Crowd favourites won big at the 28th Malaysian Film Festival, with gritty Jagat and Munafik taking the top prizes, writes Dennis Chua.
IN the run-up to the 28th Malaysian Film Festival (FFM28) last Saturday, seven movies screened this year were crowd favourites and hot topics of discussion among the movie-going public.
They were, in no particular order, gritty Tamil movie Jagat, horror flick Munafik, road trip Mat Moto: Kami Mat Moto Bukan Mat Rempit, heart-warming family story The Kid From The Big Apple, semi-historical football movie Ola Bola, best-selling buddy cop adventure Polis Evo, and the country’s most popular animated movie Boboiboy The Movie.
Astro Shaw’s Ola Bola led the 43 feature films, short films, animated films and documentaries in the running for 25 award categories. It received 14 nominations while another Astro Shaw movie, Polis Evo, came in a close second with 10 nominations.
Both movies which promoted the 1Malaysia spirit in sports and crime-busting respectively, did well and each took home three awards.
Ola Bola bagged Best Costume Design, Best Musical Score and Best Theme Song (Zee Avi’s Arena Cahaya), while Polis Evo bagged Best Supporting Actor (Hushairi Hussain), Best Cinematography and (predictably) the Box Office Award (it raked in RM17.4 million at the box office).
However, it was Jagat which bagged the coveted Best Film prize, and earned its director Shanjhey Kumar Perumal the title of Best New Director.
The film about a youngster, played by Harvind Raj, whose uncles gradually influence him to become a gangster, entered the New York Asia Film Festival last June.
An elated Shanjhey said: “I filmed Jagat, my feature film debut, last year and it’s actually semi-autobiographical. While its focus is on a schoolboy from a low-income family getting influenced into becoming a gangster, the film is actually a critique of Malaysian society’s tidak apa attitude.”
Shanjhey, who thanked Harvind for his brilliant acting, said Jagat criticised society for tolerating abuses, of the environment and children.
“The end result is that our children do not grow up in an environment which is conducive for their spiritual and intellectual growth,” he said.
Skop Productions’ Munafik, directed by its main actor Syamsul Yusof, took home the most number of prizes at FFM28, for Best Film In The National Language, Best Actress (Nabila Huda Suhaimi), Best Director (Syamsul), Best Editing (Syamsul) and Best Sound Direction (Imaginex Studios).
“I’m so happy to be back!” said Syamsul. “Munafik’s big win has convinced me that Skop has been vindicated for its dedication to making good movies, after that terrible act of piracy which struck us more than a year ago.”
Syamsul, who admitted to doing extensive research for every project, plans to have more variety in his movies, even though horror and action are his forte. “I’m all for genres as adventure and coming-of-age dramas, because these are popular with young viewers. Likewise, movies based on real-life events,” he said
For Nabila, who marked her fourth “try” for the Best Actress prize, dedicated her win to her biggest fan, her rock legend father Amy of Search. “He’s always been there for me, and when he heard I was nominated, he was confident that the prize would be mine!” said Nabila.
She admitted that playing the possessed young woman in Munafik was her most difficult movie role and it took her three days to perfect it. “Competition was stiff; Maya Karin was brilliant as two other possessed people in Nota and Jwanita.”
Pekin Ibrahim won Best Actor in Mat Moto: Kami Mat Moto Bukan Mat Rempit, together with Falisha Crossley, who won Best New Actress. The film also won Best Original Story.
“Mat Moto is my directorial debut and I got eight nominations. It was a difficult movie to make, because my dear friend and fellow screenwriter Azwan Annuar died of illness during filming. Furthermore, the story is based on a real life friend,” said Pekin, trying to hold back his tears.
“I’m dedicating this win to Azwan; he encouraged me to become a filmmaker. He advised me to tell stories that were close to my heart.”
Fauziah Ahmad Daud won Best Supporting Actress for Langit Cinta while Adam Shahz won Best New Actor for Juvana 2.
“It’s great to be back at the awards,” said Fauziah, better known as Ogy. “I went deep into my character, the blind and ailing mother of the protagonist (played by Nur Fazura Sharifuddin), to give an effective performance. My family and friends just loved it!”
Ogy won her first Best Actress award in 1985 for her role as Asmidar in romantic comedy Ali Setan. “Back then, I guess I was at the right time and the right place — Ali Setan was a coming-of-age movie for teens. Viewers just loved me and Azmil (Mustapha) for our great chemistry,” she added.
Tan Qin Lin won Best Child Actor for The Kid From The Big Apple, while Bea Tanaka won Best Screenplay for Nota. Boboiboy, by Animonsta Pictures, won Best Animated Film award.
Ola Bola, Polis Evo and The Kid From The Big Apple received Special Jury Awards for promoting national unity through sports, highlighting the police who uphold law and order, and promoting family values, respectively.
Astro Shaw head Najwa Abu Bakar said: “Both Ola Bola and Polis Evo are made for Malaysians, by Malaysians. They are inspiring stories about our unsung heroes who work hard to do the country proud and keep it safe.”
Actor Hushari said he identified with his villainous character in Polis Evo, because he enjoyed playing baddies who were “monsters out of this world”.
He said: “I’d like to thank Astro Shaw for giving me a chance to shine in this exciting movie. It’s my second time in FFM since Bunohan, where I also played a baddie.”
The Kid From The Big Apple director Jess Teong said: “It’s my directorial debut and I’ve received lots of positive feedback about this movie which is about family values.
“It was a joy to direct Qin Lin and her young neighbours. They were fast learners and turned out to be naturals. They picked up Mandarin fast and were full of ideas on how to develop their characters,” said Teong, who based the movie on her own experience as a businesswoman living overseas a decade ago.
She described the movie as a tale of filial piety and the need for grandparents and grandchildren to communicate with each other. She was delighted that Qin Lin won Best Child Actor.
The event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre was organised by the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) with the support of the Communications and Multimedia Ministry and the Entertainment Journalists’ Association of Malaysia (Wham). It was broadcast live on Astro Ria at 9pm.
Themed Transformasi Sinema Kita, this year’s festival also awarded a Lifetime Achievement award to veteran filmmaker Deddy M. Borhan, who made films such as Azura, Toyol and Keluarga Comat.
Artistes who performed at the awards were Ernie Zakri, Dewi Liana Seriestha, Azlan Roslee, Aizat Amdan, Tomok, Man Bai, Jaclyn Victor, Dayang Nurfaizah and Bunkface.
Dewi and Ernie, who found fame in Mentor and Bintang RTM respectively, serenaded audiences with an impressive medley of songs from the movies, including Buka Pintu from Marah-Marah Sayang, Pesta Muda Mudi (Nasib Do Re Mi), Bagaikan Sakti (Puteri Gunung Ledang) and Seluruh Cinta (Suamiku Encik Perfect 10).
Backing them was up-and-coming pop group Back To Basixx, comprising Christian Theseira, Brendan Aloysius, Devon Chew, Daryll Nathaniel and Kyle G.
Azlan, dubbed the “falsetto king”, delivered the haunting rock hits Sejati and Gadis Misteri beautifully, while Tomok and Aizat oozed superb chemistry, taking audiences down memory lane with their upbeat medley of Tan Sri P. Ramlee gems such as Di Waktu Malam, Dengarlah Gemala Hati and Menceceh Bujang Lapok.
Dayang and Jaclyn were also show-stealers with their soulful renditions of the theme songs from Langit Cinta and Jagalah Diri, from the KRU movie, 29 Februari.
Man Bai revived his moving song Kau Ilhamku (1995), from the movie Layar Lara, as a special tribute to artistes who had passed on.
FFM 28 was co-hosted for the second time by zany Nabil Ahmad and Sherry Alhadad. The duo occasionally cracked cheeky jokes and kept audiences entertained with their witty dialogue throughout the two-hour show.
Its star-studded presenters included Lisa Surihani, Yusry Abdul Halim, Sharifah Amani, Erra Fazira, Tam Suhaimi, Khir Rahman, Aziz M. Osman, Fauziah and Shaheizy Sam.
The awards show was attended by Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis (wife of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi), Datuk Seri Dr Sharifah Zarah Syed Ahmad (Communications and Multimedia Ministry secretary-general) and Datuk Kamil Othman (director-general, Malaysian National Film Development Corporation (Finas).
WINNERS LIST
Best Film: Jagat
Best Film In The National Language: Munafik
Best Director: Syamsul Yusof (Munafik)
Best Actor: Pekin Ibrahim (Mat Moto: Kami Mat Moto Bukan Mat Rempit)
Best Actress: Nabila Huda Suhaimi (Munafik)
Best Supporting Actor: Hushairi Hussain (Polis Evo)
Best Supporting Actress: Fauziah Ahmad Daud (Langit Cinta)
Best New Actor: Adam Shahz (Juvana 2: Terperangkap Dalam Kebebasan)
Best New Actress: Falisha Crossley (Mat Moto: Kami Mat Moto Bukan Mat Rempit)
Best New Director: Shanjhey Kumar Perumal (Jagat)
Best Child Actor: Tan Qin Lin (The Kid From The Big Apple)
Best Screenplay: Bea Tanaka (Nota)
Best Cinematography: Haris Hue Abdullah (Polis Evo)
Best Editing: Syamsul Yusof (Munafik)
Best Art Direction: Wong Jee Meng & Nick Wong (Huat The Fish)
Best Sound Direction: Imaginex Studios (Munafik)
Best Musical Score: Onn San & Alex San (Ola Bola)
Best Original Story: Pekin Ibrahim (Mat Moto: Kami Mat Moto Bukan Mat Rempit)
Best Costume Design: Elaine Ng & Weng Shum (Ola Bola)
Best Visual Effects: Yusry Abdul Halim (Cicakman 3)
Best Theme Song: Zee Avi & Rendra Zawawi: Arena Cahaya (Ola Bola)
Best Short Film: RM10 (Entropy Studios)
Best Animated Film: Boboiboy The Movie (Animonsta Studios)
Best Animated Short Film: Ejen Ali (Wau Animation)
Best Documentary Film: Boat People (Dosfellas)
Box Office Award: Polis Evo
Behind The Scenes Award: Mohd Noor Tagaya
Special Jury Awards: Ola Bola, Polis Evo & The Kid From The Big Apple
Lifetime Achievement Award: Deddy M. Borhan