Expansion of "A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts" with Indonesian Collaboration

The animated horror anthology "A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts," based in Singapore, has expanded its international co-production efforts by partnering with Kucing Hitam, one of Indonesia's leading independent creative producing and intellectual property management companies. This collaboration was announced at the Asia TV Forum, where Kucing Hitam joins other production partners including Robot Playground Media (Singapore), Xanthus Animation (Taiwan), and Toonz Media Group (Ireland/India). The film adapts the acclaimed book by Chinese-American author Ying Chang Compestine into four standalone yet interlinked stories, currently in early-stage production.

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Founded in 2019, Kucing Hitam has established a reputation for producing notable Southeast Asian genre films, including "KKN di Desa Penari," which became Indonesia's highest-grossing horror film. The company has engaged with grassroots creators to cultivate culturally rooted narratives. Charles Johannes, founder of Kucing Hitam, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “The story has the same cultural spirit that drives Indonesia’s new wave of genre films — strong traditions, modern concerns, and the ability to reach audiences everywhere.” This partnership aims to enhance the film's cultural resonance and broaden its audience reach.

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The project has garnered support from Mediacorp, Singapore’s national media network, which invested in its creative development when it was initially conceived as a television series. Angeline Poh, chief customer and corporate development officer at Mediacorp, remarked on the project's evolution from a series pilot to a feature film with regional partners and global ambitions. Additionally, Telegael, an award-winning Irish studio within Toonz Media Group, will lead post-production, blending Eastern storytelling with European production capabilities.

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Producers highlight the franchise potential of "A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts," with Justin Deimen noting the film's scalability and commercial viability across Southeast Asia. Allen Jordan, managing director of Goshen Group, emphasized the film's appeal to Indonesian audiences, stating it resonates with two of the country's passions: food and horror. This cultural connection is expected to enhance the film's marketability.

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"A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts" is slated for theatrical release in early 2027. Following its representation by Toonz Media Group at the American Film Market, the project will return to Asia, where Toonz and Robot Playground Media will continue to drive presales across the region. The collaboration aims to deepen the world-building of the anthology and push the project towards a global audience.

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• “The story has the same cultural spirit that drives Indonesia’s new wave of genre films — strong traditions, modern concerns, and the ability to reach audiences everywhere.” — Charles Johannes, Founder of Kucing Hitam

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• “Kucing Hitam’s entrance strengthens the spine and lore of this anthology film,” — Ervin Han, Co-founder of Robot Playground Media

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• “ Allen Jordan, managing director of Goshen Group, added: “The Indonesian audience will connect immediately with the film because it touches on two of the country’s great passions — food and horror.” — Allen Jordan, Managing Director of Goshen Group

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This collaboration represents a significant step in the international co-production landscape, merging diverse cultural narratives and production expertise to create a unique cinematic experience.

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