Private Project

Fenômeno Boy

In the wake of his mother’s death, a young boy skips school to play street football while his immigrant father—bound by sacrifice and tradition—struggles to understand his son’s world and bridge the widening gap between them.

  • Tyler Kang
    Director
    Chinatown's Last Emperor
  • Tyler Kang
    Writer
  • Beatrice Nell
    Producer
    Not a Documentary About Jorts
  • Nicholas Davies
    Key Cast
    "Aidan"
  • David Lui
    Key Cast
    "Jacob"
  • Brooklyn Davies
    Key Cast
    "Kaylee"
  • Jake Frazer
    Cinematographer
  • Rickey Iwato
    Composer
  • Kyan Paltoft
    Gaffer
  • Aryan Gorasia
    Best Person
  • Awdesh Al-Zabaree
    1st Assistant Director
  • Sophie Blanch
    Production Designer
  • Tyler Kang
    Editor
  • Jake Frazer
    Colourist
  • Tegan Geelie Rose
    Sound desginer and Recordist
  • Gus Devylder
    LX
  • Thomas Van Gool
    LX
  • Layla Starr
    2nd Assistant Director
  • Christina Booth
    Child Co-ordinator
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Coming of Age, Slice of Life
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 55 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 14, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    1,400 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    5:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - AFTRS
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Tyler Kang

Tyler Kang is an award winning Malaysian-Australian filmmaker, graduating from AFTRS BA in 2025. He was raised between Hong Kong and Australia, and is interested in exploring themes of Asian-Australian cultural identity, diaspora and memory through documentary and fiction. He is drawn to small moments, small lives and places, using film to feel deeply human.

His work has screened internationally, recently winning Best Australian Documentary at Doc Sydney which he has been award for the 2025 Tarkovski Grant.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This film was inspired by my father and the gentle ways he prepared me for the real world. It’s a reflection on the subtle rift that often exists between generations in Asian migrant families.

I grew up around many kids like Aidan, who dreamed big, knowing those dreams would not survive long. Fenômeno Boy is about the fleeting moments when an Asian child is allowed to dream — a moment Aidan’s father never had for himself.