6 Aug - Former Miss Malaysia Rachel Tan, now based in the United States, has produced "Worth the Wait" - a heartwarming romantic comedy celebrating Asian talent, love across borders, and the beauty of cultural connection. The film was partially filmed in Malaysia, showcasing our country's natural beauty and vibrant local heritage to international audiences. Together with her husband and producer Dan Mark, Tan has created a project that marks a significant milestone for Malaysian cinema. Tourism Malaysia announced its official support for the highly anticipated feature film during its red carpet premiere at DaDi Cinema in Pavillion Kuala Lumpur on 4 July. The premiere drew a crowd of 200 guests, including cast and filmmakers who travelled to Kuala Lumpur from as far as the U.S.A, Canada, Taiwan and Singapore, making it a truly international celebration.
Being partially filmed in Malaysia, the film serves as an ongoing effort to promote Asian representation in North America while highlighting Malaysia's natural beauty, vibrant local heritage, and warm hospitality - elements that continue to make Malaysia a world-class travel destination.
Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, Director-General of Tourism Malaysia said, "Films like 'Worth The Wait' inspire audiences worldwide to explore Malaysia for themselves. This collaboration is part of our broader strategy to integrate tourism with film and entertainment. The film industry is a growing niche that allows Malaysia to shine - both as a featured story and as a filming location."
The partnership reflects Tourism Malaysia's commitment to supporting creative industries that champion Malaysian culture and tourism through powerful storytelling and visual media. This initiative is also part of the national effort to boost tourism ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026). Rachel Tan, the former Miss Malaysia who has become a rising force in Southeast Asian cinema, explains that "Worth The Wait" has earned praise from audiences and critics alike for its heart-warming plot, cross-cultural representation, and universal values of love, hope and restoration.
"'Worth The Wait' is not just entertainment, but also a reflection on love, faith and hope," said Tan, explaining that the film is loosely based on her personal love story which blossomed through a long distance relationship between Malaysia and the United States. "Dan and I wanted to create something that celebrates our Asian identity while also speaking to audiences around the world - and the response so far has been incredibly encouraging."
The film has already won hearts for its emotional depth, universal themes of love and hope, and standout all-Asian cast. The star-studded ensemble includes Ross Butler ("13 Reasons Why"), Lana Condor ("To All The Boys I've Loved Before" franchise"), Andrew Koji ("Black Doves"), Sung Kang ("Fast and The Furious" franchise), Elodie Yung ("The Cleaning Lady"), Karena Ka-Yan Lam (multiple Golden Horse Award winning Hong Kong and Taiwan actress in her U.S. and English language debut), Osric Chau ("Supernatural" ), Tan Kheng Hua ("Crazy Rich Asians"), and Yu-Beng Lim ("Rebel Moon"). Acclaimed Taiwanese director Tom Shu-Yu Lin - the eight-time Golden Horse nominee – makes his English-language debut with "Worth The Wait." Don't miss your chance to watch this groundbreaking celebration of love and Asian excellence on the big screen when "Worth The Wait" opens in cinemas nationwide on 7 August.