Past Competition Winners

SeaShorts Film Festival 2017

The film festival’s inaugural edition took place from 11th to 4th May 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It screened 118 short films during the 4-day event in 3 cafes across the Jalan Panggung area.

The jury members for the SeaShorts Competition were Yuni Hadi (Singapore), Chalida Umburungjit (Thailand) and Amir Muhammad (Malaysia), the trio behind S-Express in Southeast Asia during the early 2000s, which became a key inspiration for SeaShorts.

Winners

SeaShorts Award: The Tiger of 142B

Dir. Henry and Harry Zhuang / Singapore / 2016 / English / 12min

SeaShorts Special Mention: Along One Way (Sepanjang Jalan Satu Arah)

Dir. Bani Nasution / Indonesia / 2016 / Javanese / 16min

Next New Wave Award: Falling In Love Again (一號Ah May)

Dir. Jacky Yeap / Malaysia / 2016 / Cantonese / 23min

Student Films Competition Award: The Taste of Pineapple (黃梨的滋味)

Dir. Won Jun Yap / Malaysia / 2016 / Mandarin / 22min

SeaShorts Film Festival 2018

The film festival’s 2018 edition took place in Georgetown, Penang from 1st to 5th August, screening 148 shorts film across the 5-day event.

The jury members for the SeaShorts Competition were Rithy Panh (Cambodia), Philip Cheah (Singapore) and Pimpaka Towira (Thailand). The jury members for the Next New Wave Competition were Mira Lesmana (Indonesia), Liew Seng Tat (Malaysia), Thaiddhi (Myanmar)

Winners

Purin Award: The Ant Man

Dir. Phạm Quang Trung | Vietnam | 2017 | Vietnamese | 26 mins

Next New Wave Award: High Way

Dir. Chia Chee Sum | Malaysia | 2017 | Malay | 18 mins

Next New Wave Award: Kampung Tapir

Dir. Aw See Wee | Malaysia | 2017 | Mandarin, Malay, English | 17 mins

Best Achievement In Post-Production Award: High Way

Dir. Chia Chee Sum | Malaysia | 2017 | Malay | 18 mins

Bophana Award: Another Dimension

Dir. Kritsada Nakagate | Thailand | 2018 | Thai | 25 mins

Best Cinematography Award: Bangkok Dystopia

Dir. Patipol Teekayuwat | Thailand | 2017 | Thai | 29 mins

SeaShorts Film Festival 2019

The film festival’s 2019 edition took place in Malacca from 25th to 29th September.

The jury members for the SeaShorts Competition were Lav Diaz (Philippines), Fatimah Abu Bakar (Malaysia), Gertjan Zuilhof (Netherlands). The jury members for the Next New Wave Competition were Garin Nugroho (Indonesia), Shireen Seno (Philippines), Sherman Ong (Malaysia).

Winners

SeaShorts Competition (Best Film): Ballad of Blood and Two White Buckets 

Dir. Yosep Anggi Noen | Indonesia | 2018 | Indonesian | 15 mins

SeaShorts Competition (Best Cinematography): Vinegar Baths

Dir. Amanda Nell Eu | Malaysia | 2018 | English | 14 mins

SeaShorts Competition (Best Sound): Blessed Land

Dir. Phạm Ngọc Lân | Vietnam | 2019 | Vietnamese | 18 mins

Next New Wave Competition (Best Film): Vinegar Baths

Dir. Amanda Nell Eu | Malaysia | 2018 | English | 14 mins

Next New Wave Competition (Best Cinematography): Langit Budak Biru

Dir. Lim Kean Hian | Malaysia | 2018 | Malay | 22 mins

Next New Wave Competition (Best Sound): Forget Me Not

Dir. Anwar Johari Ho | Malaysia | 2019 | Mandarin, Cantonese | 17 mins

Most Promising Filmmaker: Jeremy Emang Jecky for To Work

Malaysia | 2018 | Kayan | 11 mins

Most Promising Filmmaker: Loh Din-Yung for The Life We Live

Malaysia | 2018 | Mandarin | 19 mins

SeaShorts Film Festival 2020

The fourth edition took place from 12th – 25th September 2020, entirely online.

The SeaShorts Competition jury panel was comprised of Anggi Frisca (Indonesia), Bianca Balbuena (Philippines), Davy Chou (Cambodia), Dr Farish Noor (Malaysia), and Rennie Gomes (Singapore).

SeaShorts Award for Best Film:

Peon by June Wong, Shaiful Yahya, and Syaz Zainal (Malaysia)

Next New Wave Award for Best Malaysian Film:

Peon by June Wong, Shaiful Yahya, and Syaz Zainal (Malaysia)

Best Direction Award:

Stay Awake, Be Ready by Pham Thien An (Vietnam)

Best Screenplay Award:

Evening Stroll by Candra Aditya (Indonesia)

Best Cinematography Award:

BURA byEden Junjung (Indonesia)

Best Sound Award:

BURA by Eden Junjung (Indonesia)

Best Editing Award:

Peon by June Wong, Shaiful Yahya, and Syaz Zainal (Malaysia)

Best Performance Award:

The Cloud Is Still There by Mickey Lai Loke Yee (Malaysia)

Jury Award:

BURA by Eden Junjung (Indonesia)

Special Mention:

Elsa by Lim Jen Nee (Singapore)

Audience Award:

Stay Awake, Be Ready by Pham Thien An (Vietnam)

SeaShorts Film Festival 2021

The fifth edition took place from 25th August 2021 – 2nd September 2021, entirely online.

The SeaShorts Competition jury panel was comprised of Raymond Phatanavirangoon (Thailand), Meiske Taurisia (Indonesia), Phan Dang Di (Vietnam), Alfian Sa’at (Singapore), and Sonny Liew (Singapore).

SeaShorts Award:

Binh by Ostin Fam (Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea)

Special Mention:

Please… See Us by Chaweng Chaiyawan (Thailand)

SeaShorts Film Festival 2022

The sixth edition took place from 21st – 25th September 2022, in Multimedia University, Cyberjaya. In conjunction with Faculty of Cinematic Arts (FCA) and Faculty of Creative Multimedia (FCM).

The SeaShorts Competition jury panel was comprised of Anggi Frisca (Indonesia), Bianca Balbuena (Philippines), Davy Chou (Cambodia), Dr Farish Noor (Malaysia), and Rennie Gomes (Singapore).


SeaShorts Award
Jury: Khavn De La Cruz, Kong Rithdee & Teng LeeYein

Best Film: Blinded by the Light by Chanasorn Chaikitiporn (Thailand)

Jury Award: Grandma’s Broken Leg by Huỳnh Công Nhớ (Vietnam)

Special Mention: Rocks in a Windless Wadi by EJ Gagui (Philippines)

NextNewWave Award
Jury: Pete Teo, Kamal Sabran & Siew-Wai Kok

Best Film: Perhaps That Elephant Is Still Asleep by Yoeng Kuok Hong

Jury Award: A Worm, Whatever Will Be, Will Be by Mickey Lai

Special Mention: Ms. Pontianak by Alina Wong JinKei

Malaysia Student Film Award
Jury: Ling Tang, Amir Shahlan Bin Amiruddin & Muz Amer

Best Film: The Life Span of a Recording by Joy Chan (California Institute of the Arts)

Jury Award: OngLai by Chartered Gan (LimKokWing University)

Special Mention: The Duo by Vesant Nair & Eslam Hassona (Multimedia University)

Cathay Play Best Chinese Film Award
Jury: Tee Pao Chew, Jill Li & Annie Zhang JiePing

Best Film: Plastic Sonata by Nelson Yeo (Singapore)

Special Mention: Dear Father by Jonathan Lee Jia Wan & Pak Sun Man (Malaysia)

Nottingham University AI Script Writing Competition
Jury: Liu Xiaoyi

Winner:《Aisle Of Luck》write by Pang Yong Ming & Inferkit AI Writing Software