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Whisperings of the Moon

dir. Lai Yuqing
Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, China, India 2025, 87’
subtitles: Polish and English

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Polish premiere
Theatrical Screenings
Sa 14 Nov, 11:00
Kinoteka 1
Kinoteka 1
Mo 16 Nov, 17:45
Kinomuzeum
Kinomuzeum
Film also presented during the festival showcase in Poznań (19–22.11)
Online Availability
10 Nov, 10:00 – 6 Dec
Additional Materials
Awards and festivals
World premiere: Busan International Film Festival 2025 Slamdance FF 2026 - Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize
Credits
Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, China, India 2025
Duration: 87’
director: Lai Yuqing
screenplay: Lai Yuqing, Jatla Siddartha, Zoey Cao
cinematography: Lai Yuqing
editing: Akhmad Fesdi Anggoro
music: Loke Rahbek, Frederik Valentin
sound: Mia Wang
cast: Sopheanith Thong, Deka Nine, Monita Keo, Dina Huon, KB Saadi, Amarin Sam
producer: Jatla Siddartha, Lily Yang, Esther Li
production: Nimbus Films, Mirage Films, La Fonte, Acting Art Academy, Momo Films, Aftertake Post Production
language: Khmer, English
colouration: colour

Film description

News of her father’s death forces Nisay, a young stage actress from New York, to return to her native Cambodia. In Phnom Penh, she reunites with Thida – her former lover. Their deep bond is quickly rekindled and, despite the years apart, once again fills every corner of their shared lives. Soon, however, their renewed relationship faces mounting family pressure and strict social expectations. Suspended between past and present, Whisperings of the Moon blurs the boundaries between fiction and reality, pseudo-documentary and social drama. Lai Yuqing’s feature directorial debut is an intimate romance – a moving portrait of a love fighting to survive in a world that had long written it off. Premiering at Busan and winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival, the film explores the dilemmas of a young generation constantly questioning its choices and wondering: what if…?

Whisperings of the Moon marks the first and final film by Lai, who tragically passed away at the age of 23, just months after its premiere.

text:
Lucyna Szczykutowicz

Lai Yuqing

Born in Tianjin in 2002, Lai Yuqing was a Chinese director, actress, and musician. She studied film and art in New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto, and starred in Daphne Xu’s short film Notes of a Crocodile (2024), which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. Her work centred on themes of identity, love, and loss. Her feature directorial debut, Whispers of the Moon (featured in the 20th Five Flavours Asian Film Festival programme), premiered at the Busan International Film Festival and won the Grand Jury Prize at Slamdance. Lai died tragically in Phnom Penh in January 2026, aged 23.

Filmography:

2021 Fèi téng / Boiling in My Dream (short)

2024 Two Suns (short)

2025 Ài shì yī běn shū / Love is a Book (short)

2025 Szepty księżyca / Whisperings of the Moon

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