MALAYSIAN filmmaker Lim Han Loong was presented with the Promising Filmmaker Award at the 31st Busan International Film Festival recently, bagging a prize money of US$5,000 (RM20,406), Sin Chew Daily reported.
He was among 24 filmmakers selected from 501 applications in Asia to join an intensive training programme in Busan from Sept 26 to Oct 15.
Organised by the Busan International Film Festival with support from French fashion house Chanel, the Chanel X BIFF Asian Film Academy aimed at nurturing a new generation of Asian filmmakers.
Lim, 34, was presented with the award as part of the academy’s graduation ceremony on Oct 14.
A director and screenwriter from Ipoh, Perak, Lim’s works explore memories, family, migration, as well as how social changes affect the lives of ordinary people.
His 2025 short film In the Valley is set in his hometown of Ipoh and is a story about an 11-year-old girl resenting her mother’s decision to move them to the city.
He is currently working on his debut feature film Maybe Today, If Not Today, Maybe Tomorrow, which will also be set in Ipoh.
It will be a story about an 18-year-old who has just finished secondary school being torn between staying in his hometown and leaving in search of greener pastures.
> Amid speculation that Mayday guitarist Stone is leaving the band, their record label has dismissed all such claims.
According to Sin Chew Daily, the Taiwanese rock band recently wrapped up its 5525 Back to That Day Tour in July and is currently recording a new album.
However, rumours began to spread about Stone’s plan to leave the group due to an old injury.
Apparently, the relentless touring over the past two decades have caused his spinal injury to worsen.
Stone’s wife and children have also moved to the United Kingdom.
The demands from all the touring left Stone, whose real name is Shih Chin-hang, little time to spend with family.
It was reported that Stone, 50, shared his plan with close friends in the industry.
In fact, he apologised to fans during a concert in August 2025 and asked for their forgiveness in the event his body succumbs to the stress of touring.
Many fans take this to be a foreshadowing of Stone’s possible departure from the band.
When contacted about the matter, B’in Music denied the rumours about Stone leaving.
“There is no such thing. Mayday is currently resting,” it said, adding that the band will see fans again soon.
Mayday debuted in 1999 and continues to be one of the best-selling rock bands in the Chinese-speaking world.
