Horror movie ‘Roh’, action flick ‘Sangkar’ win big at Malaysia Film Festival 31

Zul Ariffin and Remy Ishak celebrate their wins at Malaysia Film Festival for 'Sangkar'. Photos: Handout

Roh won a total of six awards at Malaysia Film Festival 31 (FFM) held at Plenary Hall, KLCC, on Friday (Dec 10).

It garnered the night's biggest win, Best Film, and gave Junainah M Lojong the Best Supporting Actress trophy.

The festival is Malaysia's top awards ceremony for the local film industry.

Meanwhile Sangkar received a total of five awards including top acting awards for Zul Ariffin and Remy Ishak in the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor categories, respectively.

Kabir Bhatia, who helmed Sangkar, was named Best Director.

Junainah M Lojong is the Best Supporting Actress for 'Roh'. 

Actors Zul and Remy both admitted that they were surprised but honoured to receive the win, their firsts at this festival.

Zul, who’s had health issues this year, was happy to finish the year "strong".

“This is the best thing to happen this year, for sure,” he said after the win.

An elated Remy shared that he's been in the industry for 15 years and had worked hard every step of the way.

"I have kept a positive attitude towards my work although I have never gotten the acknowledgement with a FFM award. But today, that has changed," said Remy, who got married this year.

The Garden Of The Evening Mists won a total of three awards including Best Actress for Lee Sinje. Lee, who is based overseas, didn't attend the ceremony.

Critically-acclaimed Fly By Night also received three awards – Most Promising Director (Zahir Omar), Best Cinematography and Best Editing.

Most Promising Actor, Anding Indrawani, and Most Promising Actress, Fify Azmi.

FFM31 was held before a live audience. The annual event did not happen last year due to the pandemic; the last festival was held in March 2019.

At the hall, all the audience members were placed one seat apart. And before the event started, there was a long line on the red carpet as the process of entering the hall turned out to be far slower in the new norm.

A total of 55 films competed this year, and they comprised 32 Malay films, 11 Tamil features, eight movies in Mandarin and four flicks in other languages. And 28 awards were given out.

Among the early winners were Fify Azmi who clinched Most Promising Actress for her role in Wira while Anding Indrawani took home the Most Promising Actor gong for the film Headhunter. Putri Qaseh was awarded the Best Child Actress for her role in Roh.

Fify, who made her acting debut in Wira, recalled that the biggest challenge she faced in the Adrian Teh film was having to cut her hair.

“I have never cut my hair that short before,” she said in the press room, holding her trophy. “All my fellow nominees deserve this trophy. I thought actress Mimi Lana (Pusaka) would win actually.”

Fauziah Nawi getting emotional as she talks about her son after receiving Lifetime Achievement Award at FFM31.

Meanwhile Anding – who has been in the industry for 17 years and is only now receiving the acknowledgement – said he never expected to win.

“All the challenges I faced making Headhunter were worth it,” he said. “Among them were nearly losing my finger, cutting my hair, speaking in Iban and not getting enough sleep. Everyone in the crew also sacrificed sleep to get this movie made.”

Fauziah Nawi who was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at this film festival said: “I am truly happy to receive this award while I am still alive.”

She dedicated the award to her son, director Mohd Firdaus Mohamad Hanif, who passed away in 2019 in a drowning accident.

The complete list of winners at Malaysia Film Festival 31

Best Film: Roh

Best Director: Kabir Bhatia (Sangkar)

Most Promising Director: Zahir Omar (Fly By Night)

Best Actor: Zul Ariffin (Sangkar)

Best Actress: Lee Sinje (The Garden Of Evening Mists)

Best Supporting Actor: Remy Ishak (Sangkar)

Best Supporting Actress: Junainah M. Lojong (Roh)

Best Child Actor: Putri Qaseh (Roh)

Most Promising Actor: Anding Indrawani (Headhunter)

Most Promising Actress: Fify Azmi (Wira)

Best Screenplay: Emir Ezwan (Roh)

Best Original Story: Tan Twan Eng (The Garden Of Evening Mists)

Best Cinematography: Low Soon Keong (Fly By Night)

Best Film Editing: Heng Yin Chau (Fly By Night)

Best Original Score: Reinchez Ng (Roh)

Best Production Design: Nazrul Asraff Mahzan (Sangkar)

Best Sound Editing: Fadhli Abu Shafian, Hakim Kamal, Shafiq Isa (Ejen Ali The Movie)

Best Theme Song: Ayuhlah (Suatu Ketika)

Best Costume Design: Tengku Syahmi (Roh)

Best Visual Effects: VHQ Post (The Garden Of Evening Mists)

Best Makeup And Hairstyling: Ella Sandera (Sangkar)

Best Poster: Christopher Chua Eng Hui (Walk With Me)

Top Box Office Film: Ejen Ali The Movie (RM30mil)

Special Jury Award 1: Suatu Ketika

Special Jury Award 2: Geran

Special Jury Award 3: Headhunter

Lifetime Achievement Award: Fauziah Nawi

Behind The Scenes Excellence Award: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Nawab