It was 7:30pm on a Thursday night. I found myself squeezed into a tiny concrete room at Nui Kopi, surrounded by mismatched vintage chairs and a growing crowd of strangers.
I had been given a free drink upon entry, and with nothing else to do, I settled into a barely ergonomic wooden chair and started sketching the room.
More people arrived. Soon, we were sitting inches apart from one another. Strangely, nobody seemed to mind.
The host apologised for the tight space despite there being zero complaints. People were happily making room for one another, exchanging small talk under an aircon that was working overtime.
And then the lights went off.
Tonton Thursday: Made in Penang finally began.
Five local, award-winning independent documentaries, projected on a wrinkly canvas, accompanied by a single Bluetooth speaker on top of a metal cabinet.
Behind the Blossom (2023) by Leaf Yeap follows a flower farmer from Penang Hill. Business dwindled after they started importing roses from India, but he maintains an optimistic view of life.
The People of Weld Quay Reclamation Area (2025) by Ong Lin Pin walks us through the residents’ mixed feelings about their upcoming relocation, while celebrating the birthday of a Hokkien deity.
Old Leaves: Story of My Ah Ma (2025) by Bernard Lim is a heartwarming interview with Bernard’s grandmothers. We were smitten by their adorable banter and the cinematography.
Home at Rifle Range Flats (2025) by Tey Xin Mei is a slice of life in the close-knit and diverse neighbourhood of the oldest apartment complex in Penang.
It Takes a Decade to Grow a Tree… (2015) by Okui Lala explores the philosophy of elder citizens on life and gardening.
Each film ended with a round of applause. We sat shoulder to shoulder, peeking between people’s heads. Even so, we enjoyed every film, with occasional laughter.
Four of the five filmmakers lined up like model students before the class for the Q&A session. Meek, humble, and young. Despite being shy at first, they had clear artistic visions and were confident in sharing their thoughts.
Tonton Thursday members are a warm bunch. According to Chong Ley Lynn, it all started with a simple goal… to watch movies with friends. Since January 2024, Nui Kopi has been transforming its little space into a cozy screening room on a random Thursday of each month, playing films of all genres and languages.
The team behind Tonton Thursday — Oh Chin Eng, Eunice Tan, Wan Atikah and Ley Lynn — soon realised that there were many good local films and documentaries produced by Malaysians that were either unheard of or screened only at special festivals or projects.
This year’s Made in Penang screening was their second special screening highlighting locally produced works, especially those by Penangites or shot in Penang. The five films screened that night explored everything from neighbourhood issues to personal family stories.
Ley Lynn recalled how challenging it was to curate a series of films and to find sponsors. Luckily, Generasi Penang, a youth organisation, bought all of us drinks that night.
The team was surprised by the high attendance of around fifty people. That’s significantly more than what they usually have. Plus, nobody left before the end, and the Q&A session incited plenty of discussion and feedback.
Chin Eng, photographer, former journalist, and owner of Nui Kopi, always wanted his cafe to be more than just serving coffee. He created this reading room specifically for community events about things he cared about — movies, books, and collecting vintage items.
“Reading room?” I asked. That’s when he excitedly peeled back the canvas to reveal a wall full of books.
“It takes a village to build events in Penang,” he explained, pointing out all the items he had borrowed and favours he had to ask. “But I’m glad that we are able to provide a venue for local talents to showcase their work, and for people to gather and enjoy them.”
Clearly, there is interest in local indie films. Yet, it is rare to come across public screenings outside of film festivals, which can feel more exclusive. Hence, I’m grateful for a physical event like Tonton Thursday. It’s a good introduction to indie films and, in general, just a fun, low-cost thing to do in the city.
“It helps to gather fellow creatives, giving us opportunities to collaborate and grow as a collective,” said Bernard, who is happy to contribute to the local indie scene by telling his stories through visuals.
For most Malaysian creatives, being an artist is usually a second life we live. It’s already hard to balance passion and responsibilities. Especially in today's content-driven world, when we’re pushed to keep creating more and faster, we often forget to stop and properly appreciate the “art” in our artwork.
Part of the art comes from community. I believe sharing our work with people, either for critique, storytelling, or pure enjoyment, is crucial for growth. Attending community events allows us space for dialogue and insight into other people’s worlds. There’s always something new to learn.
Plus, you get to make new friends — writers, musicians, actors… maybe we get to do cool things together someday!
For me, that’s when I get most inspired.
My Thursday night closed with a warm goodbye and my battery fully charged. I will definitely look forward to more community events in Penang’s art scene.
If you’d like to catch the next Tonton Thursday, follow Nui Kopi for updates. Located inside Hin Bus Depot on Jalan Gurdwara, George Town, this little gem is also home to a variety of artsy events. Keep an eye out for what’s happening next. You never know what you might discover — or who you might meet.
About the Writer:
Felina is new to the arts scene, young, curious, and hungry. She wants to sink her paws into as many facets of the performing arts as she can, as she believes practical experience is more nutritious than theory. Find her on, behind, or seated in front of the stage, as she is ready to pounce at any given moment.
Seni:Kita (pentaspena.pg@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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