‘A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts’ Welcomes Indonesian IP Co. Kucing Hitam to the Table

A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts, the Singapore-Taiwan- Ireland animated horror anthology feature, has expanded its co-production footprint to Indonesia. Announced from Asia TV Forum (ATF), the latest addition to the menu is Kucing Hitam (“Black Cat”), the biggest independent creative producing and IP management company in Indonesia.

Kucing Hitam joins Robot Playground Media (Singapore), Xanthus Animation (Taiwan) and Toonz Media Group (Ireland/India) in co-producing and handling sales for A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts, a 90-minute collection of four standalone, yet interlinked, stories adapted from the book of the same name by Chinese-American author and chef Ying Chang Compestine.

“Kucing Hitam’s entrance strengthens the spine and lore of this anthology film,” said project creator Ervin Han, Co-Founder of Robot Playground Media. “Their instincts for Asian horror make them an invaluable partner as we deepen the world-building and push the project towards global audiences.”

Producer Justin Deiman, who is also in charge of exploring the film’s franchise potential, added, “We’re excited to have Kucing Hitam be a part of Banquet’s kitchen given their expertise in building one of the most outstanding film franchises in Southeast Asia. We see A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts in the same vein — supremely scalable and commercial across the region, with the ability to fork into different formats, and being altogether ripe for brand partnerships and the wider involvement of consumer sectors into creative IP.”

Currently in early-stage production as one of the region’s most anticipated films, A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts won the NMEA Award at the recent Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF) in November 2025, specifically honoring projects that exemplify cross-sector collaboration, bridging different industries, technologies and cultures.

Founded in 2019, Kucing Hitam has built and managed a portfolio of standout Southeast Asian genre properties, including KKN di Desa Penari, Indonesia’s highest-grossing horror film, released by MD Pictures. The company has identified and cultivated culturally entrenched stories with viral grassroots creators such as Prasodjo Muhammad, Nessie Judge, Teguh Faluvie and more IP progenitors. Since 2024, Kucing Hitam has formally expanded into film production, developing original features and new proprietary IP.

“This project speaks to us. The story has the same cultural spirit that drives Indonesia’s new wave of genre films — strong traditions, modern concerns and the ability to reach audiences everywhere,” said Kucing Hitam Founder Charles Johannes. “We’re excited to work with an international team to grow this IP and bring it to viewers far beyond where it began.”

The team at Kucing Hitam have been involved in the highest-grossing Indonesian films of all time, representing more than US$20 million in cumulative box office revenue. Joining them in producing the Indonesian-set elements of the project will be LMN VFX in Jakarta and Indonesia-Singapore investment firm Goshen Group.

Mediacorp, Singapore’s largest content creator and national media network, has also supported the project from its earliest stages, investing in its creative development as a pilot when it was initially conceived as a television series.

“Congratulations to the team on this exciting new chapter for A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts!” said Angeline Poh, Chief Customer & Corporate Development Officer at Mediacorp. “It is gratifying to see a concept first seeded at Creatives Assembly — Mediacorp’s call for ideas initiative — evolve from a series pilot into a feature film with regional partners and global ambitions. It is inspiring to see how far the team has taken the project, and we look forward to celebrating their continued success.”

Allen Jordan, Managing Director of Goshen Group, commented on Banquet’s potential in Indonesia: “The Indonesian audience will connect immediately with the film because it touches on two of the country’s great passions — food and horror. It’s a natural fit for our market, and we’re proud to support its development at this stage.”

Telegael, the multi-Emmy and IFTA award-winning Irish studio within the Toonz Media Group. has also come on board to lead post-production. Recognized as one of Europe’s premier animation content producers, Telegael brings creative experience honed on TV and film projects such as Dodo, Zoonicorn, Llama Llama, Bartali’s Bicycle and The Canterville Ghost.

A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts is slated for a theatrical release in early 2027. After its debut with Toonz Media Group at American Film Market, the project will now focus its presales push on Asia, driven by Toonz and Robot Playground in the region.