Malaysian films belong to all races, says filmmaker Min Lim

Filmmaker Min Lim, a veteran of the Malaysian film industry, asserts that judging a film by the race or gender of its creator is misguided. She views filmmaking as a collaborative art form, bringing together diverse talents and experiences.

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A film is never made by one person alone. There's a whole village of people working to make it happen, and I really believe in the collaborative process.

"A film is never made by one person alone. There's a whole village of people working to make it happen, and I really believe in the collaborative process," Lim stated. She advocates for open communication within production teams, encouraging questions and feedback to ensure accuracy and authenticity.

Lim, who produced and directed "Mojoku Hilang," shared her experience in the industry, noting that while she has not faced overt discrimination as a woman of Chinese descent, questions about creators' backgrounds have arisen. She cited the film "Rentap" as an example, where some questioned why a Chinese individual would create a film about Malay culture.

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For me, that's not the main issue. The most important thing is how a filmmaker sees the world and how much they are willing to do research and collaborate with their team to ensure the story produced is truly authentic.

"For me, that's not the main issue. The most important thing is how a filmmaker sees the world and how much they are willing to do research and collaborate with their team to ensure the story produced is truly authentic," she explained. Lim stressed that relying solely on references is insufficient; genuine understanding requires discussion and input from those who deeply understand the culture and societal nuances.

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If there's something I don't understand, I will ask. If I do something wrong, tell me.

Her commitment to authenticity is evident in "Mojoku Hilang," largely filmed in Perlis. Lim believes that a filmmaker's ability to connect with and authentically portray a culture stems from diligent research and collaborative effort, rather than their ethnic or gender identity.

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We can get all sorts of references today, but references alone are not enough. We need to discuss and get input from people who understand the culture, religion, and lives of those people so that what is presented is truly authentic.