Amanda Nell Eu
Amanda Nell Eu | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 November 1985[1] Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Occupations | Film director, screenwriter |
| Years active | 2012–present |
Amanda Nell Eu (born November 26, 1985) is a Malaysian film director and screenwriter. She is known for her film Tiger Stripes. The film was shown at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival on 17 May 2023 where it won the Critics' Week Grand Prize. It was selected as the Malaysian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.[2][3]
Early life and education
Eu was born in Kuala Lumpur on 25 November 1985.[4] When she was 11, she moved to Britain where her grandmother originated. She went to a boarding school in High Wycombe. She then studied graphic design at Central Saint Martins before attending London Film School.[5][6]
Eu also studied at the Filmmakers Academy in Locarno at the course led by Stefano Knuchel.[7]
Career
After she graduated from the London Film School with an MA, she made two short films, Pasak (2012) and Seesaw (2015).[8] She returned to settle in Malaysia. She became interested in the folklore of the country and made two short films based on characters from such lore. The first made in 2017 was It's Easier to Raise Cattle, a story involving a pontianak,[9] which premiered in competition at the Venice International Film Festival and received a Special Mention at the International Short Film Festival Clermont-Ferrand.[4] She also made the short films Fu Xin De Ren in 2017 and Vinegar Baths (involving a penanggalan) in 2018.[10]
Eu directed her first feature film Tiger Stripes released in 2023. The film won the Critics' Week Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.[11][12] In 2025, her second feature film Lotus Feet was selected for the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR)’s Hubert Bals Fund (HBF) development support scheme.[13]
Eu was also formerly the drummer for the London-based alternative rock band, Screaming Tea Party.[14]
Works
Short film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Pasak | Yes | Yes | |
| 2015 | Seesaw | Yes | No | |
| 2017 | Lagi Senang Jaga Sekandang Lembu | Yes | Yes | |
| 2017 | Fu Xin De Ren | Yes | Yes | |
| 2018 | Vinegar Baths | Yes | Yes |
Feature film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Tiger Stripes | Yes | Yes | |
| TBA | Lotus Feet | Yes | Yes |
Awards and nominations
| Award / Organization / Film festival | Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HACTION! Shot on Lumix GH5 | 2017 | N/a | Fu Xin De Ren | 3rd place | [15] |
| Singapore International Film Festival | 2017 | Best Southeast Asian Short Film | Lagi Senang Jaga Sekandang Lembu | Nominated | [16] |
| Venice International Film Festival | 2017 | Orizzonti - Short Films Competition | Nominated | [17] | |
| Regensburg Short Film Week | 2018 | Best International Short Film | Nominated | [18] | |
| Scream Asia | 2019 | Horror Short Film Competition | Vinegar Baths | 1st place | [19][20] |
| Southeast Asian International Short Film Festival | 2019 | Next New Wave Award | Won | [21] | |
| Best Cinematography | Won | ||||
| Asia Pacific Screen Awards | 2023 | Best Youth Film | Tiger Stripes | Nominated | [22] |
| BFI London Film Festival | 2023 | First Feature Competition - Sutherland Trophy | Nominated | [23] | |
| Cannes Film Festival | 2023 | Critics' Week - Grand Prize | Won | [24] | |
| Caméra d'Or | Nominated | ||||
| 2024 | Women In Motion - Emerging Talent Award[a] | Herself | Won | [25] | |
| Fantasia Film Festival | 2023 | Cheval Noir - Best Film | Tiger Stripes | Nominated | [26] |
| New Flesh - Special Mention | Won | ||||
| Fantasy Filmfest | 2023 | Fresh Blood Award | Nominated | [27] | |
| Hamptons International Film Festival | 2023 | Golden Starfish Award - Narrative Feature | Nominated | [28] | |
| Hong Kong Asian Film Festival | 2023 | New Talent Award | Nominated | [29] | |
| Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival | 2023 | Golden Hanoman Award | Nominated | [30] | |
| Munich Film Festival | 2023 | CineRebels Award | Nominated | [31] | |
| Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival | 2023 | Narcisse Award - Best Feature Film | Won | [32] | |
| Pingyao International Film Festival | 2023 | Gala-Best Film | Nominated | [33] | |
| QCinema International Film Festival | 2023 | Asian Next Wave Competition - Best Picture | Won | [34] | |
| Best Director | Won | ||||
| São Paulo International Film Festival | 2023 | New Directors Competition - Best Fiction | Nominated | [35] | |
| Sitges Film Festival | 2023 | Official Competition - Best Feature Film | Nominated | [36] | |
| Taipei Film Festival | 2023 | International New Talent Competition - Grand Prize | Nominated | [37] | |
| Tokyo FILMeX | 2023 | Grand Prize | Nominated | [38] | |
| Asian Film Awards | 2024 | Best New Director | Nominated | [39] | |
| Palm Springs International Film Festival | 2024 | FIPRESCI - Best International Film | Nominated | [40] | |
| Sun Valley Film Festival | 2024 | Best Narrative Feature Film | Won | [41] |
Notes
References
- ^ "Date of birth". IMDB. 2006.
- ^ Peter Tan, John (6 October 2023). "Tiger Stripes Chosen To Represent Malaysia At Next Year's Oscars". The Rakyat Post. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ Bradshaw, Peter (6 October 2023). "Tiger Stripes review – coming-of-age body horror releases the monster inside". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Amanda Nell Eu". Semaine de la Critique.
- ^ Wong, Silvia (1 July 2023). "'Tiger Stripes' director Amanda Nell Eu tracks the wild journey of the award-winning Malaysian film". Screen Daily.
- ^ Ratcliffe, Rebecca (25 November 2023). "Tiger Stripes: Malaysia's censors have 'removed the essence' of my film, says director". The Guardian.
- ^ "Amanda Nell Eu, Winner of Cannes' Semaine de la Critique: A Rising Talent from Locarno". Locarno Film Festival. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ Lupher, Sonia (15 May 2021). "Amanda Nell Eu: Interview by Sonia Lupher". Cut-throat Woman.
- ^ "Tea time with Lagi Senang Jaga Sekandang Lembu [It's Easier to Raise Cattle]". Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival. 1 February 2018.
- ^ Liu, Emily (12 October 2020). "The Appetite of "Vinegar Baths"". Subtitle magazine.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (19 October 2023). "'Tiger Stripes' Director Amanda Nell Eu Denounces Malaysian Censored Release of Oscar-Hopeful Film". Variety.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (18 May 2023). "'Tiger Stripes' Is Highly Developed Product of Indie Film Support System". Variety.
- ^ Dams, Tim (24 July 2025). "Hubert Bals Fund selects 15 projects for 2025 development support scheme". ScreenDaily.
- ^ "Nell Eu". Discogs. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
- ^ "Hatching Stuff – HACTION! Short Films 2017 (part 2)". 8 February 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (SGIFF)". FINAS. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ Leah, Nia (18 September 2017). "10 Questions With Filmmaker Amanda Nell Eu". JUICE. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Regensburg Short Film Week - 2018". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Scream Asia 2019 Short Film Competition winners". Scream Asia. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Amanda Nell EU". Asian Film Awards Academy. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "3rd SeaShorts International Film Festival annouces winners". FINAS. 29 September 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Asia Pacific Screen Awards - 2023". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "BFI London Film Festival - 2023". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Cannes: Malaysian Genre Mash-Up 'Tiger Stripes' Wins 2023 Critics' Week". The Hollywood Reporter. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Kering and the Festival de Cannes to present the 2024 WIMETA to Malaysian director". Kering. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "27th edition of Fantasia announces full list of award winners". Fantasia Festival. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Fantasy Filmfest - 2023". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Hamptons International Film Festival - 2023". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Hong Kong Asian Film Festival - 2023". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival - 2023". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Munich Film Festival - 2023". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "NIFFF 2023: Sold Out Screenings and Young Talents Rewarded". Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Pingyao International Film Festival - 2023". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "QCinema International Film Festival - 2023". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "São Paulo International Film Festival - 2023". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Sitges-Catalonian International Film Festival - 2023". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Taipei Film Festival - 2023". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Tokyo FILMeX - 2023". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Asian Film Awards - 2024". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Palm Springs International Film Festival - 2024". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Sun Valley Film Festival, US - 2024". iMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2026.