Chin-Wei Chang

PRODUCTION COMPANY
Wanda Wiggles Picture

TAIWAN

Logline:

He was like a wild horse longing for freedom, only to lose it in the act of chasing it.

Synopsis:

A boy raised in the mountains is sent down, trying to escape a fate that feels like a curse. Like a wild horse, he charges into the stock market casino of 1980s Taipei, believing that with enough speed and luck, he can trade it all for freedom. But in an era where everyone is desperate to rise, not losing becomes its own kind of race—and he runs faster, harder, until he's no longer running for himself. In the end, he becomes a racehorse, tamed by capital, foolishly chasing a freedom that has no shape.

PRODUCER
Kanokwan Kriengrojkul (Lek)

DIRECTOR
Phutsachi Pipat

WRITER
Esther Tan

PRODUCTION COMPANY
Cuckoo Films (Singapore)
Flying Tiger Films (Bangkok)

SINGAPORE

Logline:

“Show the Hit” follows Ton, a discarded stuntman who once bled for the screen, now forced to turn his skills on the streets. His body is his only currency — but in the real world, there are no crash mats.

Synopsis:

Ton, a scarred stuntman discarded by the Thai film industry, struggles to care for his frail grandmother while feeding his addiction to danger. When his petty crimes with his nephews enrage a Bangkok gang, he’s forced to choreograph one last heist during the chaos of Songkran — the deadliest stunt of his life.

PRODUCER
Laticia Fan

DIRECTOR
June Cheong

WRITER
Chen Yi-Ju

PRODUCTION COMPANY
f/Lash Productions

SINGAPORE

Logline:

About growing up, family and lonely islands
Skylar, a 16-year-old teenager on the hunt for the perfect suicide spot, connects with her late Taiwanese mother across time through the family rice cooker — uncovering old secrets and discovering the strength of her family’s women bound by love.

Synopsis:

On growing up, grief, crossing worlds and hidden family secrets
The year is 2025 and life has been a bitter series of hard knocks for 16-year-old Skylar. Bullied in school, misunderstood at home and mocked at her part-time job, Skylar is fed up with her life and secretly looks for the best spot to commit suicide at.

The sole obstacle to the Singaporean teenager’s plans is her grandmother Liu Fang, a 60-year-old Taiwanese woman in Singapore, who lives with Skylar and is working as a cleaner. Skylar can’t understand why Liu doesn't return to Taiwan, where Liu has family — but Liu insists she keep working and that they stay on in Singapore until Skylar completes her studies.

At home, Skylar and Liu struggle to communicate. Liu speaks mostly in Hokkien and reads fortunes through household appliances. Skylar often wishes she could talk to her late mother, Meilin, who died when Skylar was a baby.

While on a school excursion, Skylar chances upon a beautiful, isolated spot perfect for her macabre plans. That very day, Liu tasks her to repair their beat-up rice cooker. Skylar ends up frying its wires instead and finds a love letter inside. The rice cooker becomes a mysterious portal, connecting Skylar with a woman from the past: her pregnant mother, Meilin, in Taiwan.

Through their letters, Skylar and Meilin bond deeply. When Meilin sends a cassette tape before she is due to give birth, Skylar hears her mother’s voice for the first time. Skylar breaks down. Liu, seeing Skylar in pain, reveals why they stayed in Singapore — to honour Meilin’s hopes and dreams. Together, they look up at the sky, connected by love across time.

WRITER
Tammy Learn
Neal Moore

PRODUCTION COMPANY
Pretty Neat Productions

SINGAPORE

Logline:

In a world, that’s forced her to be quiet… Julia has finally found her voice.

Synopsis:

Set in modern-day Manila at an international private school, this is the story of Julia. Despite being being a smart and hardworking fifteen year old, she is often overlooked and misunderstood due to her crippling stutter. She has so much to say but literally cannot find the words.

Encouraged by her ex-musician father, Julia and her rebellious best friend Isa team up to form a band with drumming drag queen Gabby, and basketball star Nate who is forced to decide between the the court and his keyboard.

Battling, bullies, parents who ‘just don’t get it’, and inevitable stage fright, Julia is determined to be more than her disability and make her voice heard.

PRODUCER
Eshika Fyzee
Lubdhak Chatterjee

DIRECTOR
Eshika Fyzee

WRITER
Eshika Fyzee

PRODUCTION COMPANY
Pangea Films

INDIA

Logline:

An environmental journalist with a refugee past joins a herd of migrating elephants as they attempt to cross international borders, to understand how nature navigates an increasingly fragmented planet. What he discovers, challenges his own ideas of identity, displacement, belonging, and family.

Synopsis:

In the middle of what used to be a fertile and thick forest, stark wired fences stands tall. They snake their way through the grasslands and seems never ending. The fences are often electric, and divide the countries of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, on the North Bengal border. For over a century, Asian elephants in North-Bengal have been using the same ancient migratory route in search for sweeter grass. Every year, after migrating for nine months, these elephants must cross these very border fences in the search for sweeter grass, water, and because it is simply ingrained in their DNA to do so.

Sweeter Grass takes place in North Bengal in India – an area that shares a border with 3 countries – Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan. As forests have turned into cities - no country wants these elephants who have no choice but to migrate. Avijan has watched as the elephants who once inhabited the forests of North-Bengal have been forced to turn into elephant refugees. Avijan – who descends from a family of refugees himself, sees a reflection of his family in the elephants and their herds as they try to migrate.
 
This prompts Avijan to go on a journey across North Bengal following these elephants as their migratory routes have been barricaded, blocked, and turned into borders. Like a game of badminton these elephants are driven away from both countries and shuttled back and forth between borders. By following, recording elephant sounds, and photographing these elephants, he is on a mission to uncover truths as to how elephants communicate danger to each other, and navigate migrating for survival in a landscape getting increasingly fragmented by barriers and borders. Not a scientist, but fascinated by ecology, what Avijan discovers just through sound, is equally fascinating and equally tragic. The distress amongst the elephants while trying to cross these borders, triggers him to explore his own family’s history with migration.

He sees ‘the migrating elephant’ – a perceptive, emotional, and highly intelligent being as a metaphor for the state of the human condition, as he raises questions on who gets the right to move, belong, and what it truly means to be free in today’s world. Avijan’s journey following the elephant refugees leads him to meet human refugees living at the border who are forced to live every day of their lives without a sense of home and belonging. He crosses paths with people displaced by war, politics, and climate change, and is prompted to think of his own family’s refugee past and the collective shared experiences of the refugees he meets. Avijan realizes how movement is necessary for life to persist, flourish, and be equal for all in today’s rapidly changing world. Moreover, as Avijan is also getting over a divorce in a society that considers it immoral, Avijan is also on his own internal journey to find his own place in his world, as he begins to understand that family can be chosen and be found amongst places and people one would least expect, giving him a sense of community that makes him feel less lonely and isolated.

Avijan returns from the field with a striking, nuanced, and hard-hitting report on what harsh borders mean for both human refugees and the natural world, which he sends to various science journals to get published. Because of the geopolitical nature of his report, Avijan knows that it is going to be a huge struggle to find a platform to publish his findings.

As Avijan waits despondently for someone to reach out to him, he decides to restart his regular field work at the border. Disheartened but persistent, Avijan continues to hope for a breakthrough, and for one last chance to see Mammoth, as he contemplates his future as a journalist in the face of apathy. While working in one of the border settlements, Avijan meets a family of refugees divided by the border fence who haven’t seen each other in decades. This prompts Avijan to make an attempt to visit his own family across the border in Bangladesh for the first time to understand where he comes from, and to find the missing pieces of his identity and his family.