LIEW SENG TAT, 28
BY TAN CHUI MUI

Like many fellow indie filmmakers, Seng Tat and I have worked on each other’s projects throughout the years. I first met him in 1997. He was my classmate back when we were both attending the Multimedia University in Melaka, and we have been my best friend since.

I once received a note from him. It was during a study break before our final exams. He left a parcel at my door before he left for KL with the note attached. It said: “I don’t have money to photocopy all the lecture notes for you, so I give you half of mine.” I am still keeping that note.

We were both majoring in Film and Animation, and I remember this Plasticine mock-up sculpture he made in the first year. It was of a very old couple dancing naked, with their skin sagging and faces distorted. Though it was just a sculpture, I think anyone who saw it would feel that the old couple was deeply in love. I was really impressed then. And I knew he would be a very successful director.

I think I was right. Since his first short film was shown in the Malaysian Shorts series, he has never failed to win the audience award. Flower In The Pocket is only his first feature film, but Seng Tat has already won numerous international awards. In addition to the New Currents award at Pusan, the film also received the special Jury Prize at the 10th Deauville Asian Film Festival, the Tiger Award at Rotterdam International Film Festival, and the Golden Gaze award at the FRIBOURG International Film Festival. This October, he will be going to Cannes for a five-month residency.

Tan Chui Mui is the executive producer of Flower In The Pocket, co-founder of Dahuang Pictures and an award-winning filmmaker.