KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — Tamil film Jagat was picked as the Best Malaysian Film at the 28th Film Festival Awards (FFM28) tonight while Munafik took the crown as the Best National Film in a glittery ceremony at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here.
Munafik, a box-office horror hit, also swept the Best Director and Best Editor categories, which went to Syamsul Yusof, and Best Actress was won by Nabila Huda for her solid performance.
Pekin Ibrahim took Best Actor for his role in Mat Moto.
FFM28 had sparked controversy a month before the ceremony with allegations of bigotry over the language segregation of Bahasa Malaysia and non-Bahasa Malaysia categories.
But its main organiser the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) managed to extinguish the flames by introducing several changes, including the brand new Best National Film category to recognise the best film made in Bahasa Malaysia.
Below are the nominees and the winners, in bold, for the following categories:
Best Malaysian Film:
Nota
Polis Evo
Munafik
Jejak Warriors
Mat Moto — Kami Mat Moto Bukan Mat Rempit
Ola Bola
Maravan
*Jagat — winner
Huat the Fish
The Kid From the Big Apple
Best National Film:
Nota
Polis Evo
*Munafik — winner
Jejak Warriors
Mat Moto — Kami Mat Moto Bukan Mat Rempit
Best Director:
Ghaz Abu Bakar (Polis Evo)
Saw Teong Hin (Jejak Warriors)
Shamyl Othman (Rembat)
*Syamsul Yusof (Munafik) — winner
Wan Hasliza Wan Zainuddin (Love Supermoon)
Chiu Keng Guan (Ola Bola)
Jess Teong (The Kid From the Big Apple)
Puvarendran Selvaraja (Maravan)
Shanjhey Kumar Perumal (Jagat)
Yee Kwan Huan & Silver (Huat the Fish)
Best Actress:
Lisa Surihani (Suamiku Encik Perfect)
Maya Karin (Nota)
Maya Karin (Jwanita)
*Nabila Huda (Munafik) — winner
Nadiya Nisaa (Love Supermoon)
Best Actor:
Aaron Aziz (Suamiku Encik Perfect)
Aniu (Rembat)
*Pekin Ibrahim (Mat Moto — Kami Mat Moto Bukan Mat Rempit) — winner
Shahiezy Sam (Polis Evo)
Zizan Razak (Polis Evo)
Best Original Story:
Ola Bola
Rembat
*Mat Moto — Kami Mat Moto Bukan Mat Rempit — winner (Pekin Ibrahim)
Jagat
The Kid From the Big Apple
Best Screenplay:
*Nota — winner (Bea Tanaka)
Suamiku Encik Perfect
Polis Evo
Mat Moto — Kami Mat Moto Bukan Mat Rempit
Love Supermoon
Ola Bola
The Kid From the Big Apple
Huat The Fish
Maravan
Jagat
Best Cinematography:
*Polis Evo — winner (Haris Hue Abdullah)
Bravo 5
Munafik
Mat Moto — Kami Mat Moto Bukan Mat Rempit
Jagat