KUALA LUMPUR: Filmmaker Chen Yih Wen's The Boys Club has won the NETPAC Award at the 39th Busan International Short Film Festival (BISFF), a first for a Malaysian documentary.
The Boys Club follows Chen's journey in making her first feature documentary, and reveals her harrowing experience of enduring sexual harassment, bullying and misogyny.
"I'm honoured by the recognition from BISFF. As a journalist, it was even more meaningful to receive it on World Press Freedom Day," said Chen in a statement today.
"Media freedom is one of the issues highlighted in The BoysClub. Journalists shouldn't be harassed at the workplace, or for doing their work."
Chen and her executive producers hope to use the film for a greater cause — to provide an educational toolkit for sexual harassment awareness, and to lobby for a more comprehensive Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill.l
Chen is working with the Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) on the film's impact campaign. She is also working with award-winning Indonesian film producer Mandy Marahimin to run a similar campaign in Indonesia.
The NETPAC Award is given at select international film festivals to promote Asian cinema, highlight exceptional films and discover new talents.
According to BISFF, the judges were blown away by Chen's determination and storytelling ability.
The Boys Club will premiere at the Doc Edge Festival 2022, an Oscar-qualifying international documentary festival in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, New Zealand from June 1 to July 10.
It will make its United States premiere at the 21st San Francisco Documentary Festival from June 1 to 12.
BISFF, from April 27 to May 2 is the oldest short film festival in South Korea.
Chen has worked on international documentaries for Netflix, BBC, History Channel, Crime & Investigation Network and CNA.