Parallax Acquires Kazakh Feature ‘Joqtau’ and Malaysia-Ireland Co-Production ‘WAShhh’ Ahead of Their Locarno Premieres

Parallax has acquired two titles from this year’s Locarno lineup: Aruan Anartay’s “Joqtau,” playing in the Concorso Cineasti del Presente, and Mickey Lai’s short film “WAShhh,” screening in the Pardi di Domani—Concorso Internazionale.

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Produced by Short Brothers and Alem Oner produce, “Joqtau” is Anartay’s feature debut. It tells the story of a young Kazakh named Darkhan who experiences the painful experience of losing a beloved one by imagining a journey with his passed-away grandfather that never happened. Anartay is recognized for his short films set in the Central Asian steppes, which offer a singular view of universal themes such as distance, reconnection, and ever-winning tenderness.

Locarno will host five screenings of “Joqtau,” one for industry only, one for the press and three open to the public. Distribution is currently available in all territories outside of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

“WAShhh” is a black-and-white short set in a Malaysia National Service Camp where a Chinese female trainee is commanded by the teacher to lead her multiracial female comrades to wash the stained sanitary pads in the middle of the night.

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A Malaysia-Ireland co-production between Ninjia Production, Janji Pictures and Rockall Films, “WAShhh” is Lai’s third short film. Lai is a promising up-and-comer whose debut short, “The Could is Still There” (2020), was selected to Busan, Clermont-Ferrand and Shangai. Her second film, the documentary short “A Worm, Whatever Will Be, Will Be,” won the jury award at SeaShorts.

The 23-minute black-and-white short will screen three times between August 10-13 and is available in all territories outside of Malaysia.

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