LION

Lunar New Year is often framed as spectacle and celebration, a season of prosperity, reunion, and joy. Yet for many second-generation members of the (South) East Asian diaspora, it can also carry something more complex: silence, distance, and the weight of inherited histories.The lion dance within LION embodies the complex stages of self-discovery, reconnection, and integration of identity. It is a celebration of heritage, a reclaiming of childhood memories, and a recognition that cultural expression is not fixed but continuously unfolding. Through ritual, the project cultivates reflection, joy, and cultural pride, reclaiming stories that have long been unspoken.

Nastassia Winge Tan is an emerging film director with a distinctive cinematic voice. Born in the Netherlands with roots that trace back to China and Indonesia. She approaches storytelling with a rare sensitivity to narrative, identity, and cross-cultural expression allowing her to craft purpose-driven stories that resonate on multiple levels. She fuses visual storytelling with cultural critique, experimental aesthetics, and thoughtful composition.

Main Cast: Luk Hop Moon, Joshua Tjon Sieuw, Jeroen Timmerman, Hairu Mas, Ka Sing Wu

Producer: Vyvy Ly, Ravi Amaratunga-Hitchcock

Writer: Nastassia Winge Tan

Created by: Nastassia Winge Tan & Annie Chiu-Giang

DoP: Lenny Lu

Movement Director: Leonarda Lovrekovic

Editor: Leda Zhang

1st AD: Kevin Fung

Composer & Sound Design: Yuka Otsuki

Wardrobe & Design: Juliana Miguéis

Grading: Milton Broen

Content Warning: Noise sensitivity

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