Filmed in Singapore, UNLUCKY PLAZA is the story of what happens to a business owner when a chance to save his ailing diner goes belly up and is pushed over the edge. He takes a motley group of citizens hostage in a designer bungalow and publicizes his act on YouTube. As the police and international media descend on the crime scene and riots break out in in the city, an increasingly desperate Onassis forces the situation to a violent, heart-stopping conclusion.
UNLUCKY PLAZA stars Adrian Pang, Judee Tan, Guo Liang, Shane Mardjuki and Filipino star Epy Quizon in a show-stopping performance as the beleaguered Onassis.
Director Ken Kwek worked variously as a busboy, bartender, camera assistant and journalist before turning to screenwriting in 2008. His writing credits include The Blue Mansion (2009), Kidnapper (2010), It's A Great Great World (2011) and Trafficker (2013). He made his directorial debut in 2012 with the short film anthology Sex.Violence. FamilyValues. The film won the Audience Choice Award at the Gotham Screen Film Festival, but was banned in Singapore and Malaysia for its controversial themes. UNLUCKY PLAZA, Kwek’s first feature, premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival and was the Opening Film for the Singapore International Film Festival 2014. Kwek was named Best Director at the Tehran Jasmine International Film Festival in 2015. Also, Epy Quizon’s performance won the Best Actor award from the International Film Festival in Manhattan.
UNLUCKY PLAZA is unrated and has a running time of 122 minutes.
NYC: Cinema Village, Jan 8 - 14 (1:05pm, 3:30pm, 6pm*, 8:30pm)
*The 6pm showtime on Sat Jan 9 includes a post-screening Q&A with the Director Ken Kwek.
LA: Laemmle Music Hall, Jan 15 - 21 (showtimes TBA)
PHILIPPINES: Coming Soon in 2016.
