We present the list of winners of the Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival that took place in Kota Kinabalu from July 8th – 17th.

ACTION10 Filmmaker’s Competition
JuiceSky People’s Award

Avakas the Head Hunter by Marc Abas – Malaysia

The story of an elderly man who denies the existence of the modern day head-hunter ‘Pangait’, but instead proclaims that a head hunter is a warrior who does not behead humans for pure pleasure. He stands by his beliefs because he is ‘Avakas’ the warrior himself and it is proven by the collection of skulls found in his room and through the battle scar on his neck. (Kadazandusun)

Special Mention

The Pursuit by Fadhlin Sakina Abdullah – Malaysia

After getting off a Rapid KL bus, Sam, a 13 year old boy realizes he has left his precious sketchbook on it. Without hesitation, he ventures on a journey of unknown locations to pursue the bus before the book is gone forever

Daisy by Katak Chua – Malaysia

A security guard’s first day to work turned into a bloody challenging experience, as he was introduced to “Daisy”.

Jury Award

The Ghost King by Chong Voo Kiat – Malaysia

The Ghost Festival, (Zhong Yuan Jie), also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, is on the 15th night of the seventh month. Most people believe that at this time, the emperor of Hell opens the gate of hell to release suffering ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors. They come out from the lower realm to receive ritualistic offerings performed by their descendants. Some people describe this ritual as “paying tribute to the Best Brothers”. In the festival, the ”King of Ghosts” will be worshipped. All the ghosts and spirits roaming around the earth during the ghost month are controlled by this ghost king. That is why before performing the ritual, the ghost king must be worshipped at the very beginning.

Best Sabahan Entry – Santola Café Award

Grandpa’s Kite by Kwan Thung Seng – Malaysia

Lee Siew Fen, the single-mother of Chin Jian Fei, is working as a bar hostess in the city and seldom goes home to visit her son and her father in the village. Ah Gong (Lee Jin Hua), Siew Fen’s father, was bringing the grandson, Jian Fei, to look for his mother in the city. However, they end up in a huge quarrel and Ah Gong and Jian Fei go back home in disappointment. Fei comes across colourful and attractive kites in the city, but Ah Gong can’t afford to buy one for him. After they reach the village, Ah Gong makes a simple kite for Fei. The kite is the only thing Ah Gong leaves as a token of remembrance for Fei.

Silver Kinabalu Award (Documentary)

The Elephant in Our Room by Ian Yee – Malaysia

What happens when 36 wild elephants are dumped in your backyard? The orang asli of Perak had to find out the hard way, when the elephant population in their ancestral ground was doubled by the Wildlife Department in less than five years.

SPArKS Golden Kinabalu Award (Documentary)

Charred Brick by Sein Lyan Tun – Myanmar

Young Thet never stops working all day. From early morning, he helps his parents with household chores and cares for his four younger siblings. He washes dishes, does the laundry, chops wood and goes to work in the brickworks, because his parents don’t earn enough money to feed the family. This is the story of many children in Burma. After a day’s toil, Thet attends night school so he can achieve his goal of becoming an engineer. But can he achieve his dream?

Silver Kinabalu Award (Narrative)

When We Are Together by Jacky Yeap – Malaysia

One day, Mother requested the father to return her son to her. The father decided to send his son back by motorcycle. In the middle of the journey, the father noticed that his son disliked something. Meanwhile, for the sake of his father, the son gradually changed his feeling …

Kopi Cap Kuda Golden Kinabalu Award (Narrative)

Rubik by Aiman Aliff – Malaysia

A short “action drama” about the loss of innocence of children during time of war.

Kadazandusun Language Foundation Golden Kinabalu Award (Indigenous Language)

Dream to Fly by Putri Purnama Sugua – Malaysia

Dream To Fly is a short film that portrays the life of a poor child in Sandakan, Sabah. The life of thepoor whose voice is not being heard by society. The child who lives in poverty but has a big dream and tries hard to achieve it with the help of a person who really cares about his future.

Sabah Film Academy
Sabah Cultural Board Mentors’ Awards

Hiew Yun Neng (Narrative)

Andy Chia Chee Shiong (Documentary)

Sabah Pitching Training & Awards
DMZ Docs Award

Cha Escala

Best Feature-length Documentary Pitch

Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo

Best Sabahan Documentary Pitch

Harold Reagen Eswar

To know more about the festival you can see the FESTIVAL PROFILE or go to the official website HERE.

AFF would like to remember readers that the Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival is part of our partnership program (See all partners). We want to thank them for their support and wish you guys have a great edition.