Tzang Merwyn Tong is a renowned independent script writer and film director, whose films have garnered critical acclaim at prestigious film festivals. His unique style, often set in surreal environments, combines elements of fairytale and comic fantasy.
Tong's educational background includes a degree in Mass Communications from Curtin University in Western Australia. However, his aspirations to become a filmmaker and storyteller began at a young age. At 19, he embarked on his debut film, 'e'Tzaintes', a self-written, self-funded teenage epic with no prior knowledge or experience in filmmaking. The film, which took three years to complete, was made guerrilla-style under tight constraints, with no confirmed budget, no professional actors, and no proper on-set director. Despite the challenges, 'e'Tzaintes' won the Bronze Remi Award for the Independent Category at the 2003 WorldFest in Houston, USA, and Tong was named one of the '25 Brightest Sparks' to watch in Hype Magazine.
Following the completion of 'e'Tzaintes', Tong began work on his second film, a psycho-erotic thriller based on the Little Red Riding Hood fable. A Wicked Tale made its World Premiere to critical acclaim at the 34th Rotterdam International Film Festival, and went on to screen at festivals in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Tel Aviv, Melbourne, Montreal, Lund, Leeds, and Florida. The film received rave reviews, including being described as a "hallucinatory atmospheric film drenched in lust and dread" by The Mirror.
Tong was one of the 500 selected filmmakers invited to participate at the 3rd Berlin Talent Campus by the Berlin International Film Festival. As part of the program, he attended master classes conducted by renowned directors and industry professionals, including Ridley Scott, Asano Tadanobu, and award-winning cinematographer Christopher Doyle.
In December 2005, Tong became the youngest Singaporean ever to release his film commercially on DVD. A Wicked Tale was released on DVD/VCD by Comstar Entertainment in Singapore, and as of 2006, all copies of this limited edition were sold out. The movie is now unavailable to Singapore audiences. Named by IS magazine as an 'X-factor personality' to look out for, Tong represents the new generation of Singapore filmmakers calling for a change in the way Singaporean films are made.
