- 15 shorts were selected from 54 nationwide submissions
- Stories reflected Malaysian identity, blending folklore, indigenous mythology & social themes
The anticipated Malaysia Animation Film Festival 2025 (MAFF 2025) kicked off with a special screening on 4 September 2025 at GSC Paradigm Mall, Johor Bahru, showcasing a curated selection of Malaysia’s finest animated short films.
Organised in collaboration with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) through its Kre8tif! platform, GSC International Screens presented a festival that spotlights Malaysian animated shorts, giving them a long-awaited debut to the public.
In a statement, MDEC noted that the audience enjoyed a curated showcase of 15 officially selected shorts, with a total runtime of 91 minutes and 46 seconds, chosen from 54 submissions received from studios and universities nationwide. These finalists were selected after 14 days of rigorous judging by an international panel comprising Alice Burden from Toon2Tango, Mandeep Singh from Tau Film, and Carlene Tan from Warner Bros Discovery.
The diverse line-up reflected the rising quality of Malaysian animation, from student projects to professional studio productions, underscoring the industry’s world-class potential. The stories drew from the rich tapestry of Malaysian identity, weaving together elements of folklore, indigenous mythology, family, and societal themes.
“Now in its third year, GSC International Screens, in partnership with MDEC, brings MAFF to life in showcasing the incredible diversity and originality of Malaysian animation, and we are proud to provide local creatives with a platform to shine on the big screen. These stories represent the heart of our industry’s future, and we’re thrilled to share them with the world on GSC’s big screens,” said Koh Mei Lee, CEO of Golden Screen Cinemas.
“MAFF 2025 is more than a festival; it is a movement to put Malaysian storytellers on the international stage,” said Anuar Fariz Fadzil, CEO of MDEC. “By anchoring this year’s MAFF 2025 in conjunction with the ASEAN Digital Content Summit 2025 (ADCS 2025), we connect our creators directly with ASEAN and global delegates, with the potential to grow their shorts into full feature-length animated films.”
The celebration began on 3 September 2025 with the MAFF 2025 Official Selection Recognition Award Ceremony at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre, where finalists were honoured for their outstanding contributions to Malaysian animation. The festival will conclude on 6 November 2025.
The public will be able to catch the screenings in cinemas nationwide from 16 October for a three-week run. Tickets are priced at US$3.50 (RM15) and can be purchased via GSC’s official channels, including GSC Ticketing Kiosks, GSC e-Payment at gsc.com.my, and the GSC Mobile App.
The Malaysia Animation Film Festival was launched in September 2023 by MDEC, in collaboration with GSC through its platform, GSC International Screens, under a five-year partnership.
The ASEAN Digital Content Summit 2025 in Johor Bahru is organised by MDEC.
The shortlisted Animated Shorts include:
No.
Animated Shorts Title
Co/University Name
Duration
1.
Abah
Impasta (Multimedia University)
4:00 minutes
2.
Confictionary Crime
Sweet Tooth Production (The One Academy)
7.00 minutes
3.
D’sebalik
Belantara Studio (UiTM Puncak Perdana)
5.40 minutes
4.
Following The Line
Ani04 (National Yunlin University Science & Technology)
5:45 minutes
5.
Generation
Inspidea Sdn. Bhd.
6:24 minutes
6.
Hantu Runcit
lil_inky (University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Sg.Long)
6:50 minutes
7.
Haun-t-uan
Berjambang (Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris)
2.00 minutes
8.
Kumang and the Ungrateful Phyton
Sarawak Media Group
10:00 minutes
9.
Last Call
Amirul Iqram Ramli (Multimedia University)
11.00 minutes
10.
Last Toy Standing
Toybox Studio (Multimedia University)
5.32 minutes
11.
Matriphagy
Let’sBeans! Productions (The One Academy)
8:00 minutes
12.
Puteh
The Only Studio
6.20 minutes
13.
Relive
YamCha Productions (The One Academy)
5.00 minutes
14.
The Horizon
Betapuru Digital Sdn. Bhd.
5:54 minutes
15.
Winter
Lumiere Pictures (DASEIN Academy of Arts)
4.00 minutes