Mother Bhumi
2025 film by Chong Keat Aun
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Mother Bhumi (Chinese: 地母) is a 2025 drama film written and directed by Chong Keat Aun, starring Fan Bingbing,[2] Natalie Hsu, Bai Run-yin and Pearlly Chua. The film has been selected for the main competition section of the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival,[3] where it had its world premiere on 27 October 2025.[4] The film received eight nominations at the 62nd Golden Horse Awards and won three, including Best Cinematography, Best Original Film Song, and Best Leading Actress for Fan.[5]
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| Mother Bhumi | |
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| Traditional Chinese | 地母 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Dì Mǔ |
| Directed by | Chong Keat Aun |
| Written by | Chong Keat Aun |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Leung Ming Kai |
| Edited by | Erik Moh |
| Music by |
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Production companies | SunStrong Entertainment
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| Distributed by | Rediance[1] |
Release date |
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| Countries |
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Premise
In late-1990s Malaysia, amid political unrest, Hong Im, a widowed farmer and ritual healer, struggles to protect her family in a multi-ethnic rice-farming village. By day, she resists land seizures; by night, she heals and exorcises. As colonial-era conflicts resurface, strange events unfold: spirits return, black magic stirs, and a monk leads a buffalo. The legacy of empire haunts the land, the living, and the dead of Bujang Valley.
Cast
- Fan Bingbing as Hong Im
- Natalie Hsu as Boon
- Bai Run-yin as Koon
- Pearlly Chua as Har
- Pauline Tan as Sim
- Loh Lai Kan as Eng
- Rithaudin Abdul Kadir as Tam
- Alvin Wong as Dato’ Tan
- Tan Mei Ling as Datin
Production
Mother Bhumi project was selected for the Work in Production (WIP) section of the 2025 Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF23). A Malaysian–Italian–Hong Kong co-production, the film is executive produced by Datuk Wira Jment Lim, Victor Ren and Calvin Choi.[6]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo International Film Festival | 5 November 2025 | Tokyo Grand Prix | Mother Bhumi | Nominated | [3] |
| Golden Horse Awards | 22 November 2025 | Best Narrative Feature | Mother Bhumi | Nominated | [7] |
| Best Director | Chong Keat Aun | Nominated | |||
| Best Leading Actress | Fan Bingbing | Won | |||
| Best Original Film Score | Yii Kah-hoe, Chong Keat Aun | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Film Song | "Bhujanga" (Chong Keat Aun, Penny Tai) | Won | |||
| Best Cinematography | Leung Ming Kai | Won | |||
| Best Sound Effects | Tu Duu-chih, Fiona Chang, Chen Kuan-ting | Nominated | |||
| Best Makeup & Costume Design | Elaine Ng, Gary Chan, Kate Kua, Daphne Wong | Nominated | |||
| Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards | 25 January 2026 | Best Actress | Fan Bingbing | Nominated | [8] |