Malaysia’s Peon sweeps top two awards
THE 2020 SeaShorts Film Festival concluded on Sunday, ending a weeklong series of virtual events celebrating the depth and diversity of short films from across Southeast Asia.
June Wong, Shaiful Yahya, and Syaz Zainal emerged as the biggest winners of the competition section, with their collaborative work
Peon sweeping the coveted best of fest SeaShorts
Award, the Next New Wave Award for best Malaysian title, as well as the nod for outstanding editing.
Based on actual events, the drama depicts the country’s uneasy relationship with migrant labour through scenes played out entirely on a phone screen.
Prizes were also presented for outstanding achievements in direction, screenplay, cinematography, sound, and performance.
The task of shortlisting and reviewing the 30 nominees fell on the shoulders of a panel that included Cambodian-French filmmaker Davy Chou, Indonesian cinematographer Anggi Frisca, Philippine producer Bianca Balbuena, Singaporean sound engineer Rennie Gomes, and Malaysian historian Dr. Farish A. Noor.
This year’s edition of SeaShorts presented the new wave of Southeast Asian cinema to almost 600 viewers through parallel and dynamic digital streaming in light of social distancing restrictions. In retaining the communal atmosphere of the Festival, audiences were able to enjoy screenings, masterclasses, forums, and other interactive sessions with participating guests from the comfort of their homes.