Mother Bhumi, directed by acclaimed Malaysian filmmaker Chong Keat Aun and starring Datuk Fan Bingbing, has picked up another major acting accolade, with the Chinese actress winning Best Performance In A Leading Role at the Bangkok International Film Festival 2026 (BKKIFF).
The film had its Thai premiere at BKKIFF on Sept 27, where Chong and Fan attended a screening and a Q&A session.
Mother Bhumi was also in competition for the festival’s highest honour, alongside 15 other selected films.
At the closing ceremony that evening, Fan was recognised with the award for her portrayal of a courageous rural woman fighting to protect her land while confronting the forces of black magic.
“I am deeply honoured and delighted to receive this significant award from the jury of the Bangkok International Film Festival,” the 45-year-old actress shared with StarLifestyle of her win.
According to a press statement from the production team, the jury praised Fan's compelling performance, particularly her ability to bring strength, resilience and emotional depth to the character.
Fan credited Chong for leading the Mother Bhumi team “on this dreamlike journey” which allowed everyone to fully immerse themselves in the filmmaking process and share in the film’s success.
“I am truly grateful to him, as well as to all the producers and the entire team, for their dedication in bringing this wonderful film to life,” she added to StarLifestyle.
The BKKIFF award marks Fan’s second major acting accolade for the role. In November 2025, she won Best Actress at Taiwan’s prestigious Golden Horse Awards, often dubbed the Chinese-language Oscars.
Reflecting on her career, Fan told StarLifestyle filmmaking has always been about pursuing a dream.
“Filmmaking is truly a process of weaving dreams.
“I have been living this dream for nearly 30 years, and along the way, I have experienced so many extraordinary moments,” she said.
“I look forward to discovering even more meaningful and challenging roles in the future, and to making my cinematic journey richer, more diverse and even more spectacular.”
Fan has previously described her role in Mother Bhumi as going beyond a physical transformation, saying it created “a profound resonance of souls” between her and the character.
She added that the character also guided her growth and helped her appreciate “the resilient strength inherent in women”.
Set in the late 1990s, Mother Bhumi follows a widowed farmer in a multi-ethnic rice-farming village in Kedah, Malaysia.
The film was shot in Bendang Siam, Kedah, with Chong previously saying that it reflects Malaysia’s diverse communities, including the Siamese ethnic group.
“This film is entirely about local stories ... stories of Malaysians. What’s even more interesting is that Fan Bingbing plays a local woman. Usually, when foreign actors are cast, they portray outsiders,” Chong told Bernama in 2025.
