Recently, Malaysians were excited to hear that the critically acclaimed local film “Abang Adik” has been selected by the National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) to represent our country in the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards. Following the film’s overwhelming success since its release, many are hopeful it will receive an Oscar nomination next year.
While we await further updates on the submission, let’s reflect on some of the films that have represented Malaysia in this category over the years. Here are eight local films that have been submitted for an Oscar:
1. Puteri Gunung Ledang (2004)
This film will forever main one of the most successful and iconic films in Malaysia. Starring Tiara Jacquelina and M. Nasir, the film tells the story of the legendary tale of a celestial princess who lived on Mount Ledang and her relationship with the warrior Hang Tuah.
2. Bunohan: Return to Murder (2012)
8 years after submitting “Puteri Gunung Ledang”, FINAS finally decided to submit an action-drama film locally known as “Bunohan” for the 85th Academy Awards. The film stars Faizal Hussein, Zahiril Adzim and Pekin Ibrahim and was praised at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival for its solid, visceral storytelling and arresting photography.
3. Lelaki Harapan Dunia (2015)
Since 2015, Malaysia has increasingly submitted locally acclaimed films to compete in the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards. Unlike the other projects on this list, “Lelaki Harapan Dunia” is a comedy that tells the story of a charming Malay village that was thrown into chaos when the shadow of an African immigrant in an abandoned house was misidentified as a ghost, leading to amusing events.
4. Redha (2016)
“Redha” is a beautifully written film directed by Tunku Mona Riza, who also worked on the script. The story revolves around parents who struggled to face the reality of raising a disabled child after their son was diagnosed with autism. The film was selected as Malaysia’s entry for the 89th Academy Awards but unfortunately was not nominated.
5. M for Malaysia (2019)
“M for Malaysia” is the first-ever locally-made documentary to be submitted to compete for an Oscar. The film documents the 14th General Election (GE14) in May 2018, capturing the campaigning period through to election night, which featured historic moments as Pakatan Harapan took over the government and Mahathir Mohamad became Prime Minister for the second time.
6. Roh (2010)
If there’s one thing about Malaysia, it’s that we’re not afraid to submit films in a variety of genres to be nominated for an Academy Award. “Roh” is an independent folk horror film directed by Emir Ezwan in his directorial debut. It was critically acclaimed with many reviewers praising its symbolism, cinematography and incorporation of Malay folklore. It is also worth noting that no horror film has ever been nominated for an Academy Award so this was definitely a bold choice for submission.
7. Prebet Sapu (2021)
What made “Prebet Sapu” stand out from the rest of the films on this list is that it is all in black and white, and there’s a reason for that. The film follows an illegal ride-hailing driver named Aman, who is colour-blind. It chronicles his experiences transporting passengers around Kuala Lumpur at night and his friendship with Bella, an enigmatic escort.
8. Tiger Stripes (2023)
The last local film to be submitted for an Oscar. Just because it was censored in its home country, doesn’t mean it wasn’t qualified to be submitted for a prestigious film award. The body horror film revolves around Zaffan, an 11-year-old girl, who begins to experience physical changes in her body as she goes through puberty.
Which of these films do you think should’ve been nominated for an Oscar?
