Canon Short Film Contest Uncovers Malaysia's Storytelling Gems with the Theme, Harmony in Diversity

It was a pleasure to be invited to join Canon Marketing Malaysia (“Canon”) as they held a celebration of creativity and storytelling at the Canon Short Film Contest 2023 awards ceremony, commemorating the exceptional talents of Malaysian filmmakers. There are so many talented film makers made creative films which really amaze me and congrats to all the winners. At this post, I will share to all of you on this contest and hopefully it could inspires all Malaysians whether you're young or old, it is never too late to show out your talents.

Attended with my media friend and my youngest Little Angel

With the themed “Harmony in Diversity,” the contest invited aspiring creative talents to embark on a narrative journey in appreciation of the rich tapestry of cultures that surrounds us in Malaysia. The contest received an overwhelming response from filmmaking aspirants and content creators nationwide across three categories: Camera, Colleges & Universities, and Smartphone.

A panel of distinguished industry experts, including Chew Han Tah, Indra Che Muda Redzuan and Raja Mukhriz, assessed submissions based on their creativity, storytelling, technical skills, and overall impact.

Canon's first nationwide short film contest demonstrates its commitment to nurturing the next generation of Malaysian filmmakers. Canon partnered with Sennheiser, Nanlite, Sandisk, and Zhiyun to equip winners with the resources they need to succeed in the long run while the contest provided a valuable platform and opportunity for aspiring film artisans to hone their skills, gain exposure, and kickstart their careers.

Shunji Yoshikai, President and CEO of Canon Marketing Malaysia

At the prize-giving ceremony, Shunji Yoshikai, President and CEO of Canon Marketing Malaysia said that the contest exemplified our ‘Kyosei’ philosophy of working together for the common good by providing a platform for filmmaking aspirants to showcase Malaysia’s cinematic artistry. By uniting creative talents and industry leaders, and working with Tourism Malaysia, the contest reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration, talent development and cultural preservation, propelling Malaysia's filmmaking industry forward.

Hunter Zhang, Director of Image Communication Business Division at Canon Marketing Malaysia said that the contest is a testament to the incredible talent and creativity of Malaysian film visionaries. They are proud to have played a role in supporting and fostering a new wave of Malaysian film talents.

Dato’ Dr. Ammar Abd. Ghapar, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, also expressed his appreciation for the contest, saying that they are delighted to see the winning films capture the essence of our nation, from vibrant cultures to stunning landscapes. He congratulated the winners and all the participants for their creativity and talent.

Walking away with sponsored prizes and a new EOS R5C camera was Anwar Johari Ho for his heartwarming film “Don't Get Too Close to That Edge”.

Walking away with sponsored prizes and a new EOS R5C camera was Anwar Johari Ho for his heartwarming film “Don't Get Too Close to That Edge”, entailing a story of a traditional dancer's relentless pursuit of perfection that pushes her physical and emotional limits. The judges praised the film's creativity, storytelling and technical execution, particularly the director's ability to create a compelling and emotionally driven narrative with cinematographic flair. 

With a diverse pool of talented local film artisans, Malaysia is well-positioned to become a regional powerhouse in filmmaking and Canon looks forward to continuing to support the growth of the industry and help Malaysian visual storytellers achieve their dreams.

To immerse yourself in the creativity and talent of Malaysian filmmakers, visit Canon Malaysia’s Official Youtube Channel to watch the shortlisted video submitted for the contest which will be made available later. Do watch the video of the event below:

Congrats to all the winners! All of you had done a very good job to deserve all the prizes. Some winners came alone and some came with their group of friends and family members who had helped them in the production of short films. Their efforts in showing Diversity in Harmony to all of us as Malaysians really impressed me and all the audiences. Thanks to Canon for organising such a great contest in bringing all talents together and also bringing all ethnics with different culture together.

About Canon Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. 

Canon is a global leader in photographic and digital imaging solutions. Canon Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. was established in 1987 to deliver products and services support to Malaysian users directly and through its nationwide channel partners. The parent company Canon Inc. has a global network of more than 300 companies and employs about 180,000 people worldwide. It is dedicated to the advancement in technology and innovation and committed more than 8% of net sales to R&D expenses in 2021. Under the slogan “Business Can Be Simple”, Canon aims to reduce complexity by simplifying workflows and empowering customers with effective and easy-to-use solutions. As a Fortune Global 500 company, Canon is guided by its Kyosei philosophy that focuses on living and working together for the common good. For more information, visit my.canon, or follow the Official Facebook and the Instagram pages.