PETALING JAYA: A documentary on the Malayan tiger has been selected to compete at next year's AVIFF Cannes Art Film Festival.
The half-hour documentary titled The Malayan Tiger: It's Now Or Never! is written by Taylor's University's associate professor Joe Qiao Li and directed by filmmaker Raja Mohamad Amin Raja Azhar of Datu Entertainment.
Commissioned by the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, the film follows Malaysian forest rangers into Taman Negara, Jerantut, Pahang in search of the Malayan tiger.
Highlighting the challenges of protecting the tiger which is on the verge of extinction as a result of poaching, and the rescue efforts required to keep it alive, it also addresses the need to develop conservation plans for Malaysia's flora and fauna to ensure a better quality of life for animals in their natural habitat.
The AVIFF exhibition which takes place during the Cannes Film Festival is a major platform to promote contemporary art by artists from emerging art markets.
The festival was supposed to take place in May but has been postponed to next year due to Covid-19.
The film was selected by the Malaysian government for World Tiger Day last year.
Known for his award-winning film A Tale Of An Old Town, Li who teaches at Taylor's School of Media and Communications has also been appointed as a jury member in the festival.
Li will be responsible for the official selection of films by international higher learning institutions.
"It is a proud moment for me, knowing that I am one of Malaysia's first lecturers to be invited as a contender and jury member.
"Initially, I submitted the film for the festival, not realising that it would premiere in Cannes.
"The judging standards are high and winning means the craft and creativity exhibited is outstanding, so I look forward to hearing exciting news next year for the documentary film," said Li in a recent news report.
He noted the significance of this milestone for Taylor's University students, saying it was important for universities with film studies courses to have staff members involved in the film industry.
"Cannes is the most important festival for films and arts enthusiasts.
"It is an exceptionally rare treat to be invited to present your work at this prestigious festival — what more having been invited to be amongst the jury members.
"Being a part of a movement that celebrates authentic talents in film encourages me to strive to be the best in what I do and what I teach my students," Li said.