Kuala lumpur: The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) has approved RM1.25 million from the RM12 million 2025 Budget allocation to initiate pilot Film Community and Creative Youth Workshops across Malaysia this year. Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching announced that 25 associations and companies have been selected to conduct these workshops in 25 locations, including 11 in Sabah, four in Selangor, two each in Perak and Kuala Lumpur, and one each in Pahang, Kelantan, Penang, Melaka, Kedah, and Sarawak.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the programme is slated to continue until December 2026, with a plan to expand to 240 locations nationwide, demonstrating the government’s commitment to fostering the creative industry. The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the workshops at the Sabah branch of the National Department for Culture and Arts. During the event, Teo presented participation certificates to attendees and letters of offer to six recipients of the MADANI Generation Catalyst Fund.

The event was attended by FINAS chairman Datuk Hans Isaac, board member Rozaidi Abdul Jamil, and Industry Development director Muhammad Ar-Riyyan Mohamad Roslan. The pilot programme received 225 applications, including 11 from Sabah, which were allocated RM550,000. This initiative is expected to involve 330 local creative youths in Sabah, with over 70 percent of the participants being digital content creators aged 18 to 35.

Separately, FINAS is implementing the RM5 million MADANI Generation Catalyst Fund to assist young filmmakers in creating works that promote unity, social harmony, national identity, and positive MADANI values. During the application period for the fund from August 19 to September 12, 265 project proposals were submitted, and they are currently undergoing staged pitching sessions.

In Sabah, six projects have been approved with RM900,000 in funding, covering telemovies, documentaries, and short films, which are anticipated to generate 130 new jobs.