(from left to right): Dato' Azmir, Tan Sri Chan, YB Datuk Fahmi, Prof Dato’ Indera Ir Dr Lee, and Ms Dearna Kee, Dean of the FCCI, TAR UMT in a group photo after the launch ceremony.

Yang Berhormat Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Communications, officially launched TAR UMT’s Film Festival 2025 at the TAR UMT Arena on 11 September 2025. The two-day event, themed "ALKISAH: The Wonders of Asian Folklore," celebrates students’ creativity and cinematic expression by bringing ancient Asian myths and legends to life through short films. Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, Chairman of the Board of Governors, and Alumni Council of TAR UMT, Dato' Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib, Chief Executive Officer of Perbadanan Kemajuan Filem Nasional Malaysia (FINAS), and Prof Dato’ Indera Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, President of TAR UMT also attended the festival’s launch ceremony.

The film festival, organised by TAR UMT’s Faculty of Communication and Creative Industries (FCCI), is in its fourth year running. It is a signature event aimed at fostering students’ talents and enriching their experience, where students present their short film projects and gain valuable feedback from industry experts. It also strengthens the University's collaboration with industry partners and international academic institutions.

YB Datuk Fahmi in his speech said, “I would like to thank TAR UMT for inviting me for this significant film festival. Film festivals like ‘ALKISAH’ are important because we need stories that reflect Malaysia’s soul. We need narratives that speak of unity, compassion, and harmony. Malaysia is our home, and this is our future. We have to work together to preserve the peace and harmony among all of us, and we have to tell the Malaysian story, our way, into the future.”

Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, in his opening address, highlighted the festival's significance, noting, “This film festival is a platform specially established for TARCians to showcase their creativity, discipline, and the collective dreams of a new generation of storytellers. The festival also stands as a prime example of TAR UMT’s commitment to bridging academia with the industry. I am particularly proud of the collaborative efforts with our partner universities from Singapore, Indonesia, and China, which have helped elevate this event to an international stage.”

Among the highlights of the festival are a comprehensive lineup of film-centric activities, including workshops on film directing, forums on emerging trends in content creation, and foley production techniques. The festival programme also includes curated film screenings, exhibitions, and a formal awards ceremony to acknowledge students’ excellence.

YB Fahmi (sixth from left), Tan Sri Chan (fourth from right), Dato’ Azmir (second from right), Prof Dato’ Indera Ir Dr Lee (third from left), Ms Dearna (fourth from left) with staff and students of FCCI at the exhibition space of the film festival.