4 Oct – Malaysian film "Redha" which was given the cold shoulder by many cinemagoers when it was released earlier this year, has been selected to be Malaysia's official entry for the Best Foreign Language category at the 89th Academy Awards. The selection of the film by Tunku Mona Riza was made by the National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (FINAS) via its film festival committee. The prestigious Los Angeles based event will be held on 26 February 2017. Produced by Current Pictures, "Redha" follows the story of a couple who have to make sacrifices in order to raise their autistic child. The film stars Namron, June Lojong, Nadiya Nisaa, Remy Ishak, Harith Haziq, Izzy Reef, Ruminah Sidek and more.
"Redha" is the fourth film that has been sent for consideration by the Oscars committee in order to get nominated under the Best Foreign Language Film category since "Puteri Gunung Ledang" (2005), "Bunohan" (2013) and "Lelaki Harapan Dunia" (2015). Previously, "Redha" had won Best Female Actress and the Special Jury Prize at the World International Premieres Film Festival 2016 at Manila, Philippines and the Merit Award at the Los Angeles Awareness Film Festival in America. "Redha" had also won the Special Prize nominated by the President of Tatarstan Republic for Humanism in Cinematography, the Special Prize of the Russian Guild Of Cinema Critics and the Best Actor in the Full Length Feature Film for Male Ensemble Actors; Namron, Harith Haziq and Izzy Zulkhazreef at the 12th Kazan International Muslim Film Festival 2016.