MAFF 2025 special screening showcases Malaysia’s animation talent

The highly anticipated Malaysia Animation Film Festival 2025 (MAFF 2025) kicked off with a special screening held on 4 September 2025 at GSC Paradigm Mall, Johor Bahru, showcasing a curated selection of Malaysia’s finest animated short films.

Organised in collaboration with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) through its Kre8tif! platform, GSC International Screens presented a festival that brings Malaysian animated shorts to the forefront, offering them a long-awaited debut to the public.

Audiences enjoyed a curated showcase of 15 officially selected shorts, with a total runtime of 91 minutes and 46 seconds, chosen from a record-breaking 54 submissions received from studios and universities nationwide. These finalists were selected after 14 days of rigorous judging by a distinguished international panel: Alice Burden from Toon2Tango, Mandeep Singh from Tau Film, and Carlene Tan from Warner Bros Discovery.

The diverse line-up reflected the rising quality of Malaysian animation, from student projects to professional studio productions, underscoring the industry’s world-class potential. The stories reflect the rich tapestry of Malaysian identity, weaving together elements of folklore, indigenous mythology, family, and societal themes.

“Now in its third year, GSC International Screens, in partnership with MDEC, brings MAFF to life in showcasing the incredible diversity and originality of Malaysian animation, and proud to provide local creatives with a platform to shine on the big screen. These stories represent the heart of our industry’s future, and we’re thrilled to share them with the world on the big screens at GSC,” said Golden Screen Cinemas CEO Koh Mei Lee.

“MAFF 2025 is more than a festival; it’s a movement to put Malaysian storytellers on the international stage,” added MDEC CEO Anuar Fariz Fadzil. “By anchoring this year’s MAFF 2025 in conjunction with the Asean Digital Content Summit 2025 (ADCS 2025), we connect our creators directly with Asean and global delegates, and potentially to grow their shorts into full feature animated films.”

The celebration began from 3 September 2025 with the MAFF 2025 Official Selection Recognition Award Ceremony at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre. Finalists were honoured for their outstanding contributions to Malaysian animation. The festival will conclude on 6 November 2025.

The public will be able to catch the screenings in cinemas nationwide starting 16 October, with a three week screening period. Tickets are priced at 15 Ringgits and can be purchased via GSC’s official channels, including the GSC Ticketing Kiosks, GSC e-Payment, and the GSC Mobile App.