National Film Development Corporation (Finas) chairman Datuk Kamil Othman hailed Anna Jobling's achievements as a leading actress in the Indonesian films 'Lembayung' and 'Laut Tengah' as a significant milestone for the Malaysian film industry.
He noted that it was rare for Malaysian artistes to be cast in lead roles in Indonesian productions, especially given the challenge Malaysian films face in winning over international audiences.
"This is an accomplishment to be proud of, as Anna successfully secured the lead role in an Indonesian film," he told 'Berita Harian'.
He also expressed confidence that Anna's success would further enhance collaboration between the Malaysian and Indonesian film industries, opening doors for more Malaysian talent to gain international recognition.
"Finas hopes this partnership between Malaysia and Indonesia will continue to grow, especially with Malaysia set to chair Asean next year," he added.
He also mentioned that Finas was working on new strategies to elevate the Malaysian film industry to the global stage.
Anna expressed her gratitude for the recognition from the Finas chairman.
"I'm thankful for this acknowledgment. This success isn't just mine but is shared with the management, production teams and fans. I hope it paves the way for more Malaysian artistes to break into the international scene," she said.
She is currently filming 'Duyung: Legenda Aurora', the sequel to the successful 2008 environmental fantasy drama, 'Duyung'.
Directed by Datuk Professor A. Razak Mohaideen and produced by KRU Studios in collaboration with several other studios, the film features a star-studded cast including Datuk Yusry Abdul Halim, Maya Karin, and Saiful Apek.