KUALA LUMPUR – Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching officiated the opening ceremony of the 2nd China-Malaysia Film Culture Festival yesterday, calling the event a vibrant platform to foster creative exchange between both countries' film industries.
Held from May 30 to June 8, the festival takes place at GSC Mid Valley Megamall and GSC Gurney Plaza, offering a curated lineup of screenings, forums, and workshops. Tickets are priced at RM10, with this year’s edition featuring two new forums on artificial intelligence and cinematic storytelling, reflecting the festival’s forward-looking agenda.
Teo said the festival is “more than just a film showcase” but also a means to “engage, educate, and inspire” local audiences through cinema.
“Together, through this festival, we continue to explore, exchange, and celebrate not only the art of filmmaking, but also the enduring friendship between China and Malaysia,” she added.
China-Malaysia collaboration
Teo highlighted recent developments in Malaysia-China cultural cooperation, including meetings with China’s Publicity Department Vice Ministers Shen Haixiong and Wang Gang, to further promote media and film collaboration.
“Geographic proximity and cultural affinity – with no language barrier – give us a unique advantage,” she said, noting the potential for high-quality joint productions.
Among key milestones, Teo pointed to the April 16 signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between China Media Group (CMG) and Malaysia’s national broadcaster RTM, as well as with the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas), aiming to enhance collaborative storytelling and content development.
The “Travel to China Through Movie Scenes” initiative, launched during President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Malaysia, also seeks to use cinema as a vehicle to promote tourism and cultural understanding between the two nations.
Meanwhile, on May 10, a separate MoU was inked between Skop Productions Malaysia and Hong Kong’s Mandarin Motion Pictures – the studio behind the Ip Man series. Facilitated via Finas’ participation at Hong Kong Filmart, the deal sets the stage for a regional co-production.
Teo also noted emerging cooperation between Malaysian producers and China’s historic SIL-Metropole Organisation, which is expected to enhance technical exchange and open access to China’s broader film market.
Local successes
At the local level, Teo highlighted that Malaysian productions continue to achieve commercial and international breakthroughs.
Blood Brothers: Bara Naga, directed by Syafiq Yusof and Abhilash Chandra, has raked in RM72.2 million at the box office as of May 21 – surpassing Syafiq’s earlier hits, Polis Evo 3 (RM54 million) and Sheriff: Narko Integriti (RM60.5 million).
Meanwhile, Malaysian animation studio Monsta has marked a new milestone with Mechamato, which debuted in China to critical acclaim. Within 72 hours of its launch, the homegrown 26-episode series topped Youku’s “Most Loved by Boys” and “Top Mecha Series” charts.
This follows Mechamato's earlier win at the 2023 Tokyo Anime Award Festival, where it became the first non-Japanese production to clinch the Anime Fan Award. “This marks a major milestone in Monsta’s international expansion,” said Teo, noting its significance for Malaysia’s broader animation sector.
Also present at the opening ceremony were Finas chairman Datuk Hans Isaac, Finas CEO Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib, the festival’s organising chairman Aron Koh, among others.
The festival continues through next week with public engagements in both Kuala Lumpur and Penang. – May 30, 2025
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