Indonesia’s top horror IP house backs A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts

SINGAPORE: The cauldron of Asian horror just got a potent new ingredient. A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts, the animated Singapore–Taiwan–Ireland horror anthology, has welcomed Indonesia’s powerhouse IP studio Kucing Hitam as co-producer, expanding its regional footprint at this year’s Asia TV Forum.

The 90-minute feature, adapted from Chinese-American author and chef Ying Chang Compestine’s acclaimed book, weaves four standalone yet interconnected tales steeped in tradition, terror and food folklore. Already tipped as one of the region’s most anticipated films, the project recently won the NMEA Award at Taiwan Creative Content Fest for its cross-disciplinary creative approach.

Kucing Hitam, founded in 2019, has carved a niche in Southeast Asian genre storytelling and is best known for shaping cultural blockbusters such as KKN di Desa Penari, Indonesia’s highest-grossing horror film. The company has built a strong IP pipeline by nurturing creators with massive grassroots followings, and in recent years it has expanded decisively into film production and original IP development.

Founder Charles Johannes said the anthology resonated deeply with Indonesia’s current wave of horror storytelling, which blends tradition with contemporary anxieties. He said the team was eager to help broaden the film’s global reach.

Kucing Hitam brings a track record linked to more than US $20 million in cumulative Indonesian box office revenue. For the film’s Indonesia-set segments, LMN VFX in Jakarta and Indonesia–Singapore investment firm Goshen Group will join the production team.

Singapore’s Mediacorp has supported the project from its earliest days, backing it during its infancy as a television pilot under the broadcaster’s Creatives Assembly initiative. Chief customer and corporate development officer, Angeline Poh, praised the project’s evolution from local concept to international collaboration.

Further strengthening the film’s finish is Telegael, the award-winning Irish studio under the Toonz Media Group, which will lead post-production. The partnership brings European technical finesse to the heart of Asian storytelling, enhancing the film’s global appeal.

Robot Playground Media co-founder Ervin Han, who created the project, said Kucing Hitam’s instinct for Asian horror adds depth to the film’s lore, while producer Justin Deimen emphasised the franchise potential of the Banquet universe across formats and brand partnerships.

For Indonesia specifically, Goshen Group’s managing director Allen Jordan noted that the film’s twin themes of food and fear make it a natural fit for local audiences.

A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts is expected to haunt theatres in early 2027, with Toonz Media Group and Robot Playground Media steering regional pre sales as the project returns to its Asian creative roots.