Unveiled as one of seventeen selected projects by HAF for 2026, Somewhere in the South is a feature film written and directed by Tan Ce Ding, and produced by none other than filmmaker Anthony Chen. Having won the Caméra d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival for his debut film, ILO ILO, Chen requires little introduction in the world of Asian cinema. Chen also co-directed The Breaking Ice, the Singaporean entry in the Best International Feature Film category at the 96th Academy Awards. Fast-forward to 2026—the Singaporean auteur returns to the peninsula to back Tan’s feature-length directorial debut, alongside Edward Lim, a longtime collaborator of the director.
Somewhere in the South is set in a fading Malaysian town that briefly becomes the subject of public attention. At the centre of the story is a young man whose life transforms when a group asks him to wear its tiger mascot suit. What begins as an odd job—in the most literal sense—becomes something far deeper for the young man. As he spends more time in the costume, his sense of self starts to slip away from him.
For Tan Ce Ding, who is fondly called “CD” by members of the crew, the project is deeply personal. “This is my debut feature, a project I have been developing over the past year,” he shared. “I’m very excited to finally work on a subject that feels distinctly Malaysian, yet remains largely unexplored on screen.” Tan is known for his short films, such as Please Hold The Line, which made its premiere at the 2022 Venice International Film Festival and would go on to receive further global recognition. Among the short’s producers included Edward Lim, and with Somewhere in the South, the Malaysian filmmakers continue their creative partnership.
Chen has also spoken openly about his admiration for Tan’s work. “I’ve long admired Tan Ce Ding’s bold short films,” he said, adding that Tan is “exactly the kind of exciting new voice we’re seeing rise in Malaysian cinema.” He also shared his excitement about collaborating closely to elevate Somewhere in the South for the international stage.
As of now, the film is still in early development and thus does not have a timeline for release yet. However, the project shows great promise, set to have dialogue in Cantonese, Malay and English, and to be presented at HAF in March of this year. Giving Somewhere in the South its moment to shine in front of international financiers, producers and industry partners, the film’s selection by HAF marks a clear step forward. With seasoned voices and a truly Malaysian perspective at its heart, we’re keen to watch the project take shape (as well as the film itself).
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