A MEDIA studies final year project by a University of Malaya postgraduate recently won the Excellent Audio Visual Creative Programme Category for Short Documentary.
Student Rosli Mohd Nordin took home the award at the 2022 Asian College Students Short Video Exchange Exhibition for his film The Last Bidayuh Ring Ladies.
It was hosted by the Jilin Animation Institute, Jilin Province Information Department and Jilin International Culture Association.
According to Rosli, he did not expect to be chosen as a winner for the category seeing as he sent in the entry at the last minute and had to compete with students from across Asia.
"The Master's supervisor for the Department of Media and Communications, Dr Fadli Abdullah, shared a poster for the competition in our student WhatsApp group. I braved myself to take part as my final year short documentary project fulfills the competition criteria.
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"I prepared thoroughly by providing English subtitles, the correct size and visual quality, including the supporting documents needed by the organisers. It was quite challenging because everything was essential to qualify for evaluation by the professional jury," said Rosli, who is also a producer at Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM).
He received a cash prize worth RM1,300 (RMB2,000) and a certificate. The five categories were Best Short Narrative, Best Short Comic-Animation, Public Service Announcement, Vlog and Creative Excellence Audiovisual Programme Category for Short Documentary.
The contest was open to all students from across Asia.
Themed "To Our Future Together", it aimed to encourage youth to express their creativity through culture in audiovisual form. It was also a way to foster understanding and acceptance among the young people of Asia.
Synopsis of ‘Wanita Bidayuh Bergelang Terakhir’
The short documentary ‘Wanita Bidayuh Bergelang Terakhir’ tells of four Bidayuh women who remained steadfast in wearing their copper coiled rings. It is one of the tribe's heritages facing the threat of extinction.
Singai Nekan, Anet@Anat Umgom, Tawud Luhan dan Dashin Ngarong wear the copper rings known as Ruyang (arm), Rasung (leg) and Tumbih (necklace) in a nod to the more than 400-year-old practice of the second largest tribe after the Iban.
However, the four women are elderly and the younger generation may not want to keep up the tradition. The clash of cultures and modern lifestyle needs may see the Bidayuh women disappearing with the practice forever.
Watch the documentary below.
Take a look at the behind-the-scenes of the editing and production side of the short. – The Vibes, January 20, 2023
