KUALA LUMPUR: More financial assistance may be available for films like Abang Adik to participate in international film festivals, says Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister said that although filmmakers were ready to participate in these international film festivals, there were a lot of unexpected costs incurred.
"The same goes for the film 'Abang Adik' and National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) is examining this matter," he said.
He said this when winding up Budget 2025 debates for his ministry at the committee level in Dewan Rakyat here on Wednesday (Nov 27).
He added that he has requested the same funding support from Finas for all films that are participating in international film festivals.
He highlighted that while there are films that are ready to enter international film festivals, they face financial hurdles, one of which is funding for marketing campaigns.
"We will look into this matter more deeply and comprehensively.
"We want Malaysian films to be able to compete," he said.
The film Abang Adik has been selected to represent Malaysia in the International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards next March.
Director, Amanda Nell Eu, featured the first Malaysian film directed by a woman to premiere in the Cannes Film Festival.
She also won the 2024 Women In Motion Emerging Talent Award for her Malay-language horror film Tiger Stripes.
