Borneo filmmakers and Curtin communications students participate in Kenyalang Film Festival

Miri – 26 May 2023 – More than 30 Borneo-content filmmakers and Bachelor of Communications students of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently showcased their documentaries and short films at the inaugural Kenyalang Film Festival held at the university.

The two-day film fest was organised by the Department of Media and Communication of Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Humanities and Health Sciences as part of its ‘Creative Hub in Borneo’ initiative. The event was sponsored by the engineering company Wehaya Sdn. Bhd. and supported by Sarawak Media Group (SMG) and Freedom Film Network.

Awards were presented for winning entries in three categories: Best Documentary, Best Short Film, and Jury’s Award.

Walking away with the Best Documentary Award was Keesshen Mahendran from UOW Malaysia KDU Penang University College for his documentary 9 Gods, while the award for Best Short Film was won by Jericho Morales of Curtin Malaysia for his short film Good Bye I Love You. The Jury’s Award, meanwhile, was bagged by Panashe Nhunzwi and team from Curtin Malaysia for their short film The Key.

Head of the Media and Communication Department, Dr. Ngu Ik Ying, said the Department aims to make the annual film festival a platform for Borneo filmmakers to collaborate with other filmmakers, engage audiences and educate them about film-making, and create a vibrant film culture in Borneo through the celebration of Borneon films.

“Our next film festival will be bigger, focusing more on community engagement, including public screenings for the wider community,” said Dr. Ngu.

SMG content acquisition and distribution senior executive Ryan Lee, who was the judge for the film festival, said he was impressed by the number of entries, as well as the diversity of the content, which ranged from social issues and indigenous music to the supernatural and romance.

“The festival was a great effort to empower young film talents, providing an effective platform for them to connect with the media industries and local communities. I hope they will apply for SMG’s Pitch-it production grant and turn their ideas into real TV productions,” he said.

Kenyalang Film Festival organising chairperson Wong Tze Mei, meanwhile, said the experience of curating Borneo content and organising screenings during the festival was highly rewarding and helped her understand more about the power of films.

Best Short Film Award winner Jericho Morales said the festival inspired him to produce his first short film, and he now looks forward to producing films after winning the award.

“I want to produce for a bigger audience and share my work farther afield,” he said.

Information on Curtin Malaysia can be found on its website at www.curtin.edu.my, or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or TikTok.

SMG’s Ryan Lee (far left, front row), Wehaya representatives Nooradelina and Zachery (2nd & 3rd left, front row) and Dr Ngu (far right, second row) with filmmakers and audience at a screening.

The award winners with Dr Ngu, Lee, Nooradelina and Zachery

Filmmaker Gebril Atong shares his experience producing documentary ‘Baliu Kano Kai’