Kota Kinabalu: The Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival (KKIFF) contributes to the filmmaking skills development of youths in Sabah and beyond through its programmes, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew.
Liew also said the activities, especially the training programmes, helped to build the human resources for the burgeoning film industry in the State.
“We expect to see movies during a film festival, but the KKIFF offers additional activities,” she said at the KKIFF Awards Night, here, Sunday.
“These are the two training courses – the Sabah Film Lab and the Sabah Pitching Training.
SPONSORED CONTENT Daily Express members: Enjoy 1 for 1 signature cocktails and more at Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu: DAILY EXPRESS is partnering with Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu to offer an exclusive deal for our members. Read more “The Sabah Film Lab is an eight-day training course in filmmaking.
“It is aimed at young Malaysian filmmakers and includes 12 Sabahans and seven others from around Malaysia.
“The five mentors were a mix from Malaysia, Germany, and Japan – again an international group.”
She added in the Sabah Pitching Training, filmmakers need to learn how to pitch their film ideas so that they could get the funding to go on and make their dreams come true.
“The Sabah Pitching Training is open to filmmakers in Southeast Asia, and we are happy to be able to welcome participants from Myanmar, the Philippines and Indonesia, as well as from West Malaysia and Sabah.
“The trainer for this course is from Australia,” she said.
She also commended KKIFF for bringing together many movies and filmmakers “for enabling the networking and linking up to happen between people from all over Southeast Asia and the world.”
“This is so important in the film industry.
“We are happy many people have come to KK from Southeast Asia and beyond – some for the first time.
“We hope that this is not the first and last time they come to our beautiful land but that their experiences here will encourage them to return,” she said.
Meanwhile, Festival Director Jude Day is optimistic with the training programme participants.
“There is a whole future for participants and mentors starting here at the KKIFF 2023, at this time and in this space of KK.”
Admitting that there are challenges in holding the festival, Day is grateful for the support given by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Youth and Sports Ministry, and Tourism, Culture, and Environment Ministry.
“Without their support, we would not have had the Sabah Film Lab, the Sabah Pitching Training, the Go10 Filmmakers’ Competition, or the Cinebalu Screenings.
"It has given us the funds to hold the KKIFF, and it also gives us recognition, and that is important, although that is not why we volunteer to run the KKIFF every year.
“Something is happening in the film world in Sabah, in the infrastructure, in the creative, energetic world of the film here, and the KKIFF is part of that.
“And I am proud to see the filmmakers who have been and are still part of the KKIFF go on with their careers. It is gratifying for a festival that is quite a small event in their lives.
“So, to have the support for the KKIFF this year from the Chief Minister and the other Ministries is significant for us.
“Thank you very much. Without your support, we would not have had a KKIFF 2023. We look forward to this support continuing for years to come.”
Several awards were also presented - the winning pitch for the Sabah Pitching Training, the Mentors’ Awards for the Sabah Film Lab, and the Golden Kinabalu Awards for the GO10 Filmmakers’ Competition.
Sai Kong Kham from Myanmar won the winning pitch for the Sabah Pitching Training for “The Birdwatcher”, while Sheryl Rose Andes (the Philippines) received the highly recommended award for “Bariles”.
Sydney Augustine and Siti Syaruzah received the Mentors’ Awards in Sabah Film Lab.
The night’s highlight was the presentation of the Golden Kinabalu Awards to the Go10 Filmmakers’ Competition winners in each category – Indigenous Language, Narrative and Documentary.
For Indigenous Language, the winner was “This is Not Late to Raya” by Jefry Musa, while “Dragon” by Timothy Stephen won the Special Mention award.
“The Homework” by Yuk Baek from Singapore won the Narrative category, while “Ocean Eyes” by Shi Fang Teo grabbed the Special Mention award.
For Documentary, “The Night is Drunk When We Suffer” by Rian Simon Cabatingan Magtaan from the Philippines was the winner, while “Kopitiam Rocker” by Lee Chun Chieh received the Special Mention award.
Each Golden Kinabalu Award winner brought home RM3,000 and a trophy.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.
* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
