KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) will focus on script development and co-production efforts to steer Malaysia's creative industry in the right direction.
Its chairman Datuk Kamil Othman said the RM90 million allocated for the creative industry in Budget 2024 is sufficient towards realising the two goals to improve the industry, which plays a crucial role in nation-building.
"These two (script development and co-production of films) might hold the key to some of the things we are trying to achieve locally. Many Malaysian-made films only last three or four days in the cinema.
“…maybe because Malaysians would like to see Malaysian films be successful outside (abroad) first before the films are shown in this country,” he said, adding that one of the solutions to this problem is establishing co-production partnerships.
“…(Malaysians) like to see the involvement of talent and stars from outside,” Kamil said on Bernama TV’s Belanjawan 2024 programme today.
The allocation will allow Finas to create films which can generate an income for Malaysia three or four times the economic value and enhance efforts to market and promote local films internationally.
“My view is that we can market our local films outside Malaysia. I believe that other countries are willing to take our content,” he added.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling Budget 2024 on October 13, said RM160 million had been allocated to implement various initiatives to benefit the local arts and creative industry, subsequently encouraging the creation of more art products in Malaysia.
Of the figure, RM90 million is allocated for the Film in Malaysia Incentive (Fimi) initiative to encourage the production of films of international standard.
— Bernama
