Rising Malaysian filmmaker wins regional short film competition by HBO Asia

Malaysian filmmaker Ibtisem Ben Nassib, 30, is one of three winners of a regional short film competition inspired by the HBO Asia original series 'Invisible Stories'. Photo: HBO Asia

Photo: HBO Asia

Malaysian filmmaker Ibtisem Ben Nassib, 30, is one of three winners of a regional short film competition inspired by the HBO Asia original series Invisible Stories.

Invisible Stories is an anthology set in a fictional housing estate in Singapore, which focuses on telling untold stories about the residents' everyday life and its challenges.

Similarly, the short film competition, which was judge by a panel of judges that included Invisible Stories director Ler Jiyuan, invited emerging film makers from around South East Asia to submit untold stories from their own neighbourhoods.

Chosen from a pool of over 300 submissions, Ibtisem is one of three winners of the competition, along with Singaporeans Ansen Goh and Sabrina Poon. Her film, titled Ali, is about a Syrian man who left his country for a better life overseas, but soon realises he has made a big mistake. Swindled out of his money and forced to live a less-than-desirable life, he yearns for the day he can reunite with his family in Syria.

Ali and the other two winning entries, Washed Off by Goh and Hello Uncle by Poon, are available to watch for free on HBO GO.