by FIlmInk Staff
Blue Orchids, a disquieting short film inspired by untold stories from the Japanese Occupation of Malaya, is currently in the Tropfest Wildcard race, aiming for one of Australia’s most prestigious short film slots. Directed by multi-award-winning filmmaker Taysha McFarland, the film promises to captivate audiences with its intimate portrayal of resilience & maternal love.
Blue Orchids, an Australian production filmed primarily in Melbourne, is set in 1941 during the Japanese invasion of Malaya. It follows mother Mei Lan raising her spirited six-year-old daughter, Sau Chun, while navigating the horrors of wartime occupation. Through her mother’s wisdom and their unwavering bond, Sau Chun learns resilience in the face of unspeakable danger.
The film draws from Taysha McFarland’s personal family history. Seventeen years ago, her grandmother shared haunting stories of survival, including hiding from bombs in a dug-out hole in their backyard and shaving her hair at seven years old to avoid being taken as a “comfort woman”, a term used for the women & girls forced into sexual slavery. These accounts, combined with extensive research and interviews with survivors across Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and the United States, shaped the authentic narrative of Blue Orchids.
The resilience and strength of mothers is a powerful theme of the film, showcased not only through the narrative but also behind the scenes by McFarland’s tireless dedication to the production, and to her film career more broadly. McFarland shares: “As a mother of three, with my youngest just four months old during the shoot, the production came with added practical challenges and time constraints… While it was difficult at times, my experience of motherhood added a deeply personal layer to the film, and made the process even more rewarding. I hope my journey encourages other women, and mothers especially, to pursue their creative ambitions, and understand the depth of their own capabilities.”
Lead actress Sasha Leong, born in Ipoh, Malaysia, shares: “As a Malaysian who left home to build my acting career from the ground up, this milestone hits deeply. Acting has been a long, steady climb — and to reach this point, with a role that honours the untold stories of our grandparents’ generation and the darker histories carried through our lineage, feels like a win for more than just me.”
Featuring a talented all-asian cast, including Shinichiro Hara, Enoch Li and 6-year-old Australian-Malaysian actress Amelia Franke. Blue Orchids combines authenticity, emotion, and cinematic craft. Cinematography by Nicholson Ren captures the fragile beauty and tension of wartime Malaya, while the production brings together a diverse and award-winning creative team.
Blue Orchids is more than a short film, it’s a bridge for younger generations, especially Malaysian-Australians, to understand their elders’ struggles & sacrifices, and it’s an act of historical preservation, crucial when much of the haunting reality has been erased from history books.
Currently streaming on Tropfest’s YouTube Channel, Blue Orchids is one of ten Wild Card films in the race for a Finalist position at Tropfest, taking place Sunday 22 February at Centennial Park, Sydney.
With the audience’s support, the filmmakers plan to turn this short film proof of concept into a feature length film, which will explore the narrative in greater depth, and reach more people in bringing this overlooked piece of history to light.
The filmmakers invite audiences to support the film’s journey by watching, sharing, and engaging with the film on YouTube. Likes and meaningful comments play a crucial role in determining which Wild Card films advance.
About Director Taysha McFarland:
Taysha is a multi-award-winning producer, director, writer, and founder of Toprock Productions. She produced the AACTA-nominated short Jia and co-directed the Screen Australia’s Skip Ahead 8 comedy web series Life of Kea. Both were nominated at the 38th Annual Screen Producers Australia Awards, with Jia winning in its category. Her producing credits also include Eating the Other (Flickerfest 2023), SPIRAL (2025), and the 2024 AACTA Pitch: Focus-winning project Alter. As a recipient of the Berry Family Fellowship and AIDC’s Leading Lights Program, Taysha is working on her debut documentary, Unheard Memoirs from the Japanese Occupation of Malaya. She has also received awards for Best Director for her films Zarephath and Hear Me.
