KRU Studios’ epic film Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa kicks off the 24th Malaysian Film Festival’s (FFM 24) awards night with three wins from the three categories it was nominated for at the Gemilang Cipta night. This only sets up for bigger wins for the studio at the festival’s culminating night – dubbed Malam Gemilang Perdana – happening this Sunday at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC). Mahawangsa is nominated in nine categories, including best director, best screenplay and best costume.

On Wednesday, it won for best poster, best visual effects and best song. What makes the win especially sweet for KRU Studios is that the visual effects category has just been introduced to the festival this year. The win is truly apt since the studio was the first production house in Malaysia to develop its own special effects department as another tool in storytelling on films.