KUALA LUMPUR: Award-winning local filmmaker Nik Amir Mustapha's latest work Imaginur is one of eight Asian films that have been selected to compete for the Uncaged Award for Best Feature Film at the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) 2022 in the US next month.
The science fiction film that has yet to be screened in Malaysia will be competing against #LookAtMe (Singapore), Angry Son (Japan), One And Four (China), Perhaps Love (South Korea), Reclaim (Taiwan), The Sales Girl (Mongolia) and Fast & Feel Love (Thailand).
Imaginur which stars Beto Kusyairy and Diana Danielle is set to make its world premiere at the Walter Reade Theater, Film at Lincoln Center in New York on July 23.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, NYAFF is an annual event showcasing the best and boldest in Asian cinema as it continues to introduce vibrant and vital voices ranging from explosive blockbusters to eccentric arthouse gems.
Nik Amir said he never expected the film produced by his company Lumatic Films to secure a spot at NYAFF 2022 let alone compete for Best Feature Film.
"I realise that there's going to be pretty stiff competition to win. However, just being listed together with other great films is already enough to make us really happy.
"If Imaginur is chosen as the winner, then we'd certainly feel even more blessed.
"Whatever the case, we are hoping for the best since we are the sole representative from Malaysia to NYAFF 2022," he said in a news report today.
Nik Amir also likened his film's inclusion into the international event as free publicity of sorts since there has not been any definite screening date yet for Imaginur in Malaysia.
"We have not started any promotions for Imaginur yet and are still looking for the right time to do this," he said.
Imaginur began filming in March 2020 but had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns.
It centres on a man's daily life which is suddenly disrupted by strange events after he takes his aging father to the hospital for a check-up.
Nik Amir's first feature film, Kil, won Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay at the 26th Festival Filem Malaysia in 2014.
His second film, Terbaik Dari Langit, bagged the Best Film trophy at the Asean International Film Festival in 2015.