KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has secured its place as one of the top five Asian countries contributing submissions to the third Alternativa Film Festival (AFF), a travelling event dedicated to showcasing impact cinema.
The festival’s next edition is set to take place in Medellín, Colombia, from April 21 to 30, 2026.
Alternativa is a worldwide, impact-focused film initiative established by the global company inDrive.
Its previous festivals were held in Almaty, Kazakhstan (2023), and Yogyakarta, Indonesia (2024), and consistently highlight compelling narratives from the Global South.
The 2026 call for entries closed on Oct 10, breaking records with 1,831 submissions received in total.
Alongside India, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Indonesia, Malaysia stood out as a significant Asian contributor.
In total, the festival received submissions from 55 countries, including 33 from across Asia.
Head of Alternativa, Liza Surganova, expressed her delight in a statement yesterday: “We are thrilled to see that, for the third year running, the Alternativa Film Festival continues to attract a remarkable number of submissions from Asia. This clearly demonstrates that the region — including vibrant film communities in Malaysia — remains a driving force for powerful, impact-driven storytelling.”
She further emphasised the festival’s objective: “Our mission is to spotlight and support talented filmmakers from the Global South who are dedicated to inspiring positive societal change. We are hopeful that the third AFF will forge new avenues for Malaysian and Southeast Asian creators to connect with global audiences and collaborate with their peers in Latin America.”
The festival will once again champion cinematic diversity through four feature-length competitive categories: Spotlight, Future Voice, Alter, and Nativa.
These categories are open to filmmakers from Asia, including Malaysia, and offer a significant platform for Malaysian creators to compete internationally.
The winner of each category will receive a substantial cash prize of US$20,000 (about RM83,000).
Alternativa was founded by Arsen Tomsky, CEO and founder of inDrive, demonstrating how the company’s spirit of innovation extends beyond transportation and into the creative industries.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
