The groundbreaking Far East Film Festival (FEFF), is held annually in the picturesque northern Italian city of Udine. It continues to make history this year with its 5th-anniversary edition. Malaysian drama at the closing ceremony on Sunday. Abang AdikWritten and directed by first-time feature filmmaker Jin Ong. So it garnered the highest awards, marking the first time a film from the Southeast Asian nation received top honours at the speciality festival.
However, Abang Adik won JEFF’s Golden Mulberry Audience Award for first place. As well as Black Dragon Critics’ Award and White Mulberry Award for Best First Feature. SoIt is a Malaysian entertainment industry veteran who has worked in the music business. Also, film and television production for many years (he has produced critically acclaimed films such as shuttle life, 2017. And Miss Andi, 2020; among other things), but Abang Adik is his first film as a writer and director.
Therefore, the film sheds light on the world of some of Kuala Lumpur’s most underprivileged residents. Also, follows Abang and Adi, two adult orphans without papers.
Malaysia’s “Coast Guard” and “Abang Adik” are going to Udine, Italy
This will be the first time that “Coast Guard Malaysia: Ops Helang” is screening at an international festival. While Jin Ong’s first feature film, “Abang Adik” previously won two awards at the recently held 37th Fribourg International Film Festival (FIFF).
Pitt Haniff directed it in collaboration with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. “Coast Guard Malaysia: Ops Helang” was a box office success, hitting RM5 million within two weeks of screening.
To that, producers of this film, Arie Zaharie, Muhammad Hady Yusry Makmor, Rozita Mat Isa and Azlan Zaharie are over the news. They are saying, “On behalf of all Malaysian filmmakers, we are so proud to represent Malaysia in this 25th edition. Wish us all the best!”
However, Joanne Goh, the founder of MIFFEST, which is the festival partner of Udine FEFF, “We are honoured to have these two films be selected in FEFF. These films have received huge success and can represent Malaysia well. It is truly a privilege for Malaysian films to receive recognitifrom by FEFF. After these two years of partnership with FEFF, we hope to continue to build a long time relationship between Malaysia and Italy.”

Malaysian director Jin Ong’s ‘Abang Adik wins two prestigious awards at a Swiss film festival
“I feel very honoured to receive the awards and I’m so glad I could bring a Malaysian film to share with them,” said Ong, whose full name is Ong Lay Jin.
His first feature film, Abang Adik won two awards at the recently held 37th Fribourg International Film Festival (FIFF). The Audience Award and the Ecumenical Jury Award.
It is the best film by the audience while the latter is given by a panel of juries.
However, The winning film is about two brothers against the world FIFF describe. One of Switzerland’s most established film festivals, as a poignant tale that lingers on after the credits roll.
It stars Malaysian actor Jack Tan and Taiwanese actor Wu Kang Ren. The. brothers and marks Angelica Lee’s debut as a producer.
As a new director, Taiping-born Ong confessed that he didn’t have much confidence initially. For him, an international film festival simply meant an opportunity to learn and make new friends.