Malaysian Filmmaker Mickey Lai Wins USD $10,000 for Short Film “WASHHH”

The Alternativa Film Project, a global non-profit initiative by inDrive that supports emerging filmmakers from less-developed screen industries, has revealed the winners of its 2024 Alternativa Film Awards in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Among the honorees is Malaysian filmmaker Mickey Lai, who was awarded in the Shorts Award category for her powerful film, WASHHH. Lai received a USD $10,000 prize, recognizing her bold storytelling and significant social impact.

Spotlighting Global Talent and Stories
The festival showcased 25 films—13 feature-length films and 12 shorts—from 14 Asian countries, featuring over 20 languages. Winners were selected by an international jury of socially responsible filmmakers and social impact experts. The awards carried a total prize fund of USD $100,000, with $20,000 prizes for winners in the feature-length categories and $10,000 prizes for two shorts.

About Mickey Lai’s Award-Winning Short: WASHHH
Directed by Mickey Lai, WASHHH explores a provocative and sensitive topic, telling the story of a Chinese trainee at a Malaysian National Service camp tasked with leading her multiracial female comrades to wash stained sanitary pads in the middle of the night. The film has been praised for its daring approach to taboo subjects, offering a raw and intimate lens on cultural beliefs and constrained environments.

Mickey Lai shared her gratitude, stating:
“This film explores trauma and conflict across different races and religions, inspired by my personal experiences. Initially, we hesitated to showcase this vulnerable topic, but the audience’s overwhelming love and support has been deeply encouraging. I hope WASHHH inspires other filmmakers to address critical social and cultural topics through storytelling.”

Jury Remarks on WASHHH
International juror Kamila Andini commended the film, saying:
“WASHHH sensitively questions complex topics affecting young Muslim girls in Southeast Asia. Through exceptional cinematography and performances, it captures the layers of pressure, confusion, and frustration that accompany these issues. The film offers an intimate reflection of diverse cultural perspectives on menstruation, emphasizing the transformative power of cinema today.”

The Impact of the Alternativa Film Project
Liza Surganova, Head of the Alternativa Film Project, celebrated the winners:
“These films embody the transformative power of cinema, pushing artistic boundaries while addressing pressing social issues. The Alternativa Film Project champions storytelling as a means to unite communities and drive systemic change, and we are proud to support such incredible talent.”

The Alternativa Film Awards aim to spotlight films that demonstrate artistic excellence and tackle critical social and cultural issues. The festival aligns with inDrive’s mission to challenge injustice and positively impact communities.

Looking Ahead: Latin America in 2025
After its successful editions in Kazakhstan (2023) and Indonesia (2024), the Alternativa Film Project announced Latin America as the focus region for 2025. The next Alternativa Film Ceremony and Awards will take place in 2026, continuing its mission to amplify emerging voices from underserved film industries.

For more information about the Alternativa Film Awards 2024 and the full list of winners, visit alternativa.film/awards-2024.html.

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