Pang Brothers' 'The Mage' Lands at Busan ACFM With Abnormal Studios

The Pang Brothers' supernatural crime thriller "The Mage," starring Josie Ho, reached the Busan International Film Festival's Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) this week with Southeast Asian distributor Abnormal Studios attached, the company said.

The Danny and Oxide Pang-directed feature, produced by Conroy Chan for Hong Kong's 852 Films, opened theatrically on Oct. 8 across Hong Kong, Malaysia and Taiwan. Singapore follows on Oct. 15, Thailand on Oct. 29, and Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam in November, according to the producers.

What is the film about?

Ho plays Lan Pui Ching, a former spirit medium turned scavenger who collects cast-off objects she believes carry the spirits of people who died suddenly. She keeps arriving at suspicious death scenes while trying to guide those souls toward reincarnation, drawing the attention of police officer Wong Ming. As the pair investigates a string of killings linked to a strange ritual, they confront otherworldly threats and unfinished business from Lan's past. Iman Taheri, Carlos Chan, German Cheung, Kathy Yuen and Sabrina Ng round out the cast.

The producers describe the feature as a Cantonese-language fusion of horror and crime rooted in Hong Kong spiritual folklore, aimed at fans of midnight movies and cult cinema.

What is the festival pedigree?

"The Mage" world premiered in July at South Korea's Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN). It then opened the Midnight section of the Bangkok International Film Festival and is set for its European premiere in the Sitges Collection strand at Spain's Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival.

Ho, who co-founded 852 Films, received BIFAN's Fantastic Icon Award at the festival's 30th edition, honoring her body of work in genre film. The recognition landed just ahead of the film's BIFAN world premiere in July.

Who is selling and where?

Two Asian distribution deals are already in place. Edko Films controls Hong Kong and Macau, while CJ ENM Hong Kong holds Taiwan and Southeast Asia. Abnormal Studios — a subsidiary of Westec Media Limited — will meet buyers at ACFM and then channel interested parties to 852 Films, which retains direct oversight of subsequent sales inquiries and rights for territories that remain open.

Abnormal Studios has acquired and released films since 2020 across Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Mongolia and Nepal, among other territories. Its catalog includes the regional hits "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies" and "Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In." The company has handled more than 400 titles to date, taking around 100 films to market each year, according to Westec Media materials.

How does this fit the Pang Brothers' body of work?

The pair share a track record in genre cinema. "The Eye," "Bangkok Dangerous" and "Re-Cycle" established them internationally, and "The Mage" returns them to supernatural territory with a Hong Kong setting and a procedural framework. Ho's producing involvement through 852 Films marks one of her most visible producer credits alongside her on-screen role.

The ACFM meetings follow theatrical openings in three territories and arrive ahead of the Sitges European premiere, positioning "The Mage" for further rights activity as festival exposure broadens buyer interest through the autumn festival corridor.