Production has officially started on Kungfuland, a brand-new martial arts comedy that marks the first ever official scripted co-production between Singapore and Canada. Filming is currently underway at AUX Infinite Studios in Singapore, utilizing advanced virtual production tools alongside traditional physical movie sets.
The film features an international ensemble cast. Glow star Ellen Wong and Hugh Tran lead the lineup alongside Idrissa Sanogo Bamba and Dion Johnstone. Martial arts cinema fans will also spot a special cameo from veteran Hong Kong actor and filmmaker David Chiang, best known for his legendary work in The New One-Armed Swordsman.
A Retro Trip to the Days of VHS
Set in Chinatown during the year 1999, Kungfuland functions as a direct homage to the golden era of 1970s martial arts movies. The plot follows a dedicated kung fu movie nerd who finds themselves completely trapped inside their favourite films. To escape, they must fight their way through classic cinematic scenarios to save their long-lost father before the real world erases their existence forever.
Director Jacen Tan, who previously helmed the horror comedy Zombiepura, co-wrote the screenplay alongside Andrew Ngin and Maninder Chana. Tan explained that his own childhood experiences inspired the concept.
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“I grew up watching and rewatching old-school kungfu movies on VHS, dreaming of jumping into the screen,” Tan said. “Kungfuland is a nostalgic mash-up inspired by Shaw Brothers martial arts films, powered by the latest Virtual Production technologies. Who doesn’t love drunken masters, rooftop qing-gong, long-browed villains, one-hit pressure points, and masked ninjas who politely attack one at a time?”
Mixing Practical Sets With Virtual Tech
The production is utilising a hybrid filming method to recreate the distinct look of classic cinema. The crew is building physical, Shaw Brothers-inspired sets inside the studio, combining them with 3D virtual environments created by Infinite Frameworks.
The project is being produced by Singapore’s Ajacent Media and Canada’s 100 Dragons under an official bilateral co-production treaty. The film has received formal development support from the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA), Telefilm Canada, and Ontario Creates.
Producer Teresa M. Ho discovered the project in 2024 during the ATF x SAAVA IP Accelerator event in Singapore. Ho is producing the feature alongside Kat Goh, with a large team of executive producers overseeing the cross-border logistics.
Distribution rights are already locked in for multiple regions. Shaw Organisation will handle the theatrical release inside Singapore, while Raven Banner Releasing holds the distribution rights for Canada. International sales throughout the rest of the world are being managed by the Los Angeles-based firm Flourishing Films.
