M’sian Director Jin Ong Bags Three Awards at Italy’s Far East Film Festival

After bagging two awards at the 7th Fribourg International Film Festival in Switzerland in March, Malaysian director and producer Jin Ong has again won multiple awards at the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy.

His feature film “Abang Adik,” which tells the story of two undocumented brothers — a deaf and a mute — who rely on each other as they go through the harsh realities of the world, has set a record by becoming the first Southeast Asian film to win three awards in the festival’s history.

When asked by Malay Mail if he expected to win, the 48-year-old film veteran replied, “No, I didn’t but I had hoped for at least one award.”

“I couldn’t believe it when I won three!” he added.

Ong received the Golden Mulberry audience award, the Black Dragon Critics’ prize, and the White Mulberry Award for best first feature at the festival's awarding ceremony on April 30.

“I am honoured for the film to have had a world premiere at FIFF. Frankly speaking, it is a great recognition to win the Audience Award. After all, it is a Malaysian story. The subject matter is from a long-term social issue in Malaysia, that of statelessness,” he was quoted as saying in an interview with The Vibes.