18 Aug – Malaysian film, "Stone Turtle" has recently won the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize at the Locarno Film Festival. Expressing his joy at the film's success, lead actor Bront Palarae expressed, "This is for Ming Jin, the director, and Edmund, producer-editor, who'd worked so hard to bring all the pieces together." "Being part of this journey together with them and the whole crew was such a great joy. We are very lucky that had a very good team, and this award is definitely a recognition to their good works."
"This wouldn't be possible without our supporters: MDeC, My Creative and FINAS. I hope that our Fipresci could help bring attention to interesting upcoming films from the region, particularly from Malaysia," he added. According to the FIPRESCI prize jury, the movie impressed them for the "multiplicity of perspectives on urgent themes such as violence against women, the question of who has a right to citizenship, and the way we deal with our natural environment". The film, directed by Woo Ming Jin, revolves around the stateless refugee Zahara (Asmara Abigail), who makes a living selling turtle eggs illegally on a remote Malaysian island, and her acquaintanceship with the supposed university researcher Samad (Bront Palarae).