Both films were also named to TIFF's annual year-end Canada's Top Ten list of the year's best Canadian short films in their respective years.[4][5]
Originally from Borneo, Chong lived and worked in Canada for a number of years after attending the University of Calgary as an international student. Prior to Pool, he made the short films Crash Skid Love (1999), Minus (2000) and Tuesday Be My Friend (2006). Although both Pool and Block B were made while Chong was still based in Canada, he had returned to Malaysia by the time of his 2009 feature film debut Karaoke.[1] The film premiered in the Directors' Fortnight stream at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival;[6] and later won the Mavericks Award at the 2009 Calgary International Film Festival.[1]
He has since concentrated primarily on art, including work in photography, painting and video installation.[7]
References
^ abcEric Volmers, "Karaoke a 'gutsy' maverick winner". Calgary Herald, October 5, 2009.
^Mark Medley, "Cronenberg film wins top TIFF prize". National Post, September 17, 2007.
^Linda Barnard, "Slumdog takes the people's prize; LeBron James documentary tapped as runner-up". Toronto Star, September 14, 2008.
^Chris Knight, "Year's top-10 Canadian movies chosen; Despite high profiles on the festival circuit, movies such as Cronenberg's Eastern Promises are not in wide release". Vancouver Sun, December 12, 2007.
^Liam Lacey, "Toronto Film Critics choose indie over Hollywood". The Globe and Mail, December 17, 2008.