KARAK, a Malaysian Horror Short Film for MAMM18

We need your support for our upcoming 10-minute short film. Join us on the journey toward the creation of the first MAMM horror film in 5 years!

About KARAK

KARAK is selected as a top finalist for the upcoming 18th Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon (MAMM), an annual 10-day filmmaking competition happening between July 21st to 30th, organized by the Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF). The film will be screening at the MAMM18 Gala Screening & Awards Presentation on August 26th, 2023 in front of an audience of 600+ people.

Inspired by the Malaysian urban legend of the same name, the film follows Adrian and Beatrice - a couple reeling over the loss of their stillborn child - as they encounter an insidious VW Bug on their drive from Ottawa to BC.

Through this film, we hope to create opportunities for:

An ambitious project, our production has already overcome some of our biggest changes, including securing a vintage 1972 Volkswagen Beetle to add to the authenticity of the film and five locations. With an all-Asian lead cast and crew, we need the support of our community to bring this important film to its full potential by offsetting unforeseen extraneous necessary costs and partnering with our production's mission to create opportunities.

Where do the funds go?

Perks of supporting our fundraiser

OUR TEAM

Ian Tan | Writer, Director 

Ian Tan is a filmmaker based in Vancouver, BC. He graduated with a BFA in Film Production at UBC. He is an Editor at Atomic Cartoons, one of Vancouver's leading animation studios. Ian is a sought-after Editor within the Asian filmmaking community in Vancouver, with award-winning shorts that have screened around the world from Korea, Los Angeles, Singapore, Toronto and the Vancouver Asian Film Festival. His experiences being raised in Malaysia have made Ian passionate about telling stories from his unique Chinese-Malaysian perspective. When he’s not picking up a camera or chipping away at an edit, you’ll find Ian posing his Transformers action figures.

Shiun Okada | Director of Photography

Shiun Okada is an emerging Director of Photography and filmmaker based in Vancouver who graduated

from the UBC Film Production Program. His work has been shown nationally and internationally,

including multiple short documentaries for the CBC Creator's Network, narrative shorts, music videos,

and commercials. Shiun is a

2nd-generation Japanese Canadian who now works to explore the human psyche and its influences on

our mental health while using a non-western lens.

Nancy Q | Producer

Nancy Q is a dynamic Lebanese-Canadian Producer based in Vancouver, armed with an Honors Degree in Economics. She brings a unique blend of creative vision and logistical expertise to the world of filmmaking, playing a pivotal role in elevating the narratives of emerging filmmakers. Notably, she served as the lead producer for Crazy8s short film "High End Dying." Her unwavering dedication to the art of storytelling is evident in her work, as she continues to seek stories with unique perspectives and depth. When she's not passionately supporting captivating stories as a producer, Nancy indulges her love for cinema by immersing herself in all genres as an avid viewer.

Berlin Lu

Berlin Lu was a theatre actor in Australia and became a film and television actor in North America. He is known for roles in Supernatural, iZombie and Supergirl. Berlin played the lead role in the real-life portrayal of Shi Ming in the award winning film, The World is Bright. In 2021, Berlin won Best Australian Actor at the AFIN International Film Festival.

Lynn Liong

Lynn Liong is an up-and-coming Malaysian-Chinese actress based in Vancouver. Her credits include shorts from Malaysia and Canada, including a recent Run N' Gun. Karak marks her first foray into MAMM.

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Follow us on IG @karak.film for updates!