Kota Kinabalu: The State Government remains committed to supporting the development of the local creative arts industry, particularly in the film sector.
State Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe said that Sabah is home to many artistic talents with potential to excel on a larger stage.
“Undeniably, it is not easy to develop the creative arts industry in the state.
“However, we can see that Sabah has many well-known TikTokers and YouTubers. By uniting efforts from both the government and industry players, we can advance the creative arts industry.
“The government has provided substantial assistance and is determined to continue supporting this industry to produce more creative local film directors and talented actors.
“We also want to see more of our local talents participating in this sector,” he said during the premiere of the local Mandarin film, “8Bucks Tycoon”, at Imago Shopping Mall, here, last weekend.
Also in attendance were the President of the Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Shareda) Datuk Sr Chua Soon Ping and the Deputy President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen.
He added that Sabah’s natural beauty could also be showcased through films.
“In Sabah, we not only have breath-taking landscapes admired by tourists from around the world but also the most beautiful sunsets in the world.
“Additionally, we boast diving paradises in Semporna and the majestic Mount Kinabalu.
“I believe that, with the creativity of our industry players, these wonders can be showcased to the world through our films,” he said.
Regarding the film “8Bucks Tycoon”, directed by local filmmaker Katak Chua, Phoong expressed confidence that the Sabah-made production could appeal not only to local audiences but also to viewers nationwide and internationally.
“The director of this film, Katak, has worked tirelessly to develop Sabah’s film industry.
“Although this film is in Mandarin, it includes subtitles in English and Malay, allowing audiences to appreciate the creativity of Sabah’s industry players,” he said.
He congratulated the team on the premiere of “8Bucks Tycoon” and encouraged the public to watch the film in cinemas.
“I hope audiences from Sabah and across Malaysia will give their full support to our local films, especially “8Bucks Tycoon”,” he said.
“8Bucks Tycoon,” a comedy film, tells the story of a former struggling artist who, by chance, obtains a magical wallet. He transforms from living in embarrassment to becoming rich overnight, instantly stepping into a luxurious world of wealth.
The 1-hour-46-minute film features local talents such as Henley Hii, Joey Leong, Eric Chen, and Gadrick Chin.
Shot in various locations around Kota Kinabalu, “8Bucks Tycoon” is set to hit cinemas nationwide starting Jan 2, 2025.
