For the first time ever, the 20th edition of Mini Film Festival x Mini Arts Festival in Sarawak, Malaysia, which is the longest-running short film festival in Malaysia, will feature its very own Borneo Film category. Under a meticulously curated special programme, "Through Bruneian Eyes: Films that Speak Our Stories", four short films made by UBD DCI students, among total seven Bruneian shorts, have been selected to be screened 2pm-4pm, on July 18th 2024, at Space 2 (Film Screening Hall), La Promenade Mall, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, during the upcoming 20th Mini Film Festival. The lineup of the seven Bruneian short films is:

• 9 Waqaf by Haziq Aniq
• lyaan Wears a Hat by Natasya Jazmeena
• Jasa by Azhar Khir
• Love's Detour: From Crush to Crash by Dzul Iskandar
• Menguyung Masa by Ridhwan Sabri
• Nota by Adlina Tunggal
• Withering by Afifah Ali

The programme was devised by the visionary Bruneian filmmaker Tara Esa, a senior DCI student who currently studies abroad at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) in her Discovery Year:

"This special session provides a unique peek into how we, as Bruneians, understand and engage with the world around us. Furthermore, I aim to highlight the achievements of female directors who, despite the challenges, are able to create innovative and engaging stories’ said Tara. Menguyung Masa (UBD) and Withering (UBD) were premiered in the 5th UBD-FASS Term Screening in April 2023, 9 Waqaf (UNISSA) and Love’s Detour: From Crush to Crash (UBD) were premiered in the 6th PRISM UBD Short Film Festival in November 2023.

Mini Film Festival director Yow Chong Lee (UNIMAS) said the Borneo Film category will connect some of the filmmakers with creative people in Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei Darrusalam and Kalimantan, according to a local newspaper New Sarawak Tribune. Sponsored by the MFF organiser, DCI students Dzul Iskandar and Ridhwan Sabri will fly to Kuching, Malaysia to meet local and Kalimantan filmmakers and share their creative experiences with them and local audiences in Sarawak.

The theme ‘SEarcH’ reflects MFF’s unwavering commitment to continuously exploring the most impactful ways of uniting filmmakers, artists, films, and audiences. Since its inception, the festival has worked hard to spotlight up-and-coming filmmakers and artists.

Supported by the Sarawak Arts Council (MSS) and FINAS, the Mini Film Festival is organised by the Cinematography Programme of the Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). The festival will take place at La Promenade Mall, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia, from 18th to 21st July 2024 and is open to all. For more information, please visit the Festival’s website.

Congratulations to our talented DCI filmmakers and other young Bruneian filmmakers!