Lights, Camera, Commonwealth: Celebrating the British Malaysian Society’s UK Malaysian Film Festival 2025

Mei Sim Lai OBE DL giving her remarks during the launch of the UK Malaysian Film Festival 2025.

As one of the flagship events of The British Malaysian Society the UK Malaysian Film Festival made its much-anticipated return on 27th October 2025 at the new Everyman Cinema Whiteley, in London. Now in its second iteration, the festival celebrates the vibrant resurgence of Malaysian storytelling on the big screen here in the UK. Hosting a Malaysian film festival in the UK represents not only an appreciation of the arts, but also serves as a vital gateway to cross-cultural understanding – one that resonates deeply and touches hearts in ways only cinema can. It has often been said that the true measure of a civilisation lies not only in its scientific and technological progress, but in the extent to which it upholds humanity as a vital thread woven into its pursuit of advancement, an ethos I hold close to heart. As an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society, and a Committee Member of the festival for the past two years, it was an honour to host the evening – to open the festival with Year Without a Summer (2010), the acclaimed film by celebrated Malaysian director Tan Chui Mui, and to mark the soft launch of Kotodama Lab, a creative platform dedicated to nurturing Malaysian storytelling and innovation in film. 

The UK Malaysian Film Festival, which runs from 27^th October to 15^th November 2025, not only celebrates the creative industries of both nations but also reinforces the enduring cultural and diplomatic ties rooted in the Commonwealth – a network that continues to connect people through shared values and creativity. In her opening remarks, Mei Sim Lai OBE DL, Chair of The British Malaysian Society, spoke about the importance of the arts and the value of providing a platform for Malaysian stories to be shared with the world. Dr Hui Man Chan, Chair of the Culture Group of The British Malaysian Society and Artistic Director of the festival, expressed her hope that the event will continue to promote cultural exchange, collaboration, and mutual understanding between the UK and Malaysia. It is my hope the festival will continue to support budding filmmakers – Malaysians, non-Malaysians, and Commonwealth citizens – to explore Malaysian stories in different genres and artistic expressions. After all, beneath our different languages, cultures, and religions lies a simple truth: we are all human, bound by the same desires, hopes, and dreams. 

Tan Chui Mui’s Year Without a Summer (2010) received the Cinema of the Future Award – Special Mention at the 13th Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema (BAFICI) in 2011. The film was also nominated for Best Southeast Asian Film at the Cinemanila International Film Festival (2010), the Golden Lady Harimaguada at the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival (2011), and the Golden Hanoman Award at the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (2011). It was additionally supported by the Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) for both script and post-production, and by the Hubert Bals Fund.

The film Year Without a Summer (2010) marks its 15^th anniversary this year. It explores poignant themes of friendship and hardship set against the backdrop of the Malaysian west coast, a region largely made up of fishing communities. The story offers a quiet yet powerful contrast to the fast-paced rhythm of Kuala Lumpur, a city that, for many young Malaysians, symbolises the promise of opportunity and a better life. What moved me most was the reminder of my own privilege, that even in the face of challenges, I have been able to grow and be supported, unlike many whose dreams have been quietly lost to the difficulties of life. The film stands as a memento mori – a reflection on the story of Azam and the many lives like his – reminding us of the importance of compassion and equity when shaping economic and educational policies across the Commonwealth.  

Mimpi Kita: Castle in the Air is aaaaafin’s feature directorial debut, inspired by young Malaysians’ imagination and desire for creative expression. His award-winning short film My Lor Bak was the only Malaysian film shortlisted at the Raindance Film Festival 2016, and was also screened at the Busan and Nevada film festivals, earning recognition for direction and cinematography.

Transitioning from reflection to imagination, the evening also featured the soft launch of the forthcoming Malaysian science-fiction fantasy film Mimpi Kita: Castle in the Air, by Kotodama Lab. As Chair of Kotodama Lab, it was an immense pleasure for me to introduce this project – one I have had the privilege of observing from its early development through to production. A science-fiction fantasy set in retro-futuristic 1960s Malaya, the story follows a musician who enters her dying grandmother’s dream in search of a way to bring her back, only to discover she has been dreaming her entire life. Director aaaaafin (Arifin Ajib) described Mimpi Kita: Castle in the Air as the film he had always wanted to see as a Malaysian filmmaker – a story that reimagines Malaysian narratives in bold and unfamiliar ways. He noted that Malaysian voices remain almost invisible in the realms of science fiction and fantasy, and this project seeks to change that. This is a pivotal moment to show that Malaysian cinema can deliver the imaginative storytelling audiences seek, opening doors for underrepresented filmmakers to share their worlds. 

Together, these two films capture the evolving spirit of Malaysian cinema and its growing confidence on the global stage. In bringing these voices to a UK audience, the UK Malaysian Film Festival becomes more than a showcase of films; it becomes a celebration of the Commonwealth’s living, breathing connections – a testament to how shared histories can inspire shared futures through art and storytelling. In a world that often feels divided, the film festival reminds us that stories, in all their forms, remain our most powerful bridge. 

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Full list of films (Follow The British Malaysian Society on LinkedIn and Instagram for screening dates, timings and venues): 

• Opening Film: Year Without a Summer (2010, directed by Tan Chui Mui) 

• Kisah Pelayaran ke Terengganu / Voyage to Terengganu (2016, directed Amir Muhammad & Badrul Hisham Ismail) 

• Flower in the Pocket (2007, directed by Liew Sent Tat) 

• The Garden of the Evening Mists (2019, directed by Tom Lin Shu-yu) 

• Chemman Chaalai / The Gravel Road (2005, directed by Deepak Kumaran Menon) 

• Closing Film: Gemencheh Boys (2023, directed by Jason Chong & Eric Ong) 

Acknowledgments: 

Thank you to Da Huang Pictures and Astro Shaw for their support with the licensing and materials for the festival programme. 

2025 Festival Committee (in alphabetical order): Zarul Shahrin Albakri, Dr Hiu Man Chan, Andrew Counihan, Nick Dutton, JR May, Guy Meyer, Carlson Ko, Mei Sim Lai OBE DL, Dr Hannah Nazri, Wei Jien Yeow.

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Dr Hannah Nazri is a UK-based Malaysian obstetrics and gynaecology doctor dedicated to women’s health and reproductive rights. With experience in over 35 countries and leadership roles in global health organisations, she bridges medicine, academia, and advocacy. She is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society. 

Website: https://hannah.nazri.org/ 

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