The awarded title:
9 TEMPLES TO HEAVEN by Sompot Chidgasornpongse (he/him – Thailand) - 2nd feature
Project synopsis: Upon hearing a prophecy from his boss that his mother (83) may not have long to live, Sakol (63) initiates a one-day pilgrimage to 9 temples with his ailing mother and his family of 9. From dawn, they chant Buddhist scriptures and make offerings to the monks repeatedly at each temple. Sakol, feeling the weight of the prophecy, faces his family resistance but persists. Past conflicts resurface, forcing everyone to reconsider their roles within the family. The situation becomes more heated when Sakol insists on continuing despite Grandmother's weakening condition. Ultimately, they must decide how to fulfill the prophecy when Grandmother, overwhelmed and exhausted, wishes to stop the journey.
Main production company: Kick the Machine Films (Thailand)
Co-production companies: Petit Chaos (France), E&W Films (Singapore), True Content (Norway)
Person and company benefitting from the Fund: Thomas Hakim, Julien Graff (Petit Chaos, Orléans, France)
As stated by the TFL Funds Coordinator Greta Fornari: «The first fiction feature film by Thai filmmaker Sompot Chidgasornpongse is a graceful exploration of a family as a microcosm of society. This film masterfully balances artistic relevance with captivating narrative and humor, addressing socio-political issues through a strong cinematic vision and a unique tenderness that will undoubtedly touch the hearts of its viewers».
The path with TFL will start with various consultancies shaped in conversation with the film team, according to its needs at the time of selection: from script consultancy to cinematography, from VFX to sound design. The options are countless! On top of that, the project team will have the opportunity to participate in the 18th TFL Meeting Event (20th-22nd November 2025, Turin), TFL’s co-production forum, attended every year by over 200 European and international professionals.
Read more about it on the dedicated Screen International article.
TFL Co-Production Fund is organised by TorinoFilmLab - Museo Nazionale del Cinema with the support of Creative Europe – MEDIA Sub-programme of the European Union.