Kuala Lumpur:Malaysia's film industry experienced a significant increase in viewership, with numbers doubling to 14.83 million in 2025 from 7.14 million the previous year, as stated by Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, box office collections for local films also reached a new peak of RM247.95 million in 2025, an increase from RM166.57 million in 2024. Prominent successes included films such as "Blood Brothers Bara Naga," grossing RM73.64 million, "Papa Zola The Movie" with RM63.88 million, and "Ejen Ali The Movie 2," which earned RM58.40 million.

Teo made these remarks during the launch ceremony and the Top 5 announcement of the 35th Malaysia Film Festival (FFM35) at the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) headquarters. The event was attended by key figures such as Communications Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah and FINAS Chairman Datuk Dr. Hans Isaac.

In response to the flourishing film industry, Teo assured that the RM1 million Creative Content Fund would continue to support the FFM35 Best Film winner. This initiative aims to assist award recipients in developing future projects and extending the reach of Malaysian narratives.

Continuing the positive trend, local films attracted 6.10 million viewers by July 2026, with six titles surpassing RM10 million in box office revenues. Teo also urged state governments to adopt the Federal Government's entertainment duty exemptions for local film screenings, as outlined in Budget 2027.

She emphasized the FFM35 theme, "Spectrum of Cinema," which highlights the diversity of stories in Malaysian films. Teo remarked that the variety in storytelling reflects Malaysia's strength, showcasing a range of perspectives and experiences through cinema.

The FFM35 Awards Night is set to be held on November 21 at Istana Budaya.