KUALA LUMPUR: Malbatt: Misi Bakara, director Adrian Teh's action-packed true story of Malaysia's brave peacekeeping soldiers who saved their American counterparts from ruthless Somali militiamen in Mogadishu 31 years ago, and Syafiq Yusof's explosive buddy cop adventure Polis Evo 3 are 2023's "box office kings."
Polis Evo 3, a joint production of Astro Shaw Sdn Bhd, Skop Productions Sdn Bhd and TGV Cinemas collected RM50.1 million at the box office while Bakara, a joint production of Berjaya Pictures Sdn Bhd, Act 2 Pictures Sdn Bhd, Fast Bikes Sdn Bhd, Aurum Investments Limited, Golden Screen Cinemas and Astro Shaw took home RM32.5 million.
The producers of both movies were honoured by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil at Spotlight: Apresiasi Sinema Malaysia 2023, a cinematic appreciation ceremony held at the ministry's headquarters in Putrajaya today.
The event was also attended by the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, National Film Development Corporation (Finas) chairman Datuk Kamil Othman and Finas chief executive officer Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib.
Polis Evo 3 and Bakara were among the year's top six best-selling local movies.
The others were Didi & Friends The Movie, directed by Akmal Aziz Asmawi and Roshfaizal Ariffin and produced by Warnakala Studios Sdn Bhd, Astro Shaw and Digital Durian Sdn Bhd (RM8.1 million), Imaginur, directed by Nik Amir Mustapha and produced by Lumatic Films Sdn Bhd (RM6 million), Rahsia directed by Shamyl Othman and produced by Astro Shaw, Five Star Film Productions and Kuman Pictures Sdn Bhd (RM5.3 million), and Coast Guard Malaysia: Ops Helang directed by the late Pitt Hanif and produced by Flying Deal Sdn Bhd and Arie Zahari Productions Sdn Bhd (RM4.05 million).
A total of 56 local movies topped box office sales from January to November this year, totalling RM98.8 million.
The ministry also honoured six short films which won international awards, namely MOP directed by Joon Goh which won the Special Jury Award at the Philippines' Q Cinema Film Festival, Jared Lee's Horologist (Best Animation at the United States San Diego Comic-Con), Mohamed Khairi Ibrahim's The Pillar Of Strength (Best Animation at the France International Film Festival), Tan Ce Ding's Please Hold The Line (Best Short Film at Albania's Tirana International Film Festival), Ahamed Aminudeen's Positive (Best Short Film at India's Mumbai Entertainment International Film Festival) and Ananth Subramaniam's The House Of Brick And Stone (Official Selection at the United Kingdom's London Short Film Festival).
Tiger Stripes, directed by Amanda Nell Eu and produced by G Grrrl Pictures was honoured for winning France's Cannes Critics' Week Grand Prize, Abang Adik directed by Jin Ong and produced by More Entertainment was honoured for winning the Golden Mulberry, Black Dragon Critics' Award and White Mulberry at Italy's Far East Film Festival, and Hungry Ghost Diner directed by We Jun Cho and produced by Kinovisuals was honoured for winning South Korea's Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival's Netpac Award.