The Academy Awards is the most highly anticipated and prestigious awards ceremony in the film industry. Being nominated for an Oscar is a significant milestone, and since 1929, we have witnessed countless incredible films, filmmakers, and performers taking home that golden statuette.
Regrettably, no Malaysian film has yet been nominated for an Oscar, despite submitting some of our finest work over the years. Perhaps next year will be different, as we have a strong contender this time: “Abang Adik.”
In an official statement posted yesterday (Thursday, 3rd October), the National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) announced that the 2023 neo-noir crime drama “Abang Adik” will be submitted for the 97th Academy Awards, which will take place in March 2025. Like previous submissions, the film will compete in the Best International Feature Film (formerly Best Foreign Language Film) category.
The story centres on two orphaned brothers in Pudu who struggle in a poverty-stricken and crime-ridden environment. In addition to its box office success, earning RM5.2 million domestically within its first 24 days, “Abang Adik”, written and directed by Jin Ong, has received critical acclaim and garnered several award nominations, including seven at the Golden Horse Awards. Wu Kang-ren, who plays Chen Ah-bang (aka Abang), even won Best Actor at the prestigious event.
The local tear-jerker film also won Best Film at the New York Asian Film Festival in 2022 and won the Golden Mulberry at the Far East Film Festival in 2023. After the announcement was posted, Malaysians congratulated the “Abang Adik” team for being selected for the submission.
While a Malaysian film has yet to be nominated for an Oscar, there is still hope for us, especially after Ipoh-born actress Tan Sri Dato Michelle Yeoh won Best Actress at the 96th Academy Awards for the movie “Everything Everywhere All At Once”. The last local film submitted for an Oscar was “Tiger Stripes”, a body horror written and directed by Amanda Nell Eu in her directorial debut, which also won the Critics’ Week Grand Prize at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.
Congratulations to “Abang Adik” for being selected for the submission and may this be the first Malaysian film to be nominated for an Oscar.
