Malaysia’s leading creative communications institution, IACT College, has announced a strategic collaboration with the Raintown Film Festival 2026 and West Coast Expressway (WCE) to launch “Raintown Horizons: The IACT × WCE Student Cinematic Showcase”, a national student short film initiative held in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
Built around the festival’s 2026 theme, “After the Rain”, the showcase challenges young Malaysian filmmakers to tell authentic local stories through film while exploring the cultural richness, landscapes, people, and everyday experiences that shape Malaysia’s identity.
The initiative is designed as a real-world industry platform that bridges creative education, professional filmmaking, and contemporary Malaysian storytelling. Participating students will be required to conceptualise, produce, and present original short films inspired by Malaysian communities, culture, heritage, and human connection, while subtly integrating WCE into their narratives.
Rather than functioning as a traditional commercial placement, WCE is intended to exist naturally within the storytelling as a symbol of movement, connection, discovery, and journeys across the country.
The programme mirrors real industry workflows, guiding students from ideation and scriptwriting through to filming, editing, and final presentation. To add further industry depth, representatives from WCE and members of the Raintown Film Festival’s professional jury panel will be directly involved in the judging and mentorship process. This allows participating students to receive valuable professional feedback and first-hand insight into how creative work is evaluated within both corporate and cinematic environments, helping them build stronger portfolios ahead of graduation.
Timothy Chan, CEO of IACT College, said the initiative reflects the institution’s commitment to providing students with meaningful industry exposure.
“At IACT, we believe students learn best through real industry experiences that challenge them creatively and professionally. ‘Raintown Horizons’ gives aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to work on a professional creative brief, collaborate with industry partners, and develop stories that reflect authentic Malaysian experiences. These opportunities are important in helping students graduate not only with stronger portfolios and practical skills, but also with greater confidence and real-world exposure to the media and film industry.”
Lyndon Alfred Felix, Chief Executive Officer of WCE, said the partnership reflects the company’s belief in the power of storytelling and its commitment to nurturing future creative talent.
“The future belongs to those who can tell meaningful stories. Through our second-year partnership with the Raintown Film Festival and our pioneering collaboration with IACT College, WCE is investing not only in connectivity, but also in creativity. We believe Gen Z filmmakers will become the custodians of Malaysia’s future narratives, capturing the people, places and experiences that define who we are as a nation.
Our aspiration is for this initiative to grow beyond a single institution and evolve into a national platform that welcomes participation from tertiary institutions across Malaysia, both public and private. By nurturing young storytellers today, we are helping shape the voices that will tell Malaysia’s story tomorrow.”
Jacky Yeap, Founder of the Raintown Film Festival, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration and its potential to cultivate emerging filmmaking talent.
“As Northern Malaysia’s dedicated film platform, the Raintown Film Festival has always been focused on discovering authentic local stories and nurturing emerging creative voices. Collaborating with IACT College allows us to connect directly with the next generation of filmmakers and provide them with a meaningful platform to showcase their work, perspectives, and storytelling abilities to wider audiences.”
Selected student films from the showcase will premiere during the 3rd Raintown Film Festival in September 2026, with screenings taking place across several historical and community venues in Taiping, including Paragon Cinema (Taiping Mall), Bukit Larut, and Jalan Panggong Wayang.
Held in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026, the festival continues to celebrate regional storytelling, creative expression, and Malaysia’s cultural richness through the powerful medium of cinema.
Share Post:
The APPIES is where Malaysia’s boldest campaigns, brightest ideas, and most impactful storytellers take the stage.
More than an awards show, it is the industry’s ultimate platform for creative, media, digital and marketing excellence, where live presentations meet live judging.
This is your chance to showcase work that moved audiences, shaped conversations, and delivered real results.
From breakthrough brand campaigns to innovative digital experiences, the APPIES celebrates the work that defines the future of marketing.
Step into the spotlight alongside the industry’s leading agencies, brands, creatives, strategists and changemakers.
Whether you are aiming for Gold, Silver, Bronze or the prestigious Best of the Best recognition, this is your moment to make history.
Your campaign deserves to be seen.
Your ideas deserve the stage.
Your work deserves the legacy.
KEY DATES
Haven’t subscribed to our Telegram channel yet? Don’t miss out on the hottest updates in marketing & advertising!
