AdminThe SeaShorts Film Festival officially kicked off its milestone 10th edition on Thursday at GSC LaLaport Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC), delivering a four-day celebration of Southeast Asian cinema held in strategic conjunction with the 35th Malaysian Film Festival (FFM35).
Themed “AFTER”, the 2026 festival runs from November 12 to 15, gathering cinematic voices from all 11 nations across the region. Organised by the SeaShorts Film Society in collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), The Japan Foundation, and Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC), this milestone edition seeks to deepen artistic dialogues while bridging grassroots independent filmmakers with the wider domestic and international industry.
The opening ceremony was officiated in the presence of prominent arts and screen figures, including FINAS Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib, SeaShorts Festival Director and acclaimed filmmaker Dain Said, GSC Chief Executive Officer Koh Mei Lee, and The Japan Foundation Director Tsukamoto Norihisa. The joint alignment with FFM35 highlights a collaborative national push to nurture short-form storytelling as a vital catalyst for talent development across the regional film ecosystem.
Expanding regional horizons and diverse perspectives
Reflecting a decade of growth, this year’s curation expands its boundaries with groundbreaking spotlights. A premier highlight is a dedicated programme examining filmmaking in Timor-Leste, underscoring the young nation’s emerging cinematic landscape and establishing stronger connections with Southeast Asian peers.
The lineup also introduces the “Nusantara Focus”, engaging with Indigenous perspectives, regional identity, and community memory, alongside a curated showcase exploring the Filipino-Chinese experience through themes of language, heritage, and intergenerational migration. To accommodate unconventional narrative pacing, the festival has introduced a new mid-length film category, giving dedicated space to works that sit between short and full-length feature formats.
These new additions complement signature returning showcases. They include Heatseekers, dedicated to spotlighting student talents from film academies; Shorts+, a women-centric platform exploring authorship and representation; and Beyond Indian Shores, which unpacks stories of the South Asian diaspora.
Fostering regional craft and creative exchange
In addition to film screenings, SeaShorts 2026 continues its mandate as a hub for professional development and regional networking. Indonesian filmmakers and jury members Paul Agusta and Mian Tiara will conduct an extensive Acting and Directing Workshop, dissecting character interpretation, rehearsal methods, and performer-director communication for actors and directors alike.
Founded in 2017 by internationally acclaimed Malaysian filmmaker Tan Chui Mui, SeaShorts has evolved from an intimate screening collective into a recognised regional fixture. Having previously toured Kuala Lumpur, George Town, and Melaka, as well as holding virtual editions during the pandemic, the festival has gathered more than 1,450 submissions and thousands of cinema enthusiasts over ten years.
Festival passes are now open to the public, offering options that include a RM50 Student Pass, RM75 single Day Passes, a RM120 Movie People pass, and a RM280 Super Fan tier. Screenings run daily starting from 11:00 am through Sunday, November 15 at GSC LaLaport BBCC.
Maran Perianen
Amirull Salihing
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