10 Malaysian Creators Shaping What’s Next In Film and Music Right Now

By Danial Martinus  •  15 May 2026 in Pop Culture

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Sometimes, ideas don’t just appear out of nowhere.

They come from routines. From the spaces you keep going back to. From the small rituals that slowly turn a “what if” into something real.

That’s the thinking behind Starbucks Malaysia’s Kopi Creator Kolektif (KCK).

More than just a platform, KCK is backing a new wave of Malaysian filmmakers and musicians not just with exposure, but with the kind of support that actually helps ideas take shape.

More than coffee, Starbucks is giving creatives the support, space, and know-how to bring their visions to life.

With Faculty of Cinematic Arts, Multimedia University (FCAMMU), Weekend Boys, and Breaking Music MY on board, these creatives aren’t just turning their dreams into reality. They’re also building projects with pros by their side, shaping original ideas into something real.

Remember House Blends last December?

Cosy sessions, coffee, and homegrown talent showing off their craft. KCK in 2026 just dialled that energy up a notch with an open call for musicians and filmmakers. Submissions closed on 6 March, and the shortlist is officially out.

These creatives are one step closer to making it happen.

Meet the up-and-coming filmmakers:

1. Batu Belah Productions

For Mia Sara Shauki, filmmaking didn’t start in a classroom. It started with curiosity and the habit of just… making things.

As a self-taught scriptwriter since 16, her process leans heavily on doing rather than waiting. Ideas are tested, reworked, and shaped through constant hands-on experimentation across personal and commercial projects.

That instinct to keep things moving, even when ideas feel unclear, is something she leans into:

“I find that my best ideas come from dreams, or even by watching a lot of films. When it comes to writer’s block, my trick is to finish a whole bottle of water, or to wait for the ice in my glass to melt, while I write. Does not matter whether what I write is bad or does not make sense, as long as there is progression. Edits can be made later after reading the first few drafts.”

That same mindset carries into how the team works together. With Sharifah Aryana (Producer) and Juliana Reza (Director of Photography), their process becomes collaborative and grounded, shaped by shared understanding and different creative lenses.

2. C317

C317 is a mixed filmmaking team built around story-first work, but not in a rigid way. Their films lean into emotion and style, often circling themes like kindness, friendship, wonder, and youth. Their storytelling is shaped by a shared sense of imagination, where ordinary things can take on new meaning. 

“Each of us brings a different instinct to the project. Some of us focus more on the emotional core and writing, some on the visual world, and some on how to make the production practical and achievable.” 

The team includes Akmal (Director), Alan (Producer), Akim (Editor), and Mayadah (Writer), each bringing a different layer to how those stories take shape.

“A lot of it comes from growing up with stories that made ordinary things feel magical. Small things like the wind, a paper plane, a clock, or the feeling of being alone as a child can suddenly become meaningful when seen through imagination”, shared the team.

3. Tanahliat Studios

Tanahliat Studios is a filmmaking collective led by Clayvert Unji, a Sarawakian filmmaker and Multimedia University Cinematic Arts graduate who is now based in Kuala Lumpur. Coming from a coastal town in Sarawak and spending years away from home has shaped the team’s storytelling lens, often circling themes of vulnerability, migration, friendship, and belonging.

For the team, storytelling begins with shared honesty before it becomes structured.

“As a team, we bring personal experiences into our storytelling by first creating a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing real emotions and perspectives. From there, we work collaboratively to shape those experiences into a cohesive narrative that serves the story.

“Visually, we interpret these emotions through framing, lighting, and camera movement, focusing on how the story feels rather than just how it looks. At the same time, through sound and editing, we translate these experiences into rhythm and tone, allowing the audience to connect emotionally without everything being explicitly explained.”

4. SudhiFilem

SudhiFilem is a filmmaking team committed to telling Malaysian stories with heart, energy, and craft. While rooted in live action, they also explore animation and VFX, mixing mediums to expand what their narratives can do. They describe their films like a plate of nasi campur — a little bit of everything, full of flavour.

For the team, that mix isn’t accidental. It comes from how they work together.

“Simply put: our production house is built off our friendship. As friends, we are simultaneously also independent and separate creatives with our own ideas and visions. We don’t adhere to one cohesive genre or style as a production house, but rather we allow room for all of us to actualise our individual stories and concepts.”

That openness becomes part of their creative process, where different perspectives are not blended into one fixed style, but allowed to coexist and shape each project in its own direction.

5. Keladak Krunchy

Keladak Krunchy is led by Mohamad Najmi Firdaus bin Mohamad Falik, a final-year film student with a bold, Gen Z-forward point of view and a strong interest in pushing the industry forward. His work leans into an energetic and unfiltered style, balancing immediacy with clear intent and purpose.

For the team, ideas often start with everyday observations before being reshaped into something more structured and expressive.

“We think what pushes us is how real people and real issues are often overlooked when stories feel too polished. We’re drawn to work that feels honest and relatable, especially for younger audiences like Gen Z audiences who can immediately sense when something feels forced.

“For this campaign, we wanted to talk about how harsh language has become normalised online and offline but approach it in a way that feels engaging, fun, and culturally rooted through pantun. Being bold helps the message stand out, while being unfiltered helps it stay honest.”

That approach becomes part of their creative process.

Meet the new music artistes you need to hear:

1. Thariq Amran

Based in Kuala Lumpur, Thariq Amran is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist working across piano, guitar, bass, and vocals. His sound sits in the indie and alternative space, shaped by influences like Radiohead, The Beatles, and Noh Salleh, but still very much his own. 

His songwriting process often starts quietly, through films, conversations, and late-night brainstorming sessions that slowly turn into melodies and lyrics.

“I watch films, they often give me ideas when I’m songwriting. So every night after putting my daughter to sleep, I will go to the balcony with my wife and grab a cup of coffee to fuel our energy for the late nights when we are songwriting and brainstorming together.” 

That balance between personal reflection and shared experience also shapes the way he approaches songwriting.

“I believe that when it comes to my art, the more personal it is, the more freeing it will be with a touch of honest magic. Because there has to be at least one person out there who will feel the same way or experience the same things, and I want that relatability to be able to connect with my listeners.”

2. AKARDIA

Akardia is the solo project of Danial Aziz, built around indie folk and folk pop that feels warm, grounded, and reflective. 

The name itself comes from “akar” (roots) and Arcadia, a kind of imagined refuge, a balance that is quietly reflected in the music he makes.

For him, creativity is something that needs movement rather than perfection.

“I think the trick is to always surround yourself with creative variables. Being creative is a gift. It’s always there somewhere in you, waiting to be activated. Get inspired, feel pumped, and just start. Build momentum and keep going.

“Perfectionism can get in the way, for sure. But if being creative makes my loud mind go quiet, and I’m having fun doing what I do, then I’ll keep doing it. Because I know I’m doing this for me first.”

That mindset shapes his approach to music. Akardia often feels like sound in motion, where songs are built through instinct, momentum, and quiet clarity rather than control.

3. Suehaila

Suehaila is a Kuala Lumpur–based R&B and soul singer-songwriter with a sound that’s smooth but emotionally direct. Influenced by artists like Olivia Dean, JoJo, and UMI, she blends contemporary R&B grooves with warm, intimate melodies.

Her creative process is guided by instinct as much as technique, especially when deciding what feels right for her sound.

“Acknowledging and understanding what makes up a positive creative environment — having the right mindset, practicing acceptance and surrounding myself with the right people — helps keep me grounded as an artist. Ensuring that I have a healthy mindset when creating is super important. I try to push myself, but I won’t do something if my gut feeling isn’t right, and learning that saying no to something is part of growth too.”

That balance between instinct and intention also shapes how she builds her music, allowing her to stay true to what feels authentic rather than forced.

4. Huey Yeing

Huey Yeing is an audio engineer turned music producer, with a background in audio post-production that informs her detail-first approach. Since graduating, she has been shifting from technical audio work into music-making, building sessions that balance clean craft with personality.

Her training in audio engineering continues to shape how she approaches production.

“My background in audio engineering has definitely made me more open to exploring different sounds and has trained my ears to piece them together cohesively. One habit I carried over from sound design is being imaginative when crafting sounds, and I think that’s a very helpful skill in music production as well.”

5. Sharkfins

Sharkfins is a five-piece band from Subang Jaya making heavy alt-rock with what they call “controlled chaos.” Their sound is driven by Sarah’s powerful-yet-gentle vocals, with Tim and YoungWoo building thick walls of distortion and dynamic turns, while Tommo (bass) and Eason (drums) lock in tight to keep the energy sharp and propulsive. At its core, they’re close friends writing loud, silly, heartfelt songs that sit between catharsis and fun.

When it comes to making music, they work in constant balance between emotion and energy. 

“It’s definitely both. We’ve had moments where Sarah focuses on getting the message across through lyrics — moving away from overly vague writing and instead saying exactly what we feel, just with a bit of ornamentation so it still carries that ‘Sharkfins’ flavour.

“At the same time, the rest of us build the energy around it. Eason’s drumming, Tim and YoungWoo’s guitar work, and Tommo’s bass and stage energy all shape how the song feels physically.

“From Tommo’s perspective, once you tap into the emotional side, the energy naturally follows. For us, it really is about feeling the music first — that’s when the performance comes alive.

Being a young creative isn’t just about raw talent.

Growing as a creative is no easy feat. Connections are hard to come by resources can be tight, and getting noticed is a grind.

Platforms like Kopi Creator Kolektif matter because they do more than showcase talent. They give creatives a safe space to learn and grow, the hands-on support to actually bring new ideas to life, and the opportunity to present their ideas to an audience.

Catch the full shortlist on Starbucks Malaysia’s Instagram. Stay tuned, you don’t want to miss what’s next!

And if you’re planning to drop by, see you there. 

Kopi Kreator Kolektif: Class of 2026 Showcase

Date: 16 May 2026

Time: 2 p.m. onwards

Venue: Starbucks Reserve at IOI Mall Damansara

Perk: First 100 attendees will receive a complimentary handcrafted beverage (12oz, Tall size)

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