MAWA Brings The Future Of M’sian Filmmaking To Your Local Coffee Haunt

By Lara Kramer  •  15 Dec 2025 in Events

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Wayang Ampas is flipping the script on what it means to watch Malaysian short films.

On Saturday, 20 December 2025, Sembilan Inci Cafe at Sentul Point transforms into a mini cinema for MAWA: Malam Apresiasi Wayang Ampas. From 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., 5 shortlisted films by emerging local filmmakers will screen in a space that is intentionally casual, intimate, and unpretentious. Entry is free and anyone who loves film is welcome.

The idea is simple: strip away the barriers that often make film spaces feel exclusive or intimidating. Instead of a formal auditorium, the films play in a coffee shop where audiences are just a few steps away from the directors. After the screenings, the filmmakers will open up about their creative processes, inspirations, and challenges during a Q&A session.

The evening wraps with networking that feels natural rather than staged, encouraging collaboration and conversations that could spark the next big project in Malaysian indie cinema.

Wayang Ampas started as a collective of ASWARA film students who wanted to take filmmaking beyond classrooms and institutions.

They quickly realised that building a supportive, inclusive community was just as important as creating work. Over the years, they have cultivated both physical and digital spaces for filmmakers to connect, from active Discord groups and online showcases to in-person screenings like Wayang Pacak during their study years.

The collective has also teamed up with other creative hubs, including a Ramadhan 2024 collaboration with Creative Community and a joint showcase with 9town from Universiti Malaya.

MAWA is the latest iteration of their vision: a platform where local filmmakers, students, and independent creators can see their work on a screen with a live audience and feel part of a broader filmmaking community. The choice of a coffee shop as the venue is deliberate. Wayang Ampas wants the atmosphere to be warm, personal, and accessible.

It’s a space where filmmakers can talk to audiences directly, swap ideas, and build real connections without the walls or formalities of traditional film events.

What sets Wayang Ampas apart is the way it operates.

The collective is driven by inclusivity and a commitment to grassroots cinema. They are not just screening films; they are cultivating a culture where filmmakers and enthusiasts exchange ideas, challenge norms, and support each other’s growth.

For student filmmakers and independents, it is an opportunity to experience the thrill of a physical screening and gain feedback and connections that digital platforms can rarely replicate. For audiences, it is a chance to witness the pulse of Malaysia’s emerging film talent and engage directly with the people shaping it.

MAWA is here to prove that Malaysian filmmaking can be bold, experimental, and community-driven; that great stories do not need a big budget, fancy festival, or exclusive venue. Sometimes all it takes is five films, a coffee shop, and a room full of people who care about the craft.

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