BEIJING — Action drama “Bunohan,” written and directed by Dain Iskandar Said, is Malaysia’s contender for the foreign language category at the 2013 Academy Awards.
The movie marries magical realism, violence and drama, to tell the story of a kickboxer, a businessman and an assassin in the secluded mangroves that form the lawless badlands between Malaysia and Thailand. It was released in March and stars Zahiril Adzim and Faizal Hussein. Pic won a Netpac award at the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival.
Pic was produced by Nandita Solomon’s Apparat, who also exec produced alongside Said. Co-producer was Tim Kwok’s Los Angeles-based Convergence Entertainment.
International sales are handled by Arclight’s Easternlight Films. Traction Media handles North American sales with Easternlight and Oscilloscope.
It has been picked up by Universal Pictures in Blighty, Germany, France, Benelux Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the five nominees for best foreign film on Jan. 10. The 85th Academy Awards ceremony takes place Feb. 24.
