Pocket money, rainy shoots, 7 awards: how ‘Kola Loompor’ came together
With no professional actors and a budget funded largely from their own pockets, a group of UiTM film students turned an ambitious short into a prizewinning production.
The short film "Kola Loompor" tells the story of a Bangladeshi migrant worker, Naeem, who forms an unlikely friendship with a local homeless woman, Zainab, in the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur. Directed by Wan Nur Azwin Wan Nazrul Aisham, known as Aween Aisham, the film was made by a group of university students from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).
To bring their project to life, the team pooled their pocket money, with contributions ranging from RM100 to RM1,200. Director Aween Aisham, 24, was surprised by the film's success, as they had only hoped to make their university proud when submitting their nine-nominated entry. The film was shot outdoors in Kuala Lumpur, dealing with the realities faced by migrant workers in the city.
Despite the limitations of a low budget and no professional actors, the film received seven awards at the 14th Malaysian Student Film and Video Festival, including the prestigious Best of the Best honor. The team now has a RM50,000 short-film production grant, which will enable them to create their next project with more resources.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
