The Pillar of Strength, a Malaysian animated film, is the “Best Cultural Diversity Film Award” recipient at the International Human-Environment Care Film Festival (HECFF) 2023 in Toronto, Canada.
The film, advocating for endangered generations while supporting efforts to break the cycle of endangerment, was up against Amuka (Belgium), Cosmovision (Brazil), Mentawai (Malaysia), and Stitch by Stitch (United States).
Each of these films raised awareness of human-environment care, human rights issues and environmental concerns through creative storytelling.
Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) animation lecturer Mohamed Khairi Ibrahim’s seven-minute- and thirty-second short film was announced the winner on Feb 11.
The HECFF, which was introduced in 2020, aims to provide a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work and gain industry exposure, supporting the sustainability of their craft.
Mohamed Khairi, who is fondly known as Aie Ibrahim, was responsible for the writing, directing, animation, character design and visualisation of this “labour of love”.
Pillar of strength: The short film aims to bring the story of the indigenous community in Borneo to the world.
Supported by a grant from the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and the Finance Ministry through a grant from the National Economic Recovery Plan (Penjana), the film addressed the themes of family, relationships, identity, as well as culture and life, in the Borneo archipelago. It unearths the conflict between a father and his son in exploring their lineage.
To capture the essence of the indigenous tribes in Sarawak, Aie Ibrahim spent nearly three weeks visiting museums and villages in Lubok Antu and Kota Samarahan.
Explaining his motivation, Aie Ibrahim said his main objective in making the film was to amplify the voices of indigenous people in Borneo and raise their visibility globally.
“I wanted to empower the community through animation,” he said in a press release.
A recipient of 25 awards, including honours from prestigious film festivals in Spain, France and Korea, he shared his talent and commitment to storytelling with his students at the APU School of Media, Arts and Design.
“Cultivating creativity and staying attuned to industry trends is essential in animation education.
“I aim to provide my students with not only theoretical knowledge, but also practical insights and instincts honed through real-world experience.
“By immersing them in the latest techniques and trends, I want to empower them to innovate and excel in the dynamic field of animation,” said the passionate educator.
