#SHOWBIZ: Woo Ming Jin's 'The Fox King' is Malaysia's pick for 99th Oscars

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's official submission for the 99th Academy Awards, titled The Fox King (Semusim Lara), has been announced. The film, directed by Woo Ming Jin, will compete in the Best International Feature Film category, with the awards ceremony taking place on March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Finas, the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia, confirmed the selection of the movie based on the rules set by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

The narrative revolves around twin brothers, Ali and Amir, who navigate life without their mother, and the challenges they face when a new English teacher, Lara, enters their world. The film, a co-production between Malaysia and Indonesia, features Idan Aedan, Hadi Putra, and Dian Sastrowardoyo, and received support from the Malaysian Ministry of Communications through the Creative Content Fund (DKK).

The Fox King premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2025, and subsequently screened at various international festivals, including Busan, Taipei, Singapore, Beijing, Udine, and San Francisco. The film was released in Malaysian cinemas on September 17, 2025, with Finas expressing gratitude to Woo Ming Jin, the cast, and the entire production crew.