Oct. 13, 2023

Malaysia’s Silver Screen

The turn of the millennium witnessed Malaysian films gaining international recognition. Yasmin Ahmad's Sepet (2004) and Mukhsin (2006) received critical acclaim at international film festivals, propelling Malaysian cinema into the global spotlight and opening doors for other Malaysian filmmakers to showcase their work on international platforms. This year, Malaysia even took home an Oscar for best actress. By: Wee Yan Ling

Malaysia’s drama Abang Adik sweeps top prizes at Italy’s Far East Film Festival (FEFF). Written and directed by first-time filmmaker Jin Ong, this is the first time that a film from the Southeast Asian nation received the highest recognition at the specialised festival. Abang Adik won FFEF’s first-place Golden Mulberry audience award, together with the Black Dragon critics’s prize and the White Mulberry Award for best feature. Shedding light on the lives of some of Kuala Lumpur’s most underprivileged residents, centring around Abang and Adi, two adult orphans without legal documentation. The older brother, a death and a mute has come to terms with a life of destitution while his younger brother seethes with anger with their circumstances. However, a tragic accident disrupts the delicate equilibrium of their relationship. 

Snow in Midsummer is another Malaysian film leading the Golden Horse Awards nominations. Having bagged the greatest number of nominations, 9, at the upcoming Golden Horse Awards. Directed by Malaysian film-maker Chong Keat Aun, it portrays the struggles faced by a Chinese family in the aftermath of the 1969 May 13 race riots. It also received the Special Mention Musa Cinema & Arts Award at the recent Venice International Film Festival.

Hitting the global stage

Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, did Malaysia proud of attaining the Best Actress Oscar and is also the first south-east Asian performer to win the award. Born in Malaysia, Yeoh is the first person of south-east Asian descent to win the award for the show Everything Everywhere All At Once. In addition, she is a nominee for Bafta for best actress, a winner for the Golden Globe for best actress in film, and best actress at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. 

Boosting the Local Entertainment Scene

A prominent means by which the government has extended its support to local filmmakers is via incentive funds and grants, which are vital components of programmes falling under the K-KOMM umbrella and are administered through FINAS. 

Additional advantages for local filmmakers encompass the Feature Film Screening Incentive (ITFC). This is implemented by the government to relieve the financial strain on companies obligated to remit entertainment taxes to state governments, facilitating their ability to main audience engagement with cinema offerings. 

FINAS CEO Prof. Md Nasir Ibrahim disclosed that approximately RM400,000 in incentives has been disbursed to ten chosen local production companies. In total, a budget of RM25 million has been earmarked to assist filmmakers, with disbursement over a five-year period spanning from 2021 to 2025. 

As we look to the future, Malaysia's film industry appears poised for continued success. With each passing year, it continues to captivate audiences worldwide, showcasing the rich culture, talent, and storytelling prowess of this vibrant nation. Malaysia's film industry is not merely a regional contender but a global player, and the future holds even greater promise for this remarkable cinematic journey.

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