Directing

Keat Aun Chong

A Malaysian filmmaker who has won awards internationally, Chong Keat Aun garnered multiple accolades for his debut film, The Story of Southern Islet A Kedah native, Chong Keat Aun has been part of the creative industry and media for a long time, serving in diverse roles including as film editor, documentary director, journalist, and radio DJ. Having a strong passion for filmmaking since he was young, Chong graduated with a degree in film and broadcasting and wrote the screenplay for the multi-award-winning film, The Story of Southern Islet. A semi-autobiographical story about a woman’s quest to find a cure for her husband who was believed to be cursed by black magic, inspired by Chong’s own childhood experience, the film also won him the International Critics’ Prize (FIPRESCI Prize), personally awarded to him by acclaimed director Ang Lee. A cultural conservationist and activist, Chong is also known for his tireless efforts in the preservation of Chinese cultural heritage—including the various Chinese dialects in all forms such as poems, opera and folk songs, oral history, and stories he gathered through interviews with elders across the country. The self-initiated, self-funded project for his radio programme won him the national media award, Anugerah Seri Angkasa, for Best Radio DJ. In 2020, he was named Best New Director at the 57th Taipei Golden Horse Awards.