Sibu MP Oscar Ling said the inaugural Sarawak Short Film Competition 2019 can serve as a viable platform to promote the state.

Ling who was present at the Sarawak Short Film Competition 2019 hopes that through such a program, new talents could be unearthed, introduced, highlighted and groomed.

Ling said, the competition which was hosted by Sarawak Digital Media E-Platform Association (SDMA), focused on food, culture, and travel, but the platform for every step was online.

“Actually we got a lot from the e-digital platform. All the submissions by participants were done via online – even judging on the films was done online too.

“I think we can maintain this platform in the future – if we had another movie competition, we could still use this platform,” he said.

Ling also called upon all the talents to continue producing good works and it is important for them to get their works registered as your own intellectual properties (IP) or copyrights if you think you have great products.

He added that when you register your creations under IP, you get to ensure that your rights would be protected and most importantly able to gain cash through the collection of royalties.

SDMA chairperson Zoey Ting congratulated all the 20 finalists and their teams. The association received 61 short films from all over Sarawak – covering Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Lundu, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu, and Lawas.

The entry from Shia Yih Phen of Kuching entitled ‘Nanga Ukom-The Sarawak’ was announced the winner of competition, earning Shia a cash prize of RM5,000.

Charlton Andrew also from Kuching was the first runner-up with his short film ‘Welcome to the Kingdom’, while Lin Zing Kai placed third through the entry ‘The Gift of Motherland’. Charlton and Lin received RM2,500 and RM1,500, respectively.

Five submissions were given ‘Outstanding Awards’ — ‘Discovery Sibu (The Sarawak)’ by Chan Kiang Hong of Sibu; ‘EV The Sarawak’ by Chong Ee Vei of Miri; ‘My Era of Foochow’ by Amson Wong of Sibu; ‘The Story of Melanau Sago Mask’ by Abdul Walid Ali Kota Samarahan; and ‘Bas Kubu’ (Fortress Bus) by Abdul Muneer Mohamad Ali of Sibu.