21 Apr - Malaysian film "Bleat!" is set to made its debut in Cannes, France. The film, directed by Ananth Subramaniam, has been officially selected to compete at the 64th Semaine de la Critique (Cannes Critics' Week), running from 14 to 22 May 2025, alongside the 78th Cannes Film Festival. This marks a historic milestone as "Bleat!" becomes the first Malaysian short film to compete in Cannes Film Festival. "I've always had an inescapable feeling about my Malaysian-Tamil culture. Growing up, especially during those awkward puberty years, I wrestled with questions about who I was and where I fit in. The expectations felt heavy, sometimes impossible, and my community always seemed to be in a constant state of change. So, I turned myself into a goat and threw myself into the middle of all that inevitability - and somehow, that became a film about what makes being Malaysian-Tamil so special," said the director, who also penned the film.
"Now that Bleat! is in Semaine de la Critique, I hope it resonates with other minority kids who've felt that same inner conflict, offering a little comfort in knowing they're not alone. More than anything, this film is a love letter to the strength and resilience of my people," Ananth added. In "Bleat!", an elderly Malaysian-Tamil couple discovers their male goat, set for ceremonial slaughter, is pregnant. Torn between faith and the expectations of their community, they struggle to decide whether to slaughter it or face the wrath of the gods.
"Bleat!" is a compelling international co-production led by Choo Mun Bel of Sixtymac Pictures (Malaysia), Bradley Liew of Epicmedia Productions (Philippines), and Dominique Welinski (France), with international sales managed by Belgium-based Hors Du Bocal.
"BLEAT! is the fifth short film Ananth and I have made together. When he first shared the script with me, I was immediately drawn to its absurdity, warmth, and cultural specificity. The mix of music, humour, and a suburban Tamil backdrop created a cinematic language that felt unmistakably Malaysian. We worked meticulously through each phase of development, and I'm incredibly proud of the emotional depth and playful spirit this film brings to the screen," said Choo. The film stars Tharmasegaran MS Maniam, Pannerselvam Evarani, and Big Boy the goat. The selection of "BLEAT!" is especially meaningful for Ananth and Choo as they continue to develop their first international co-production feature "THE PASSPORT", which has already won several prestigious awards including in international project market like BIFAN NAFF Project Market (Bucheon Awards' Grand Prize) and Bangkok BAFF SEAPITCH (Grand Prize).