KUALA LUMPUR: Horror film Sumpahan Jerunei is set to compete in the Paris Art & Movie Awards in August next year.
Its co-producer Datin Wendy Wong of Produksi Seni 2020 Sdn Bhd said in an interview with Berita Harian Online yesterday that the film was selected by the awards' organisers based on its unique and original storyline, spectacular cinematography and promotion of culture and heritage.
"French film enthusiasts love artistic films as this. It is a first for my company and I hope for the best," she said.
Wong added that the film's plot twists made it "out of the ordinary" and each of its scary scenes served an important purpose in the main characters' journeys.
Sumpahan Jerunei which stars Bront Palarae, Uqasha Senrose, Daiyan Trisha, Shafie Naswip, Amerul Affendi, Tony Eusoff and Yuyun Hikmah was screened in cinemas last July.
Directed by Jason Chong, it tells the story of archaeologists and conservationists who go on a mission into the jungles of Sarawak to find an ancient Melanau burial pole or jerunei.
The team is haunted by terrifying sprits that emerge from beneath the pole, and also learn of gruesome human sacrifices that accompanied the burial of ancient Melanau aristocrats inside it.
Wong said that she and co-producer Datuk Nancie Foo planned to bring their film into United States film festivals later.
Sumpahan Jerunei won five awards at the Florence Film Awards in Italy last May namely Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Original Musical Score and Best Producer.
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