Students from the Design and Creative Industries (DCI) programme at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), Universiti Brunei Darussalam have consistently shown great promise and success, winning hearts, votes and accolades locally and internationally.
From the annual PRISM UBD Short Film Festival, Brunei Content Festival, being featured on Progresif Media and screenings in the cinemas, some filmmakers have even made huge waves internationally including the Dracula Film Festival held in Romania.
Recently, four short films made by UBD’s DCI programme students were among seven Bruneian shorts selected to be screened at the 20th Mini Film Festival X Mini Arts Festival in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The line-up in a new Borneo Film category under “Through Bruneian Eyes: Films That Speak Our Stories” were: “9 Waqaf” by Haziq Aniq, “lyaan Wears a Hat” by Natasya Jazmeena, “Jasa” by Azhar Khir, “Love’s Detour: From Crush to Crash” by Dzul Iskandar, “Menguyung Masa” by Ridhwan Sabri, “Nota” by Adlina Tunggal, and “Withering” by Afifah Ali.
The programme in Kuching was curated by visionary Bruneian filmmaker Norfadillah Esa, also known as Tara, a final year DCI student currently studying at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) for her Discovery Year. She pointed out how Brunei’s film scene is evolving. “Filmmakers are fearlessly exploring diverse genres, creating more films, and even screening them internationally,” she said. “The cinema landscape is expanding, and I believe more directors will persistently champion this industry.”
She has been passionate about filmmaking since 16-years old. A huge fan of movies, especially the black-and-white classics, her journey in the industry spans 15 years. “I began as a part-time makeup artist for local TV shows such as dramas and short films and worked on special effects makeup for local production houses,” she shared. “When I joined UBD, I dove headfirst into filmmaking, participating in competitions both locally and internationally. Along the way, I’ve taken on roles as a scriptwriter and director.”
Tara feels that local director Siti Kamaluddin’s journey as a female director in Brunei Darussalam sparked her own passion for filmmaking. “She paved the way for resilience in this industry, and I aspire to follow in her footsteps,” Tara added. “I find myself drawn to those ’90s Hong Kong classics by Wong Kar-wai, Wai Ka-fai, and Johnnie To. I absolutely love Korean and Indonesian horror films. Their cinematography is outstanding, and the way they tell stories visually captivates me.”
“As a filmmaker, I firmly believe in honesty. Honesty in the stories we portray, pride in our country of origin, and authenticity in storytelling that reflects our struggles and experiences. Unfortunately, these elements are lacking in Brunei’s short films. While genres like love, horror, fantasy, and comedy take centrestage, personal struggles remain unexplored. I hope that local young filmmakers will become more creative and courageous, sharing their true stories through film, a powerful medium for teaching and shedding light on real issues.”
Mohammad Dzul Iskandar Shamsol, director of “Love’s Detour: From Crush to Crash”, echoed Tara’s admiration and respect for Siti Kamaluddin who directed “Yasmine” (2014), which garnered considerable attention across Southeast Asia and marked a pivotal moment for Bruneian cinema. “Directors like Akmal Marhain have also contributed to this growth with projects like “Intiqam” (2020), creating their own cinematic universes and inspiring young filmmakers to emerge,” he said.
Mohammad Dzul Iskandar had his short film “Nilai Part 1” win Best Short Film in the (Institute of Higher Learning Open Category) at the Brunei Content Festival 2023, beating other 95 films shortlisted. In the previous year, his “Tabooka” was nominated for Best Lighting and Cinematography jury award.
Mohammad Dzul Iskandar’s filmmaking career began in late 2016, transitioning from using a phone to a Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera for photography and videography. As he gained more experience, his skills grew by collaborating with various local filmmakers. As one of the Top 2 Young Filmmakers to represent Brunei Darussalam at the ASEAN Republic of Korea (ROK) Film Leaders in 2019, he had the opportunity to work closely with acclaimed film directors and certified cinematographers from Korea. The result was “Gelombang”, which premiered at the Empire Times Cineplex and was eventually selected for screening at the BINISAYA Film Festival in 2020.
Participating internationally will have a huge impact on Brunei’s film industry. He advised young local filmmakers to participate in local short film competitions and produce a variety of films with impactful stories that showcase Brunei’s culture. “These opportunities can help you have more chances in gaining recognition on a bigger scale,” he said. “Local festivals will help for collaborations, thus creating platforms to showcase your work.”
He also pointed out that local filmmakers struggle due to lack of exposure, limited resources as well as the fear of making mistakes. “To tackle these setbacks, use creativity with the available resources at your disposal and participate in film festivals to gain exposure,” he recommended. “Additionally, creating a supportive network can encourage collaboration. Ongoing skill development through workshops and online courses is essential. Another essential component of scheduling filmmaking with other tasks is effective time management.”
Director of “Jasa”, Mohammad Azhar Haji Mohammad Khir, added that “one significant challenge is the lack of understanding of the costs associated with filmmaking and video production. Educating the public about the industry is crucial.”
While it will take time and effort to change perspectives, the Bruneian film industry is still growing. Support from all sectors, which include the creative individuals themselves, government and private sectors as well as the public is a huge part of the process. But filmmakers especially have a major role to play by telling their stories. “Explore and try new things continuously,” Mohammad Azhar said. “I still feel there is much more to learn. Having mentors and guidance is essential, but some experiences you must gain on your own.”
Having been involved in filmmaking professionally for about five years now, his humble beginnings started from taking photos with a friend’s DSLR camera. Seeing the resulting photos stirred his interest in the creative industry and he began to explore other areas such as graphic design, photography and video production. Video blogging (vlogging) was a trend at the time, which significantly influenced him. “I saw people from other countries vlogging and local influencers creating social media content, which kept me interested in learning new things and trying them out,” Mohammad Azhar said. “Eventually, I became more focused on the video production side of the creative industry.”
While there has been a rising emergence of talent in the local film scene, he shared that there needs to be a focus on content quality. “It is great that people are interested in joining the creative industry, but we need to ensure that the films being produced meet higher standards of quality.”
“There is definitely a bright future for Brunei’s film industry,” Mohammad Dzul Iskandar added. “With more opportunities and continued support for these people will definitely help Brunei to gain the recognition they deserve on a global scale.”
“Over the years, our local film scene has come a long way,” Tara commented. “The local film scene is abuzz with emerging filmmakers who are boldly experimenting with diverse genres and sharing authentic narratives. Our Brunei filmmakers are striving to match the cinematography standards of other Borneo films and even those from Malaysia.”
“The industry is on an upward trajectory,” she proclaimed.
The DCI programme in UBD has opened doors for aspiring filmmakers. Modules not only help improve their technical skills but also provide opportunities to network with other more experienced filmmakers. Being able to experiment with diverse genres and explore the limits of their creativity have broadened their horizons and opened their eyes to a wider realm of possibilities, showcasing to the world what young Bruneians are capable of achieving from behind the lens.