Amanda Nell Eu is no stranger to monsters. In fact, the Malaysian filmmaker has made a name for herself by reclaiming them. Her debut movie Tiger Stripes—which won the Grand Prize at Cannes Critics’ Week in 2023—boldly reimagined folklore, femininity, and fear into a potent coming-of-age tale. Now, she brings her vision and voice to the upcoming ZafigoX 2025, where she will speak on the theme “The Stripes We Carry: Finding Voice & Vision Through Film.”
Rage, Beauty, and Hope
In a recent interview with makchic, Amanda shares how storytelling draws deeply from her cultural upbringing and her emotional landscape. “For me, there is a lot of anger with the world, but also a recognition for beauty too,” she shares. Though she jokingly calls herself “the most cynical person ever,” she admits that a sliver of hope remains central to her work. This tension between rage and hope, rejection and reclamation is what animates her films.
ZafigoX 2025, inspired by International Women’s Day 2025’s call to “Accelerate Action,” is about pushing forward — faster, bolder, and with purpose. Amanda’s work exemplifies this momentum, especially in her reclamation of the word “monster.”
“I was pissed that so many monsters were female,” she said. “They were glorious, but were labelled as monsters. So reclaiming the word monster was a huge deal for me, to turn it into something positive, to turn it into beauty and strength.”
Rethinking Culture
In Tiger Stripes, Amanda shows how old traditions and modern life often clash especially for young women. But when it comes to “culture,” she doesn’t believe in boxing it in. In Malaysia, she points out, the word has sometimes been used to divide people. For her, culture isn’t fixed. Instead it shifts, adapts, and evolves. “We shouldn’t be too precious about culture because it’s always going to be there,” she says.
That spirit of questioning runs through her characters too. They’re not always “nice” or “likable,” but they are unapologetically real.
“My intention is never to offend or make anyone feel bad or hurt or small. But I also don’t like to pretend to be someone I’m not. If I make mistakes I make sure I am held accountable for them and I embrace that.” Amanda admits. “If that makes me a monster or difficult… so be it. It’s cool to be monstrous.”
Falling in Love with the Horror Genre
It’s no coincidence that Amanda has chosen horror as her medium of choice. The genre, she argues, has long been a fertile space for women to assert their desires, flaws, and ambitions.
“Horror was one of the first times in cinema where you got to see women being strong, having desires and being selfish,” she says. Sure, they were villains, but I’d rather that, than be just used as a plot device for the protagonist to reach his own goals. Nah… I’ll take villain any day.”
Looking Ahead to ZafigoX 2025
Amanda brings this fearless energy to ZafigoX 2025: Acceleration, where she will speak during Day 2 of the event, on 12th October 2025. The event gathers changemakers, artists, and trailblazers from across Asia to share ideas and spark conversations about rethinking the world we live in.
Across the two days, participants can expect a rich mix of voices: from activist Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam, who sparked the #MakeSchoolASaferPlace movement, to Afghan singer Elaha Soroor, Bangladeshi poet and entrepreneur Sadaf Saaz, feminist tech activist Jac SM Kee, Sri Lankan humanitarian Shenelle Rodrigo, and celebrated contemporary artist Yee I-Lann.
Performers like spoken-word poet Melizarani T. Selva and genre-bending musician VIONA will take the stage, while workshops led by groups such as The Wayang Women, SheFights Malaysia, and The Powderuum invite attendees to learn, create, and reclaim space in bold new ways.
In this vibrant mix, Amanda’s session promises to be a highlight, connecting her journey as a filmmaker with larger conversations on identity, resilience, and reclaiming narratives.
See the full schedule here.
Advice for Emerging Filmmakers
As one of Malaysia’s leading female directors in a male-dominated industry, Amanda knows the weight of doubt. “One of my biggest hurdles was that I didn’t believe I was good enough,” she admits. Today, her message to younger filmmakers is one of defiance and persistence:
“Don’t let imposter syndrome hold you back. Recognise your achievements and celebrate them. You also need a bit of delulu energy to push you forward to take that leap. If you don’t take that leap you’ll never get anywhere.”
For Amanda Nell Eu, the stripes she carries are inseparable from the stories she tells. They are scars and strengths, rage and hope, monsters and heroines. At ZafigoX 2025, she won’t just be sharing her story. She’ll be accelerating it.
By Kimberly Lee and Hemala Devaraj
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
ZafigoX 2025, happening on 11th and 12th October 2025, is the flagship event of Zafigo, which gathers women changemakers, thought leaders, and creatives from across Asia. Now in its 5th edition, ZafigoX returns as a two-day gathering in Menara KEN TTDI, Kuala Lumpur, and offers single-day passes (RM200) or a full weekend experience (RM350), which includes meals. Follow them on Instagram for event updates.
