Taylor’s University Film Festival 2024 Unveils a New Era of Creativity and Ignites Filmmaking Passion

Taylor’s brought down the curtain on its highly anticipated Taylor’s University Film Festival (TUFF) 2024. In its fourth year since its inception in 2019, TUFF serves as a platform for film and media students, as well as aspiring and emerging filmmakers, to showcase their talents. Organized by academics and students from the School of Media and Communication (SOMAC), the month-long festival featured film screenings, workshops, forums, and an awards night to support individuals interested in pursuing a career in the film industry.

Industry partnerships with organizations like the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), ACE Pictures Entertainment, and RED Communications provided valuable insights into film production. DJI Malaysia also introduced participants to drone technology and aerial content creation. TUFF 2024 received a record number of 113 film submissions from Malaysia and around the world, highlighting its growing international recognition among young filmmakers. The festival attracted entries from countries such as Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Professor Dr. Barry Winn, the Vice Chancellor and President of Taylor’s University, commended the festival as '"A vibrant platform where young minds can exchange experiences and produce innovative stories". “We believe in nurturing and fostering the potential of our students through platforms such as TUFF. The festival not only showcases their incredible talents but also equips them with invaluable industry insights and experiences. By engaging with leading professionals and embracing cutting-edge technology, our students are encouraged to transform their creative visions into reality,” said Professor Dr. Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan, Executive Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University.

Prema Ponnudurai, Head of School at Taylor’s University's School of Media and Communication, which is ranked the Top Private University in Southeast Asia for its Communication & Media Studies emphasized the impact of films on society and the importance of nurturing visionary filmmakers through TUFF. The festival aims to inspire creativity, celebrate excellence in filmmaking, and empower youth to make a positive impact on the world.

TUFF culminated with an award ceremony that was held at The Grand Hall, Taylor’s University. A total of 14 awards in various categories were presented to local and international winners. Among them included the introduction of new awards such as Audience Choice Award, Best Urban Community Documentary, and Jury Honorable Mention. The awards were presented by special guests of the night which included YBhg Dato' Kamil Othman, Chairman of FINAS; Adjunct Professor Hassan Muthalib, Father of Malaysian Animation; Lina Tan, Founder & Chief Content Officer of RED Communications Malaysia; and Pan Vui Shang, Head of Operations of Golden Screen Cinemas among them.

The event also saw the attendance of renowned local film industry practitioners such as Film Director and Theatre Practitioner Khairi Anwar, Television Producer Zabrina Fernandez, Film Director Derrik Yaw, and Producer of ACE Pictures Entertainment, Peter Wong, underscoring the significance of TUFF in the Malaysian film landscape.

The night was a celebration of cinematic excellence and a testament to the vibrant and growing film community. As another successful edition of TUFF came to a close, anticipation for next year's festival has already begun, promising more groundbreaking films and creative talents. With a remarkable showcase of talent and creativity, TUFF continues to solidify its place as a cornerstone event in the film industry, fostering a spirit of artistic achievement and cultural enrichment.

Tabula Rasa 2024: A Revolutionary Dance Experience Redefines the Stage and Reimagines the Future

Five visionary Choreographers, Chai Vivan, Raziman Sarbini, Zulkarnain Zuber, Nadhirah Rahmat, and distinguished Guest Artist Surjit Nongmeikapam from Manipur, India, collaborated to present a groundbreaking dance showcase. Curated with bold innovation, each performance challenged traditional dance paradigms, offering fresh perspectives on movement and expression.

Under the artistic direction of Prof. Dr. Joseph Gonzales, Founder & Artistic Director; and creative production by Imran Syafiq, Managing Director of ASK Dance Company, each performance offered unique perspectives, challenging traditional choreography through innovation and conceptual exploration. Embracing the concept of "Tabula Rasa" or "Blank Slate," ASK Dance staged a liberating show that broke free from decades of dance conventions and training. The goal was to showcase that each person inherently holds untapped creativity, ready to be unleashed.

Audiences embarked on a transformative journey of self-discovery, engaging with core questions about the essence of dance - What defines it? What new realms can it explore? How can we actively participate?

Tabula Rasa 2024, with its theme “Choreography: Reset, Reflect, Reimagine,” made its debut at the Black Box, Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC). This mixed-bill contemporary dance showcase defied conventions, ignited creativity, and reshaped the landscape of contemporary dance.

Raziman Sarbini, Programme Director of the Bachelor of Performing Arts with Honours at Taylor’s University, played a pivotal role as a Choreographer for this event. His innovative choreography showcased the talent of three Performing Arts students as Dancers and involved five additional students in the production crew. Each of the performances was a tremendous success, drawing full houses for every show.

School of Education Triumphs at IINNCOME 2024 with Gold and Silver Awards for Pioneering VR Educational Innovations

The Virtual Classroom Simulated Pre-service project, an innovative teaching initiative from the School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences & Leisure Management, Taylor's University, recently garnered recognition by winning two international awards at the International Innovation Competition on Languages, Education & Societies (IINNCOME 2024) organized by Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Perlis, Malaysia. The competition, held virtually, required participants to submit videos showcasing their teaching innovations, with winners announced during an online award ceremony.

This event involved four categories of participant - Professionals, Teachers/Academicians, Higher Education Students and Secondary School Students. The purpose of this competition was to provide a platform for educators and students to showcase their teaching innovation in new directions in language pedagogy and technology integration in language teaching and learning. The School of Education secured two awards, a Gold award in the Academicians category and a Silver award in the Higher Education Students category.

The Gold award-winning project, titled "Development of a Certification Course for Pre-Service Teachers Using EngageVR," was led by Dr. Thivilojana Perinpasingam, with significant contributions from Dr. Tan Shin Yen, Mr. Faisal Athar Mohd Fadzil and international collaborators Associate Professor Dr. Suanne Gibson from the Plymouth Institute of Education at the University of Plymouth, and Mr. Maxwell McGee from EngageXR in the United Kingdom.

In contrast, the student-led team received a Silver medal for their project titled "Utilizing EngageVR for Immersive Learning Among Future Educators to Foster Scenario-Based Learning." The team members, Selyne Lee Suet Fun, Nazira Mohd Akhmal, Sandra Ng Wai Kim, and Tan Jun Ting from Bachelor of Education (Hons) programme, developed a Virtual Reality (VR) project that simulates real-world classrooms to provide Pre-Service Teachers with practical skills and confidence through an immersive learning experience.

These accolades at the IINNCOME 2024 underscored Taylor's University's commitment to advancing educational technology and innovative teaching practices. These recognitions not only celebrated the remarkable efforts of the individuals involved but also position Taylor’s University at the forefront of educational innovation, setting a benchmark for excellence in the integration of technology in teaching and learning.