TEMUAN TAKDIR, by first-time director Dhyan Vimal, will represent Malaysia at the Asean Film Festival 2017 in Bangkok from April 29 to May 8.
The film, which premiered in August last year, was chosen as the only Malaysian film to represent the country at the annual film festival.
“It’s a great honour and I am happy that the movie has been well-received by audiences at home and abroad,” he told the New Straits Times.
The 53-year-old, who is also a motivational speaker, says working on the movie was a great experience for him.
“The production team, the cast and I didn’t hold back and gave our best. I’d say directing the film is one of the highlights of my creative efforts thus far,” he says.
Temuan Takdir has been catching the eye of film festivals around the world, sweeping awards and accolades along the way.
Among its biggest wins are Best First Time Director and Best Original Score at the Los Angeles Film Awards in December last year, Best New Filmmaker at the Chandler International Film Festival 2016 and Best Humanitarian Award at The MonCon London Film Festival 2016.
Temuan Takdir tells the story of two brothers who are police officers. They are tasked with investigating the robbery of a security van. The film stars Datuk Zahim Albakri, Vanidah Imran, Ery Zukhairi and Azura Zainal.
Dhyan, who once worked for a company that sold medical equipment, says Temuan Takdir was to celebrate Malaysian filmmaking and its talents.
“I’m glad the film has brought recognition to our film industry,” he says.
Dhyan, who always had a passion for filmmaking, hopes to promote Malaysian traditions and cultures to the world through his films.
“I have travelled and lived in many places and have come to realise how precious and amazing our cultures are,” he says.
He is already working on his second feature, and production will start in October.
“It’s about a young man who finds himself thrust into a different world (society) than the one he is accustomed to. There, he learns its values and finds his true self.”
The director is also in the midst of meeting representatives from film companies in the United States, based in Los Angeles, to co-produce an actioner, which will be partly filmed in Kuala Lumpur.