KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 — Pavane for an Infant, a Malaysian-Hong Kong co-production directed by award-winning filmmaker Chong Keat Aun, has been officially selected by the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) to represent Malaysia at the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars) under the Best International Feature Film category.
Produced by Janji Pictures Production Sdn Bhd, the film tells the story of a social worker at a baby-hatch centre in Kuala Lumpur who helps women facing stigma and hardship around motherhood in a conservative society.
“The selection of Pavane for an Infant as Malaysia’s representative reflects the growing potential of local cinema, which continues to earn recognition on the international stage,” Finas said in a statement.
Finas said the selection was made by its Film Selection Committee, which comprises industry professionals and was based on guidelines set by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The film stars Malaysian actress Fish Liew as Lai Sum, alongside Natalie Hsu from Taiwan, Ben Yuen from Hong Kong, and Malaysian veterans Pearlly Chua, Jasmine Suraya Chin, and Tan Mei Ling.
The film premiered in local cinemas on August 14 this year.
Pavane for an Infant has already made waves internationally, winning the Youth Jury Award at the 39th Fribourg International Film Festival 2025 and the Golden Silk Road Award (Best Screenplay) at the 12th Silk Road International Film Festival.
It was also screened at several major festivals, including the 49th Hong Kong International Film Festival, 44th Istanbul International Film Festival, 24th New York Asian Film Festival, Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, and had its world premiere at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival.
Finas said it remains committed to empowering local talents and films to continue excelling on the global stage.
