A FILM CALLED 'DREAM'

WINNERS .... Bruno Vun, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Resource Development and Information Technology (2nd from left) and Maimunah Suhaibul, Deputy Director of the State Education Department (far right) standing with the overall winners from Kinabutan Besar Primary School, Tawau. Holding the Best of the Best trophy (from left to right) teacher Fandi Ibrahim and 11 year old pupils Umi Athirah Aziz, Arina Farzana Borhan and Muammar Ghaddafi Mohd Ali.

By : SHALINA R

IMPIAN or 'Dream' became real for its makers in this year’s State Educational Digital Film Festival. The touching short film was voted Best of the Best by the judges, beating 139 other submissions entered by schools nationwide.

Jointly organized by the Ministry of Resource Development and Information Technology  and Multimedia Corporation Kuala Lumpur as well as the State Educational Technology Division, the film festival is an annual event to encourage creativity in filmmaking among students.

The creation of school teacher Fandi Ibrahim and his pupils Muammar Ghaddafi Mohd Ali, Arina Farzana Borhan and Umi Athirah Aziz from Kinabutan Besar Primary School Tawau, Impian also triumphed in the Primary School Category and National Open Category, winning RM1000 and RM2000 in cash prizes respectively.

Inspired by the death of his own father, Fandi based the film on the struggle of a child named Iman whose mother dies when he is at a young age and whose father battles bone cancer.

The only child in the family Iman cannot afford to go to school as he has to support his father by collecting used empty plastic bottles for recycling. Iman often watches other children at school, wishing he could do the same so he could fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor.

11 year old Muammar who plays the role of Iman also won the Best Male Actor Category at the annual event that night.

This is the second film entered by the 29 year old teacher from Papar. The movie enthusiast and coordinator of Pusat Bestari in his school submitted his first film in 2009. The film entitled Kasut was the runner-up in the Primary School Category that year.

But winning a prize is not Fandi's primary aim. He said he wanted to drive home a message through his film - that it is important to pursue a dream in life and to appreciate your parents whilst they are still alive. “What’s more important than the special video effects is the message behind the film,” said Fandi.

But their success took him by surprise. “I didn’t expect Impian to win up to 4 awards!" he exclaimed.

Speaking at the award presentation ceremony on behalf of Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, Minister of Resource Development and Information Technology, Permanent Secretary Bruno Vun expressed confidence that through digital film education the effort to  develop the student’s creative talents in filmmaking and technical skills will yield great success. (Insight Sabah)

TALENTED.....Young stars (From left to right) Arina, Muammar and Umi.