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By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, July 10: “Kumbang (Bugs)” by director Gwai Lou and producers Annabel Tiu and Feisal Azizuddin won Best Short Film and the top award in the Open Category at the 19th Mini Film Festival at (MFF) 2023.
Veteran filmmaker and jury member Rashid Salleh said “Kumbang” reminds us of the dangers of outside influences on children.
“The child actors were convincing in the roles, and the story itself compelled us to question access to modern technology in this day and age,” he said in a statement circulated to the media during the closing of the 19th MFF and Mini Art Festival 2023 at the La Promenade Mall last night.
Festival director Yow Chong Lee said the 19th MFF and Mini Art Festival 2023 had a great experience at a new venue.
“La Promenade by Sarawakian construction specialist Hock Seng Lee (HSL) has been a great MFF venue. HSL’s events and media team gave us great support.
“We were able to have four screening rooms, and a dining area and we received a lot of publicity, due to the company’s strong media pull.”
Yow thanked all sponsors, including National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas), Goethe-Institut, Japan Foundation, Hoan Gallery, TVS and more.
“Organisers will begin talks for the 20th MFF x MAF soonest. We are mini in scale, big in ambition,” he said.
Other winners at MFF in the Open Category were “Garek” by director Cech Adria and producer Haziqah Azemi who was awarded the Special Jury prize.
In the Student Category, Best Short Film went to “Where No One Lives”, directed by Li Anne Liew and produced by Cynthia Wang.
In the category of [MAS] See Films: Cinematography Programme, the Best Short Film award went to “Flower of Lot 3A” by director Ding Shu Voon and producer Phang Jiang Xian. In the same category, the Special Jury Award went to “Busut” by director Mohd Anas, Mohd Sadon, producer Suzy Tijan Billy whilst Best Documentary went to “Family That Went Ahead”, by director Alif Izzudin and producer Lee Shan Shan. — DayakDaily
