With creativity bursting from every frame, the Malaysia Animation Film Festival (MAFF) 2025 is set to light up cinema screens once again this October. This achievement marks its highly anticipated third edition. A collaboration between Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) International Screens and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), this year’s festival continues its mission to champion Malaysia’s colourful animation scene.
Malaysian Imagination On The Big Screen
From 16 October 2025 onwards, selected GSC locations nationwide will showcase 15 short animated films that capture the voices of a new generation of Malaysian storytellers. Each piece explores themes of self-discovery, emotional resilience, and cultural identity. These themes reflect the unique perspectives and creativity of Malaysia’s growing animation community.
Catch MAFF 2025 At Selected GSC Cinemas Nationwide
Image via Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation
Audiences can experience the best of Malaysian animation at selected GSC locations beginning 16 October 2025:
| Southern Region | 1. GSC Dataran Pahlawan Melaka 2. GSC Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru |
| Northern Region | GSC Gurney Plaza, Penang |
| East Malaysia | 1. GSC CityOne Megamall Kuching 2. GSC Suria KK |
| Klang Valley | 1. GSC Mid Valley 2. GSC 1 Utama 3. GSC Lalaport BBCC |
Through this exciting collaboration, Golden Screen Cinemas and MDEC continue to open doors for Malaysia’s creative voices. This proves that with imagination and opportunity, local stories can resonate all around the world.
Empowering The Next Generation Of Animators
The Malaysia Animation Film Festival was founded to nurture homegrown talent and provide a platform for local creators to share their stories on the big screen. This year, MAFF 2025 shines a spotlight on emerging voices that challenge conventions and embrace authenticity through art.
“We are dedicated to showcasing the incredible diversity and originality of Malaysian animation and are proud to provide local creatives with a platform to shine on the big screen. These stories represent the heart of our industry’s future, and we’re thrilled to share them with the world at GSC.”
– Ms. Koh Mei Lee, Chief Executive Officer of Golden Screen Cinemas.
The 15 featured films include remarkable titles such as Abah by Aqilah Rafiqah, D’Sebalik by Nureen Qistina Binti Afandi, Last Toy Standing by Jane Yap Chian Chian, and Following the Line by Ong Jia Yee, among others, each offering a distinctive artistic style and emotional narrative.
Malaysia’s Growing Presence On The Global Animation Stage
The return of MAFF 2025 underscores Malaysia’s expanding footprint in the global animation industry. In recent years, Malaysian animators have earned recognition on international stages, including the DigiCon6 ASIA circuit, where Following the Line by Ong Jia Yee took home Gold and will represent Malaysia at the Grand Finale in Tokyo.
These achievements build upon a strong momentum from 2023 and 2024, when Malaysian works garnered multiple global awards and even a ComicCon win by Jared Lee. Together, MAFF and initiatives like DigiCon6 highlight MDEC’s ongoing efforts to cultivate world-class digital creators and reinforce Malaysia’s status as a creative hub in the region.
