This Malaysian screenwriter won an Oscars-governed grant, beating over 7,000 other scripts

Malaysia's Renee Pillai poses with screenwriter Tyger Williams at the 2019 Academy Nicholl Fellowships Screenwriting Awards last November. Photo: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Tears are welling up in Renee Pillai’s eyes as she recounts the life-changing turn of events of the past few months.

Last November, Renee became the first Malaysian to win the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, a prestigious screenwriting fellowship programme administered by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Yes, the very people who give out the Oscars.