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SUBANG: The grand prize for the inaugural Malaysia Airlines' Detik-Detik MH Short Film Competition 2010 went to Mohd Afiq Deen Azizan for Tok Nab's Guest Room.
The film was described as a playful and fresh interpretation of how exemplary service is served up by a "ghost" to her guest.
For his ingenuity, Mohd Afiq Deen, 23, from International Islamic University Malaysia, earned himself an opportunity of a lifetime as his winning entry will be shown on MAS inflight entertainment for a month beginning August.
He also received a return air ticket to any destination of his choice.
A prize giving ceremony for the winners was held at the MAS Academy in Kelana Jaya recently.
Malaysia Airlines Communications senior general manager Indira Nair said: "Tok Nab's Guest Room caught the judges by surprise as its approach on Malaysian hospitality was completely unexpected.
"The idea of a 'ghost' anticipating the needs of a guest highlighted that Malaysian hospitality is always done in an almost invisible manner. It reminded us that Malaysians are naturally warm and hospitable; and as such, sometimes guests do not realise that a lot of thought and effort has gone into their comfort.
"Hospitality should be appreciated and enjoyed by both the guest and the host. The film ends with the guest and the host dancing together, showing that they have enjoyed their time together," said Nair.
"While Detik-Detik MH is about rewarding excellence in storytelling and filmmaking, we also want the public's voice to be a part of this journey. The People's Choice award got Malaysians involved.
"We are thrilled to provide an opportunity for young Malaysians to express themselves and are delighted that the students and universities responded with fervour and enthusiasm.
"We look forward to opening this competition to the public next year," said Nair.
Detik-Detik MH was launched in March with the objective of providing aspiring film-makers a platform to showcase their talent.
Open to local and foreign students of Malaysian-based universities, the entries were for films no longer than three minutes each, capturing creative depictions of Malaysian hospitality.
The 13 entries shortlised were picked from 70 entries submitted by 120 students in 20 local institutions nationwide.
Teh Tarik?, a satirical play from a foreigner's point of view, by Ahmad Hadi Abdul Rahman, Tafilah Md Yusof and Mohd Fahmy Ahmad Fuad of SEGi University College won the prize for first runner-up.
The trio received three Asean passes each.
Mohammadreza Shams of Limkokwing University College won the prize for second runner-up with his Hidden Face of Malaysia. It was a well-acted, heart-warming story of a foreign couple whose missing child was found and returned to them by caring Malaysians.
Mohammadreza received a return ticket to any Asean destination.
Award-winning film-maker Tan Chui Mui said the panel of judges was pleasantly surprised with the entries as some of them were very well directed.
Fellow judge Liew Seng Tat said the 70 entries submitted for Detik-Detik MH was a fantastic response for a competition in its first year.
He said there was a wealth of potential of young film-makers in Malaysia which bode well for the local industry.
The People's Choice award went to Curtin University of Technology's (Sarawak campus) Belinda Yip Chien Jiun, Julia Chong Yee Ling and Wong Sie June for Sekampung Sehati.
The People's Choice award was voted online. Some 14,500 votes were amassed on the competition's microsite http://www.mastraveller.com/detikMH.
TMI Malaysia chief executive officer George Aveling, a panel judge, said Sekampung Sehati garnered more than 5,000 votes in two weeks.
The five judges for the competition were Indira Nair, George Aveling, Tan Chui Mui, film-maker/director Liew Seng Tat and director/producer Bahir Yeusuff.
The films of the top 13 finalists can be viewed on http://mastraveller.com/detikMH
