Malaysian director Chong Keat Aun’s latest feature “Pavane for an Infant,” starring acclaimed actor Fish Liew, makes its world premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival, taking on the pressing social issue of abandoned babies and women’s rights in Malaysia.

The film follows a female social worker operating a baby hatch facility, exposing the challenges women face in Malaysia’s male-dominated society. Liew, known for her roles in “Lazy Hazy Crazy,” “A Guilty Conscience” and “Anita,” leads the social drama that aims to resonate beyond Malaysian borders.

The project originated from Chong’s encounter with a baby hatch organization in 2016. “I will never forget the heartbreaking words of a female activist: ‘We work tirelessly day and night to save newborns, but many religious leaders accuse us of being a place that promotes incest. They say one day we will face divine punishment,'” Chong recalls.

The film, backed...