FINAS APPROVES RM1.25 MLN FOR PILOT FILM COMMUNITY AND CREATIVE YOUTH WORKSHOPS

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) has approved RM1.25 million from the RM12 million 2025 Budget allocation to roll out pilot Film Community and Creative Youth Workshops nationwide this year.

Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said 25 associations and companies have been selected across 25 locations, with 11 in Sabah, four in Selangor, two each in Perak and Kuala Lumpur, and one each in Pahang, Kelantan, Penang, Melaka, Kedah and Sarawak.

“The programme will run until December 2026, with plans to expand to 240 locations nationwide, reflecting the government’s long-term commitment to nurturing the creative industry,” she said at the closing ceremony of the workshops at the Sabah branch of the National Department for Culture and Arts today.

Teo also presented participation certificates to attendees and letters of offer to six recipients of the MADANI Generation Catalyst Fund.

Also present were FINAS chairman Datuk Hans Isaac, board member Rozaidi Abdul Jamil and Industry Development director Muhammad Ar-Riyyan Mohamad Roslan.

The pilot programme received 225 applications, including 11 from Sabah, which were allocated RM550,000. It is expected to engage 330 local creative youths in Sabah this year, with over 70 per cent of digital content creators aged 18 to 35.

Separately, FINAS is implementing the RM5 million MADANI Generation Catalyst Fund to support young filmmakers producing works that promote unity, social harmony, national identity and positive MADANI values.

“During the application period for the fund from Aug 19 to Sept 12, we received 265 project proposals, all currently undergoing staged pitching sessions,” she said.

In Sabah, six projects have been approved with RM900,000 in funding, covering telemovies, documentaries and short films expected to generate 130 new jobs.

-- BERNAMA