Mother Bhumi () is a 2025 drama film written and directed by Chong Keat Aun, starring Fan Bingbing, 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, where it had its world premiere on 27 October 2025. 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.
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.
Accolades 38th Tokyo International Film Festival - Main Competition 62nd Golden Horse Awards - Winner of 3 awards 28th Udine Far East Film Festival - Main Competition 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival - Signature Section Bangkok International Film Festival 2026 - Asean Film Competition 14th Singapore Chinese Film Festival - Chinese Panorama 4th Da Nang Asian Film Festival - Panorama of Asian Cinema
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Tokyo International Film Festival 5 November 2025 Tokyo Grand Prix Mother Bhumi Golden Horse Awards22 November 2025 Best Narrative Feature Mother Bhumi Best Director Chong Keat Aun Best Leading Actress Fan Bingbing Best Original Film Score Yii Kah-hoe, Chong Keat Aun Best Original Film Song "Bhujanga" (Chong Keat Aun, Penny Tai) Best Cinematography Leung Ming Kai Best Sound Effects Tu Duu-chih, Fiona Chang, Chen Kuan-ting Best Makeup & Costume Design Elaine Ng, Gary Chan, Kate Kua, Daphne Wong Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards 25 January 2026 Best Actress Fan Bingbing Bangkok International Film Festival 27 September 2026 Best Performance in a Leading Role Fan Bingbing
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