"I've been searching, seeking, my whole life... And now, finally, we meet." Good Deed Entertainment has revealed an official US trailer for an intriguing sci-fi indie film made in Cambodia titled Karmalink. This first premiered last year at the Venice International Film Critics' Week, and it played at tons of other film festivals throughout late 2021 and early 2022. It's now opening in the US this July. In this Buddhist sci-fi mystery set in near-future Phnom Penh, a young Cambodian detective untangles a link between her friend's past-life dreams of a lost gold artifact and a neuroscientist's determination to attain digital enlightenment. The main story follows a 13-year-old boy and his friend - they "must decide how far they are willing to go to find their treasure and the truth." The indie film stars Leng Heng Prak, Srey Leak Chhith, Sahajak Boonthanakit, and Cindy Sirinya Bishop. I'm super interested in this, all...
- 6/9/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Popular Thai drama actress Cindy Sirinya Bishop recently took to her social media to share her recreated look of Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt from the latter’s biographical crime-drama film ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ where she played the eponymous character of the madame of a brothel. Cindy shared a video of herself dressed in a white saree which […]...
- 5/20/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
A book of dreams, teenagers searching for buried treasure and a quest to digitally manufacture spiritual enlightenment constitute the intriguing ingredients of “Karmalink,” a fresh and highly entertaining sci-fi mystery-adventure set in a near-future Phnom Penh. Driven by Buddhist concepts of karma and rebirth, and underscored by commentary on Cambodia’s past, present and potential future, this striking feature debut by U.S. filmmaker Jake Wachtel takes viewers on a fascinating and frequently wondrous expedition to a place where science and metaphysics intersect.
“Karmalink” should enjoy a strong festival run and broad VOD distribution following its world premiere at Venice Critics’ Week. It has theatrical potential, especially in regional markets with substantial Buddhist populations. U.S. and Cambodian release details are yet to be announced.
Phnom Penh might not seem like the obvious setting for science-fiction, but it proves to be an ideal backdrop for a tale that anchors its...
“Karmalink” should enjoy a strong festival run and broad VOD distribution following its world premiere at Venice Critics’ Week. It has theatrical potential, especially in regional markets with substantial Buddhist populations. U.S. and Cambodian release details are yet to be announced.
Phnom Penh might not seem like the obvious setting for science-fiction, but it proves to be an ideal backdrop for a tale that anchors its...
- 9/2/2021
- by Richard Kuipers
- Variety Film + TV
Reincarnation, artificial consciousness and augmented reality intersect in U.S. director Jake Wachtel’s Cambodia-set “Karmalink,” for which Variety can reveal the first trailer.
The sci-fi mystery will have its world premiere as the opening film of the Venice Film Festival’s Critics’ Week on Sept. 1.
Set in a near-future Phnom Penh, “Karmalink” is about a 13-year-old boy and his street-smart female friend who team up to search for a gold statue from the boy’s past lives, while traveling across town and also back in time.
But what begins as a hunt for a Buddhist treasure soon leads to greater discoveries in the digital realm that could be either enlightening or obliterating.
Wachtel, who grew up in Palo Alto, started developing the film in 2015, while teaching filmmaking in Phnom Penh. He cast two former students as his leads and shot the film on location after living in their community for several years.
The sci-fi mystery will have its world premiere as the opening film of the Venice Film Festival’s Critics’ Week on Sept. 1.
Set in a near-future Phnom Penh, “Karmalink” is about a 13-year-old boy and his street-smart female friend who team up to search for a gold statue from the boy’s past lives, while traveling across town and also back in time.
But what begins as a hunt for a Buddhist treasure soon leads to greater discoveries in the digital realm that could be either enlightening or obliterating.
Wachtel, who grew up in Palo Alto, started developing the film in 2015, while teaching filmmaking in Phnom Penh. He cast two former students as his leads and shot the film on location after living in their community for several years.
- 8/20/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Jake Wachtel’s debut feature deals with artificial consciousness and reincarnation.
Cambodia-us sci-fi Karmalink, the debut feature of director Jake Wachtel, will be the opening night film for the autonomous Critics’ Week section at Venice International Film Festival (September 1-11).
The film is written by Wachtel and Christopher Seán Larsen; it is produced by US first-time feature producer Valerie Steinberg for Valerie Steinberg Productions, whose previous credits include Sundance shorts Hair Wolf and Blocks, and Tribeca short Coffee Shop Names.
LevelK is handling world sales on the film, with XYZ Films handling North America.
Set in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in the near-future,...
Cambodia-us sci-fi Karmalink, the debut feature of director Jake Wachtel, will be the opening night film for the autonomous Critics’ Week section at Venice International Film Festival (September 1-11).
The film is written by Wachtel and Christopher Seán Larsen; it is produced by US first-time feature producer Valerie Steinberg for Valerie Steinberg Productions, whose previous credits include Sundance shorts Hair Wolf and Blocks, and Tribeca short Coffee Shop Names.
LevelK is handling world sales on the film, with XYZ Films handling North America.
Set in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in the near-future,...
- 7/22/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Jake Wachtel makes feature directorial debut on “Buddhist sci-fi mystery”.
XYZ Films and LevelK are joining forces for the first time to work on Cambodian sci-fi feature Karmalink. LevelK will handle international sales while XYZ represents North American rights.
Jake Wachtel makes his feature directorial debut on the film, described as a “Buddhist sci-fi mystery”. The story follows a 13-year-old boy and his detective friend searching for a gold statue from the boy’s past lives, while navigating a high-tech, near-future Cambodia.
Los Angeles-based Valerie Steinberg produces for Valerie Steinberg Productions. Co-producers are Cambodian director-producer Sok Visal of 802 Films, as...
XYZ Films and LevelK are joining forces for the first time to work on Cambodian sci-fi feature Karmalink. LevelK will handle international sales while XYZ represents North American rights.
Jake Wachtel makes his feature directorial debut on the film, described as a “Buddhist sci-fi mystery”. The story follows a 13-year-old boy and his detective friend searching for a gold statue from the boy’s past lives, while navigating a high-tech, near-future Cambodia.
Los Angeles-based Valerie Steinberg produces for Valerie Steinberg Productions. Co-producers are Cambodian director-producer Sok Visal of 802 Films, as...
- 6/3/2021
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
The King Maker
Stars: Gary Stretch, John Rhys-Davies, Cindy Burbridge | Written by Sean Casey | Directed by Lek Kitaparaporn
The King Maker takes place in the Ayutthaya Kingdom in Siam (now Thailand) in the sixteenth century and follows the adventures of Fernando (the excellently named Gary Stretch) , a Portuguese mercenary, who, after being shipwrecked, is captured by Arab slavers. After an attempt to escape, his freedom is bought by the beautiful Maria (Cindy Burbridge), a Portuguese living in Siam with her father, Philippe (John Rhys-Davies of Indiana Jones and Lord of the Rings fame), who is working in service to the king (Nirut Sirichanya). Fernando too finds himself fighting for the king and after proving himself to be a strong warrior, enlisted in the king’s personal guard. Soon, it becomes apparent that the king’s life is in danger; unbeknownst to Fernando, it is the queen (Yossavadee Hassadeevitchitt) behind the assassination attempts,...
Stars: Gary Stretch, John Rhys-Davies, Cindy Burbridge | Written by Sean Casey | Directed by Lek Kitaparaporn
The King Maker takes place in the Ayutthaya Kingdom in Siam (now Thailand) in the sixteenth century and follows the adventures of Fernando (the excellently named Gary Stretch) , a Portuguese mercenary, who, after being shipwrecked, is captured by Arab slavers. After an attempt to escape, his freedom is bought by the beautiful Maria (Cindy Burbridge), a Portuguese living in Siam with her father, Philippe (John Rhys-Davies of Indiana Jones and Lord of the Rings fame), who is working in service to the king (Nirut Sirichanya). Fernando too finds himself fighting for the king and after proving himself to be a strong warrior, enlisted in the king’s personal guard. Soon, it becomes apparent that the king’s life is in danger; unbeknownst to Fernando, it is the queen (Yossavadee Hassadeevitchitt) behind the assassination attempts,...
- 3/20/2011
- by Jack Kirby
- Nerdly
Based on the true story of a murderous queen, who, in 16th century Siam, plotted the murder of her husband so her lover could accede to the throne, the historical action epic The King Maker, which stars Gary Stretch, John Rhys-Davies and former Miss Thailand Cindy Burbridge, is released on DVD next week courtesy of Anchor Bay.
Seeking revenge on the man responsible for his father’s death many years earlier, Portuguese mercenary Fernando De Gama (Stretch) sets sail on a warship bound for the Orient but finds himself shipwrecked, captured by Arab traders and put up for auction as a slave. He is rescued by a beautiful woman, Maria (Burbridge), who buys him back his freedom and introduces him to her father, Phillippe (Rhys-Davis), who Fernando immediately recognizes as a sinister face from his past.
Subsequently pressed into military service in support of Chairacha, King of the Ayutthaya kingdom of Siam,...
Seeking revenge on the man responsible for his father’s death many years earlier, Portuguese mercenary Fernando De Gama (Stretch) sets sail on a warship bound for the Orient but finds himself shipwrecked, captured by Arab traders and put up for auction as a slave. He is rescued by a beautiful woman, Maria (Burbridge), who buys him back his freedom and introduces him to her father, Phillippe (Rhys-Davis), who Fernando immediately recognizes as a sinister face from his past.
Subsequently pressed into military service in support of Chairacha, King of the Ayutthaya kingdom of Siam,...
- 3/18/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
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