Emerging Voices

Distance (2021)

When COVID-19 shuts borders down, an outstationed father who is torn apart from his family fights his way back home to be reunited as seen through the eyes of his daughter. -- After sending his family back to Malaysia four years ago, a retiring expatriate, Thomas, finally begins his journey back to them when a COVID pandemic strikes. Borders close, and non-Malaysian citizens aren't allowed to enter the country. As another year goes on without contact and now cooped up in their homes, Thomas and his family reach their breaking point and begin to fall apart.

Runtime: 10 mins
Country: Malaysia
Film Language: English
Subtitle Language: English

Director 
Hannah Newman

Hannah Newman is currently enrolled in the Digital Film Production Programme at Sunway University. She is a Malaysian-British and has lived abroad for 6 years. Exposed to different cultures, values and mindsets, Hannah's films focus on connections and relationships.

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Daratanku Tenggelam (2022)

The flood in Taman Sri Muda last year continues to haunt the residents and many others in Malaysia. Till today, the affected residents are still clearing and cleaning their homes; and forced to live with the huge losses caused by the devastating floods. This tragedy has also exposed the catastrophic policy failure by the government.

Runtime: 11 mins
Country: Malaysia
Film Language: Malay
Subtitle Language: English

Director 
Faez Shazwan

Faez Shazwan graduated from the Faculty of Film, Theatre and Animation UiTM Puncak Perdana and he hopes to be one of the top horror directors in the future.y.

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Three Ways to Falter (2021)

A young Singaporean woman interprets her family and life through the prism of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Runtime: 4 mins
Country: Singapore
Film Language: Mandarin
Subtitle Language: Mandarin, English

Director 
Rachelle Lee Xin Yi

Rachelle is a recent graduate from Film, Sound & Video, Ngee Ann Polytechnic. She writes and directs, and most of her films have an animal in them. She dreams of running a laundromat studio where she can work on her pile of unfinished scripts. In her spare time, she remembers to change her fish’s water.

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Second Prison (2022)

“Second Prison” is the story of an ex-convict Matthew and an ex-prison officer Hilary who became friends and together, they created a business enterprise known as “The Caffeine Experience”, and helping other ex-convicts along the way. This film celebrates their unlikely friendship.

Runtime: 11 mins
Country: Singapore
Film Language: English
Subtitle Language: English

Director 
Kueh Yong Peng

Since young, Kueh Yong Peng has always been fond of films. From filming skits with his brother’s blackberry to creating documentaries such as “Second Prison”, he only hopes to create films that will inspire others just as how he was inspired growing up. And as a side project, he wishes to be a superstar as well.

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Karpet (2022)

A husband who sets out to buy a new carpet for his wife as Hari Raya approaches. A short film to give a glimpse of the kind of priorities of certain lower income families.

Runtime: 13 mins
Country: Malaysia
Film Language: Malay
Subtitle Language: English

Director 
Keefe Loh Kian Wei

Keefe Loh is currently pursuing his degree at Multimedia University, Cyberjaya. He hopes to show the everyday life of Malaysians through his films and tell meaningful stories about his home country.

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Living in Limbo (2021)

Statelessness, an issue that has never been properly addressed by the authorities, has left many to struggle silently. A normal life, or even dreams, might be too much to ask for a young stateless girl. This documentary aims to disclose the torturous journey in applying an Identity Card (IC) for a young lady as she explores who she should be now and then.

Runtime: 13 mins
Country: Malaysia
Film Language: Mandarin
Subtitle Language: English

Director
Yavino Lucas Ng

Yavino Lucas was born and raised in Sarawak. He completed his bachelor degree of broadcasting in UTAR and is passionate about telling stories as a cinematographer.

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