In conjunction with International Women’s Day, Ampersand Advisory has unveiled Sup Daging, a gripping new short horror film created to promote CUT!, the agency’s short film competition that celebrates emerging storytelling talent.
Blending psychological tension with timeless cinematography, Sup Daging follows a mysterious female protagonist whose routine trip for ingredients spirals into a chilling narrative. This visually striking short was captured on Canon cameras by Farhan Syaza and team, with Canon Marketing Malaysia proudly supporting the project by providing prizes for the CUT! Horror Film Competition.
Fittingly for International Women’s Day, the creative spark behind the film also comes from two talented women. The original film idea was conceptualised, scripted, and assistant-directed by two of the agency’s Gen Z female talent, Maimunah Wahab and Chloee Pang. Their fresh perspective and love of the genre helped shape the film’s chilling atmosphere and emotional core.
“Sup Daging is not just a horror story — it is a celebration of new voices and bold storytelling,” said Sandeep Joseph, CEO and Co-Founder of Ampersand Advisory “We conceptualized CUT! to be a platform where young creatives could experiment with ideas, and it is especially meaningful that this film for CUT! is driven by female creators and a powerful female lead. Women hold up more than half the world, and they do so even at Ampersand Advisory.”
The film also introduces a promising new acting talent, Yasmin Hölterhoff, giving audiences a first look at a performer whose compelling screen presence anchors the story’s suspenseful journey.
CUT!, a short horror film competition, was launched by Ampersand Advisory as a creative initiative to encourage storytelling, filmmaking and creative experimentation in Malaysia. Films can cover any genre of horror, but must be less than 5 minutes in duration.
“There is a profound magic in seeing a childhood urban tale evolve into a cinematic experience. For me, Sup Daging represents the moment a story outgrows the page and takes on a life of its own.” said Chloee Pang, Script Writer of CUT! Sup Daging. “My hope is that this film inspires aspiring female creators to stop waiting for permission and start writing. CUT! gave me the platform to transform a vision into a narrative; I can’t wait to see it do the same for the next generation of female storytellers.”
“CUT! was created to give Malaysians, especially the younger generation, the opportunity to showcase their talents regardless of background,” said Maimunah Wahab, Script Writer of CUT! Sup Daging. “Being part of this film was a completely new experience for me, from writing the script to working alongside professional videographers, a full camera crew, editors and even recording in a sound studio. My hope is that CUT! inspires others to take that first step, be brave enough to pursue their ideas and express their creativity. If this film motivates even one person to chase their dream, then it has already done something meaningful.”
The film was directed by Tengku Umar and Sandeep Joseph. With Sup Daging, Ampersand Advisory continues its tradition of making pro bono films for International Women’s Day, and promoting them for reach and impact. In the past, the agency has made films on the Picha Project, January Low, Poesy Liang, as well as women environmentalists and highlighting the power of words to restrict and inhibit women.
The agency has won 201 awards in 2025 alone, including 9 x #1 Agency of the Year titles. Over 60% of the agency’s staff are women, and the management team has a majority of women.
Ampersand Advisory continues to push boundaries, demonstrating that creativity can thrive not just in campaigns and media, but also in film, culture and storytelling. “Agencies and their people have a role in culture and society, and we’re happy to play our humble part,” said Sandeep.
Sup Daging will premiere online and is available to watch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAEipoVQdYk. CUT! Is open to enter till 31st March 2026 at https://ampersand-advisory.com/cut/.
This content is provided by Ampersand Advisory
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