Annuar urges creative industry players to move out from being ordinary to penetrate global market

He said industry players should come up with a mechanism to prevent the country's creative content from being viewed as a fragmented market and then use their strength to promote the country's products to the international level.

"I was told by someone (in the industry) that Malaysia is a very fragmented market because Malay films are watched by Malays, Chinese films are watched by Chinese, Indian films are watched by Indians. So our market becomes relatively small compared to Thailand, the Philippines or even Indonesia.

"But let's try to find ways to use this as a strength. This is what I want to ask FINAS (National Film Development Corporation Malaysia) to work with several film producers to harness this strength of our multilingual nature. Not only our people can speak good English, can go internationally, but our people can (also) speak Mandarin, Tamil and Malay," he said.

He told reporters this after having a meeting with creative industry players participating in the world's biggest international film exhibition, Marche Du Film (MARCHE 2022), at Pavilion Malaysia at Palais des Festival here today.

Marche Du Film is the film industry's biggest gathering for producers, financiers, broadcasters, distributors, suppliers and buyers from around the world to meet, share ideas and make deals.

Annuar is leading the Malaysian delegation which comprises 13 local companies participating in the nine-day film market beginning today, with 10 companies attending physically and three online.

Annuar said the Communications and Multimedia Ministry wants to reinvent the national film industry as it has big potential to contribute to the country's economy and create many job opportunities.

"I want to ask them to try one, two films. And I dare to take several measures out of the ordinary, that is any producer who submits a proposal which I feel has value which the government can give support, we may give special treat or special programme. But we want to nurture them together to take them to the next level.

"There are a few good, young and talented local film producers that need to be given opportunity, to go big, to take them to the next level. They should lead the industry," he added.

He said the government also cannot be seen as merely a regulator but should be more proactive and friendly to the industry in helping industry players market their products at the international level.

At the same time, Annuar urged creative industry players to use Marche Du Film as a platform to promote and sell their creative content products to the international level.

"We have to do it immediately. Do not use this exhibition as a place for tour but as a working platform. We must be serious, meet the right people. Go out, make contact and position yourself to go global," he said.

Earlier, Annuar spent about an hour meeting the Malaysian delegation and viewing the creative content products which are being marketed by these companies at the film exhibition.