Taiping-born filmmaker Jin Ong made a powerful debut with Abang Adik, a critically acclaimed film that won 28 international awards and received 69 nominations worldwide. Centered on undocumented orphans in poverty, the film earned accolades at the Asia New York Film Festival and Italy’s Far East Film Festival.

Abang Adik grossed RM5.7 million locally and performed strongly in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China. Though this is his first film as a director, Ong has over two decades of industry experience in Malaysia and Taiwan. He also runs Moore Entertainment, which previously produced Shuttle Life — the first Malaysian film nominated at the Golden Horse Awards.