All smiles featuring all SFL mentors, participants, actors and guests on the films, together with Guest of Honour Dato’ Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib (CEO of FINAS) and Ms. Jude Day (Festival Director).

It is with pride that the KKIFF 2024 present to you the four short films made during the Sabah Film Lab, an 8-day filmmaking course from 8th till 15th September 2024.

The Sabah Film Lab which was sponsored and supported by FINAS under the Program Pembangunan Modal Insan Industri Kreatif, welcomes 21 participants that were broken down into four teams this year. One team made a documentary and the other three teams made narrative films, and the teams worked closely and intensively for 8 days with their mentors: Ahmad Yazid, Hikaru Toda, Isazaly Isa, Mark Overett, Roy Taoho and Putri Purnama Sugua.

The films, which were done during the course, were premiered during the KKIFF Awards Night on 15th September 2024.

Enjoy the films!

LA BACHATA KINABALU (Documentary)

Synopsis:
La Bachata Kinabalu gives you a glimpse of the Bachata scene in Kota Kinabalu, featuring local dancers from Sabah, West Malaysia, and beyond. Bachata, originating in the Dominican Republic in the 1960s, reached Sabah in the 2010s. The documentary highlights the local dance community beyond the dance floor and the challenge of growing Bachata in Malaysia’s conservative culture.

—

Director: Ernest Loh
Producer: Nurhajar and Ghadaffi Lamdin
Director of Photography: Jabez Vung
Asst. Cameramen: Nurhajar, Vanessa Naen, Ghadaffi, Ernest Loh
Editors: Vanessa Naen and Ernest Loh
Gaffer & Grip: Jabez Vung and Ghadaffi Lamdin
Graphics: Nurhajar and Jabez Vung

Other Half (Narrative)

Synopsis:
Two strangers engage in what seems to be a heartfelt conversation about their ideal partners, highlighting the surprising nature of connection and the quest for the right soulmate in a world of possibilities.

—

Director: Haevindhran Pillay
Producer: Maxine Julian
Asst. Producer: Joshue Edgard Liew
Cinematographer: Zahira Zuraidi
Scriptwriter: Haevindhran Pillay
Makeup & Wardrobe: Maxine Julian
Asst. Production: Tee Jia Yi

In His Footsteps (Narrative)

Synopsis:
In his footsteps is a story of two estranged sisters, Mia and Sam who brave a hike to scatter their father’s ashes at a hilltop that once united them, now testing if it still can.

—

Director: Danica Sy
Producer: Amir Rahim
Asst. Directors: Evangelist Nereus & Marco Nicho Abas
Director of Photography: Marco Nicho Abas & Evangelist Nereus
Screenplay: Danica Sy
Sound: Steve Austen Lojikim
Editing: Evangelist Nereus & Danica Sy
Production Asst.: Jessica Liew Jin Wen

Silence (Narrative)

Synopsis:
Elle gives up dancing, weighed down by her father’s absence. With Elia’s help, she eventually overcomes her anxiety, reconciles with herself, and rediscovers her love of dance, making peace with her past.

—

Director: Allyshandhra B
Producer: Cristy Markus
Production Manager: Neckly Gustin
Art Dept.: Sarah Hadi
Production Asst.: Derek Ten
Camera/Editor: Elvin Liging
Script: Allyshandhra B
Key Gaffer: Adrian Thomas
Lighting Crew: Terence J