Canon Marketing Malaysia has announced the winners of its first-ever Canon Short Film Contest 2023 at a prize-giving ceremony, held at GSC The Starling Mall, Petaling Jaya on November 18, 2023.
Anwar Johari Ho took home the grand prize in the Camera category for his heartwarming film “Don’t Get Too Close to That Edge”, entailing a story of a traditional dancer’s relentless pursuit of perfection that pushes her physical and emotional limits.
He was awarded a cash prize of RM50,000, a Cinema EOS R5C camera and sponsored prizes that included SanDisk 256GB Extreme Pro CFExpress Card Type B, Sennheiser XSW-D Portable Lavalier Set, Nanlite Forza 150 and Zhiyun Crane 4.
The judges praised the film’s creativity, storytelling and technical execution, particularly the director’s ability to create a compelling and emotionally driven narrative with cinematographic flair.
Themed “Harmony in Diversity,” the contest received an overwhelming response from filmmaking aspirants and content creators nationwide across three categories: Camera, Colleges & Universities, and Smartphone.
Canon has partnered with Sennheiser, Nanlite, Sandisk, and Zhiyun to equip winners with the resources to succeed in the long run while the contest provided a valuable platform and opportunity for aspiring film artisans to hone their skills, gain exposure, and kickstart their careers.
Shunji Yoshikai, the president and CEO of Canon Marketing Malaysia stated during the event: “The contest exemplified our ‘Kyosei’ philosophy of working together for the common good by providing a platform for filmmaking aspirants to showcase Malaysia’s cinematic artistry.”
Yoshikai added: “By uniting creative talents and industry leaders, and working with Tourism Malaysia, the contest reaffirmed our commitment to collaboration, talent development and cultural preservation, propelling Malaysia’s filmmaking industry forward.”
Yoshikai said Canon’s first nationwide short film contest demonstrated its commitment to nurturing the next generation of Malaysian filmmakers and the contest was a testament to that direction.
“With a diverse pool of talented local film artisans, Malaysia is well-positioned to become a regional powerhouse in filmmaking and Canon looks forward to continuing to support the growth of the industry and help Malaysian visual storytellers achieve their dreams,” he added.
Tourism Malaysia corporate communications director Tuan Razali Tuan Omar expressed appreciation for the contest which captured the essence of the country through captivating videos.
“We are delighted to see the winning films capture the essence of our nation, from vibrant cultures to stunning landscapes. We congratulate the winners and all the participants for their creativity and talent,” he said.
Meanwhile, Canon Marketing Malaysia image communication business division director Hunter Zhang said the contest was a testament to the talent and creativity of Malaysian film visionaries.
“We are proud to have played a role in supporting and fostering a new wave of Malaysian film talents,” he said.
