Female empowerment meets Mongolian mysticism in “Where the Mountain Women Sing,” a genre-bending feature from director Zhang Juefang that arrives at the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market with 60% of its $800,000 budget secured. The project market is part of TIFFCOM, the content market that is allied with the Tokyo International Film Festival.
The film follows Stephanie, a documentary filmmaker who discovers a remote Mongolian village governed by female shamans. While initially drawn to this seemingly utopian matriarchy, she uncovers disturbing traditions involving mandatory childbearing and forbidden romance, leading to a moral crisis that challenges her understanding of power and belief.
“The genesis of ‘Where the Mountain Women Sing’ is deeply personal,” Zhang tells Variety. “Growing up with the folklore and shamanic traditions of northern China, I have always been fascinated by the tension between the mystical and the everyday, the ancient and the modern.”
Zhang frames the project as a feminist thriller that examines how tradition can both liberate and constrain. “While the village appears to be a utopia where women hold power, it is also a place where they are still bound by invisible chains – the rules of the Mountain God, societal pressures, and ritualistic customs that control their fate,” she explains.
Veteran Taiwanese producer Patrick Mao Huang has boarded the project, citing its “unique blend of mysticism and modernity” as a key draw. “The remote Mongolian setting and cyberpunk aesthetics make it a visually innovative project with strong festival potential,” Huang notes. The director’s proof-of-concept short has already demonstrated her ability to execute the ambitious vision.
The production team, which includes When Pigs Fly Films, Huang’s Flash Forward Entertainment and 70 Steps, plans to shoot during the snow season of 2025. They are currently seeking additional co-producers, financiers, distributors, and an international sales company.
“Ultimately, I want ‘Where the Mountain Women Sing’ to be a deeply emotional and thought-provoking film that resonates with audiences on multiple levels. It’s not just about one woman’s journey; it’s about the collective struggle of women against systems that seek to define and limit them,” Zhang says. “By blending the beauty of the Mongolian landscape with an eerie, mystical atmosphere, I aim to create a film that is visually captivating while also delivering a powerful message about the need for personal liberation, self-discovery, and cultural preservation.”
Zhang is also developing “When Pigs Fly,” a U.S.-Taiwan co-produced dark comedy about Hollywood scams, and “White Island,” a Thai-French feminist horror film exploring neo-colonial practices and cult activity.
Source link
