Fruit Gathering () is a 2026 romantic drama film written and directed by Aung Phyoe in his feature directorial debut. The film explores the slow-burning queer longing and intense friendship between San Kyi and Theint Theint Oo working in a Yangon garment factory. It shares its title with a poetry collection by Rabindranath Tagore.
The film, a co-production between Myanmar, Czech Republic and France premiered at 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on 9 July 2026, where it won the Crystal Globe.
Synopsis
The film is a quiet, intimate story set in today's Myanmar, it follows two young garment factory workers in Yangon — San Kyi and Theint Theint Oo — who slowly grow close while living through long, repetitive workdays. San Kyi is shy and often thinks about going back to her village, but there are few jobs there, so she stays. Over time, her feelings turn toward the practical, confident Theint. Their bond grows through small gestures, silence, and emotions they cannot openly express, because relationships between women are still socially unacceptable.
Cast Nandar Myat Aung as San Kyi Nandar Myint Lwin as Theint Theint Oo Thida Soe Khant as Ei Ei Khin Tin Tin Ei as Ohm Kyi Min Nyo as Phone Shwe
Production
The film directed by writer-director Aung Phyoe is the first-ever film from Myanmar to Karlovy Vary International Film Festival main competition lineup.
In August 2020, the film was presented as part of Locarno’s Open Doors co-production platform. The project in developing stage was expected to shoot in the autumn of 2021.
Release Fruit Gathering had its world premiere at the 2026 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on 9 July 2026 in Crystal Globe Competition.
It was screened in Multicolor at the Bangkok International Film Festival on 24 September 2026, where it got Special Mention in Best ASEAN Film award.
On 7 October 2026, it will be showcased in Panorama section of the 2026 Vancouver International Film Festival. It will compete in the First Feature Competition at the 2026 BFI London Film Festival on 14 October 2026, and at the 21st Rome Film Festival in 'Progressive Cinema Competition - Visions for the World of Tomorrow' in October 2026.
Reception
In his review at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, David Acacia of the International Cinephile Society rated the film with 4 stars out of five and praised the lead actress Nandar Myat Aung for her performance writing, "a wonderfully specific performance by Nandar Myat Aung adds even more to the development of San Kyi’s character." Acacia wrote about the film's striking contribution to queer cinema observing "that while [the film] certainly isn’t cautious or tentative about including familiar queer elements, its interest goes beyond the specificity of navigating one’s feelings for a member of the same sex." Concluding his review Acacia wrote that the film explores loneliness, longing, and the deep wish to feel complete through love from one particular person "whoever that may be".
Writing for Cineuropa, Martin Kudláč gave a positive review, describing Fruit Gathering as a "poetically inflected psychological drama about longing under pressure". He noted that, although the film is rooted in social issues, director Aung Phyoe avoids reducing it to a story solely about labour exploitation, political repression or queer identity. Instead, Kudláč wrote that the film explores how these forces influence intimate emotional decisions, concluding that it is "a delicate, sometimes elusive debut" about female intimacy and the quiet impact of social expectations on personal desire.
In his review for Variety, Guy Lodge praised Fruit Gathering for its understated emotional power, highlighting Aung Phyoe's use of silent exchanges, expressive gestures, and dreamlike cinematography of Thaiddhi to convey the evolving relationship between its two protagonists highlighted by "Akari Diraki’s beautifully tailored costumes". He noted that the film is "most artful, and most moving" in its quiet moments, where visual details and restrained performances create a strong sense of intimacy and sensuality despite keeping overt eroticism largely off screen. Lodge was more critical of the film's shift toward overt melodrama, observing that the confrontational scenes felt less convincing than its subtle emotional register, although he found the performances emotionally authentic. He concluded that the film regains its strength in a poignant ending that returns to its restrained, bittersweet tone, effectively portraying a love constrained by "stark socioeconomic reality" and experienced through only "brief, ecstatic moments of release".
Accolades
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 11 July 2026 Crystal Globe Grand Prix Fruit Gathering Bangkok International Film Festival 27 September 2026 Best ASEAN Film BFI London Film Festival 18 October 2026 Sutherland AwardAung Phyoe Asia Pacific Screen Awards 30 October 2026 Best Director
References
External links