RENOWNED actress and director Fauziah Ahmad Daud, fondly known as Ogy, has praised the jury of the 33rd Malaysia Film Festival (FFM33) for their thoughtful selection of finalists.
She described the nominees as "the best of the best", commending the jury's careful evaluation and understanding of artistic storytelling.
"The jury has shown they truly value art, unlike past selections where some lacked understanding and integrity.
"This year's finalists have a strong desire to win, which is promising. But to succeed, honesty and authenticity in storytelling are key," Ogy told 'Berita Harian'.
She shared these thoughts during the Lihatlah Dunia: Trofi FFM Merubah Hidupku forum in Kuala Lumpur recently.
The forum, part of the Intuisi Evolusi Emas FFM33 programme organised by the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) and the Association of Journalists & Entertainment Writers of Malaysia (Wham), also featured industry figures Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib, Datuk Rosyam Nor, Erra Fazira and Maya Karin.
Moderated by Ellie Suriaty Omar, the event celebrated the excellence of Malaysian cinema while inspiring younger generations to appreciate and support local films.
The programme aimed to bring audiences closer to the film industry and foster pride in national cinema ahead of FFM33's Gala Awards Night on Dec 7.
Ogy called on the local film industry to emulate South Korea's success in the global entertainment scene.
"Years ago, while with Finas, I visited South Korea and noticed how they planned their creative industry. Their films reflect their culture, myths and values.
"Unlike here, their censorship board allows critical and creative storytelling, which has helped them grow," she said.
Ogy added that South Korean films often integrated their food, clothing and language, showcasing a well-thought-out strategy to dominate globally.
"We need to adopt a similar approach to elevate our industry," she said.
Datuk Rosyam Nor echoed Ogy's views, emphasising the importance of cultural storytelling in Malaysian films, citing 'Ola Bola' as a great example.
"With Finas' slogan, 'Film Kita Wajah Kita' (Our Films, Our Identity), local productions must highlight our culture and language. 'Ola Bola' brought people together, and we need more films like that," Rosyam said.
He also stressed the need to support young talent for the industry's future.
"New actors are essential for the creative sector to thrive. Healthy competition between generations will ensure we continue to move forward," he added.