IT was a bittersweet moment for director and actor Datuk Zahim Albakri Ikmal, whose debut feature film Spilt Gravy: Ke Mana Tumpahnya Kuah, garnered seven awards, including Best Film at the recent 32nd Malaysian Film Festival (FFM32).
Plagued by decade-long negotiations with the Malaysian Censorship Board, the black comedy was revised several times before getting the green light in 2020 only to be stalled again by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Based on the original play that was staged at The Actors Studio, Kuala Lumpur in 2002, the film was finally screened in cinemas in June.
Unfortunately, Jit Murad who wrote the play and screenplay died in February.
"The win was a pleasant surprise, but I'm also saddened by the fact that Jit is not with us to savour this sweet moment.
"However, I'm very happy overall since FFM this year celebrated the many film genres that we have. I think the jury panel has been open-minded," says an exuberant Zahim when met after the awards ceremony that took place in Encore Melaka, Kota Syahbandar, Melaka.
"Actually, I had hoped for Prebet Sapu to be a big winner, but it did not win any trophies. I also believe in the big talent of the main actor in that drama, Amirul Affendi, who was also featured in Spilt Gravy.
"However, rezeki was on our side tonight," says Zahim, who has been a mainstay in the local theatre scene for decades.
Spilt Gravy, which tells the moving story of an elderly father who is planning to have dinner with his dysfunctional adult children, garnered awards for Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction, Best Editing and Best Supporting Actress (Juliana Ibrahim).
The film, produced by ZSA Productions Sdn Bhd and Nuansa Sdn Bhd, also saw Zahim winning Most Promising Director and Best Screenplay (with Jit Murad and June Tan).
"I admit that the strength of the film comes from the original script. Jit was a genius and I am very lucky to have been able to work with him as a director of this film.
"He was open to my direction and gave me the space to beautify this film in my own way. In fact, the beauty of the storyline was proven after the jury chose it as the winner of Best Screenplay," he says.
On winning Most Promising Director Zahim says: "I feel a little embarrassed since I'm 60 and this is my first film."
"Honestly, I have never expected to win, but I put my full trust in the discretion of the jury panel," he says.
Spilt Gravy also won the main prize of RM500,000 from the Digital Content Fund of the National Film Development Corporation.
SEMI-AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL DRAMEDY
Small Town Heroes was another film that garnered multiple awards, including Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Child Actor (Phua Chandler), Most Promising Actress (Layla Sania Khairuzikri) and Best Poster.
The dramedy about two boys, Hero and Ah Feng, who leave their orphanage to go on a quest to find Hero's biological mother, also garnered Best Director and Best Original Story for Ryon Lee Eng Keong.
"Honestly, I still feel like I'm dreaming," says Lee, who had previously written the screenplay to the award-winning 2014 dramedy, The Journey.
He adds: "I am very thankful to the jury for choosing me."
Small Town Heroes was based on Lee's own semi-autobiographical stage play, Those Were The Days.
"I had wanted to take the viewers back to my childhood, places I lived, recall memories and the good things about Malaysia in those days," he says.
Lee, being a fan of the late Yasmin Ahmad's film Sepet, says that he paid tribute to her by inserting a love story between a Chinese boy and a Malay girl in his movie.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Another artiste, on whom Yasmin had an impact, was Beto Kusyairy, who won Best Supporting Actor for his role as Wahid in the historical action drama, Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan.
He recalls: "She always reminded me to do my work with honesty and not just for the sake of chasing awards."
"So, for every responsibility given to me I would do my best with honesty. Whatever else is for God to reward.
"The acknowledgement is immense and makes me dizzy but I am very honoured and grateful for it," he says.
During the announcement of the nominees for Best Supporting Actor, Beto received the loudest cheer from the audience during the event that was broadcast live on TV2.
Unfortunately, the actor was absent due to filming commitments for director Syamsul Yusof's new project titled The OG.
"I feel sad for not being able to make it because I couldn't be there to celebrate the awards night with the rest of the film practitioners," he says, adding that he won't let the win get to his head and will continue to do good work in the future.
DUAL ROLE
Popular independent director Tan Chui Mui could not believe she had won Best Actress for the film, arbarian Invasion, which she also directed.
"My initial honest guess was that Sangeeta Krishnasamy would win Best Actress since she gave a sterling performance for her role in Juang.
"So when the announcement was made, I couldn't believe it at first since I was tired and hungry at the time. I was stunned because I never expected it," she says.
Although the win proved that she could direct and star in the same production, Tan confessed that she would never do that again.
"I feel that this is the first and last time. It's certainly not an easy task to do both. I had to get producer Woo Ming Jin to help me out at the filming locations.
"I had to run to the front and back of the camera. If I were to act in another project it would be under another director," she says.
In the drama, Tan plays a celebrated actress who has become a full-time mum and divorcee since retiring.
When she decides to star as a lead in a martial arts film to regain her confidence, the director decides to cast her ex-husband (played by Bront Palarae) as the male lead.
To prepare for her physical role, Tan signed up for various martial arts classes to be able to get the best performance out of herself, including flying to the Philippines.
"I took all sorts of classes from jiu jitsu to muay thai just to bring my role of Moon to life. Clearly, it worked," she says with a wide smile.
Barbarian Invasion previously won the Jury Grand Prix prize at the Golden Goblet Awards held in conjunction with the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival in China last year.
Over 1,400 guests attended the three-hour FFM32, which was organised by Finas and hosted by Awal Ashaari and Che Puan Sarimah Ibrahim. A total of 31 awards were presented.
