Cannes, Cannes, Cannes. One of the most popular film festivals in the world. As one of the Big Five film festivals in the world, the Cannes Film Festival is every filmmaker’s dream. Those iconic olive branches symbolise prestige, artistic excellence, and global recognition. Yet, for all its allure, it remains an elusive goal—especially for Southeast Asian cinema.
That said, a few Malaysian films have defied the odds and earned their place at this iconic French festival. From indie debuts to award-winning features, here’s a list of Malaysian stories that have lit up the screens of Cannes.
Though being selected for Cannes Critics’ Week is a significant achievement, it’s worth noting that it is one of the parallel sections of the Cannes Film Festival—alongside Directors’ Fortnight and Tous les Cinémas du Monde each serving as prestigious but distinct platforms for emerging filmmakers apart from the festival’s main competition known as the Official Selection.
While no Malaysian feature has yet won the coveted main competition or Palme d’Or category at Cannes, these entries are important steps forward. Whether through Critics’ Week, Directors’ Fortnight, or Un Certain Regard, these Malaysian films showcase the country’s growing presence on the global cinematic map.
So here’s to hoping it won’t be long before we see a Malaysian director walking up the iconic red steps, in full contention for the Palme d’Or. Until then, we’ll be cheering every entry that makes it to the festival.
Here are the few Malaysian films and short films that have made it to Cannes Film Festival.
1. Bleat! (2024) – Ananth Subramaniam
The newest Malaysian film to enter the Cannes club, Bleat! was selected for the Cannes Critics’ Week in 2024. The short film tells the surreal tale of an Indian couple whose sacrificial goat turns out to be… pregnant. Directed by Ananth Subramaniam, the film explores themes of belief, tradition, and the absurd. Its inclusion marks another milestone for Malaysian cinema on the international stage.
2. Tiger Stripes (2023) – Amanda Nell Eu
Few Malaysian films have made as big a splash at Cannes as Amanda Nell Eu’s Tiger Stripes. In 2023, the film won the Grand Prize at Critics’ Week, making history for Malaysia. A bold and visceral body horror centred around puberty and female adolescence, the film received international acclaim for its fresh voice and unapologetic storytelling.
While Tiger Stripes got a full Malaysian theatrical release, it was heavily censored and was denied by Nell Eu.
Tiger Stripes is available to stream on Netflix here.
3. The Tiger Factory (2010) – Woo Ming Jin
Selected for the Directors’ Fortnight in 2010, The Tiger Factory follows the life of 19-year-old Pingping and her aunt Madame Tien as they become entangled in underground migration schemes. A quiet yet poignant drama, the film was a collaboration between Malaysian filmmaker Woo Ming Jin and writer Edmund Yeo, both known for their contributions to independent cinema in the Southeast Asian region.
4. Karaoke (2009) – Chris Chong
Chris Chong’s directorial debut Karaoke also found its way to the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009. A contemplative piece about a young man, Betik (played by Zahiril Adzim), who returns to his rural hometown and helps his mother run a karaoke bar, the film blends realism with poetic visuals. It was only the second ever Malaysian feature to screen at Cannes at the time.
5. Kaki Bakar (The Arsonist) (1995) – U-Wei Haji Saari
The only Malaysian film to date to be included in Cannes’ Official Selection, Kaki Bakar was screened under the Un Certain Regard section in 1995. Directed by Malaysian auteur U-Wei Haji Saari, the film is a moody and powerful adaptation of William Faulkner’s Barn Burning. It follows a boy’s attempt to prevent his father from committing arson. Though completed in 1995, the film only premiered in Malaysian cinemas six years later, in 2001.
Honourable Mentions
Horologist (2023) – Jared Lee
While not part of the main selection, Jared Lee’s animated short Horologist was screened at the Cannes Short Film Corner, a networking hub for short filmmakers. The film is horror short about a man who can sell time to others, at a deadly cost.
Walay Balay (2024) – Gogularaajan Rajendran & Eve Baswel
A cross-border collaboration between Malaysian filmmaker Gogularaajan Rajendran and Filipino director Eve Baswel, Walay Balay is a poignant short film set in a war-torn region. It was selected for the Directors’ Fortnight at the 2024 edition of the Cannes Film Festival.
(Hero image credit: Sixtymac Pictures / Feature image credit: Ghost Grrrl Pictures)
