FCM Connects Experts and Students for Industry Forum on Animation

An industry forum entitled “From Local Impact to Global Possibilities: The Papa Zola Effect” was held at the MMU Cinema on 29 January 2026. Moderated by Ts. Dr. Vimala Perumal, the forum provided students with an invaluable opportunity to gain insights from industry leaders, including Mr. Nizam Razak, MMU alumnus, Chief Executive Officer of Monsta and Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Creative Multimedia (FCM), and Dato’ Azmir Saifuddin, Chief Executive Officer of the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS).

During the forum, Mr. Nizam shared his firsthand experience in creating Papa Zola The Movie, which has attracted over four million viewers across Southeast Asia and emerged as one of the most successful animated films ever produced in Malaysia. He highlighted the creative process, storytelling techniques, production challenges, and marketing strategies that contributed to the film’s regional success.

Meanwhile, Dato’ Azmir provided valuable insights on FINAS’ role in supporting the Malaysian animation and film industry. He discussed the organization’s initiatives to nurture local talent, promote Malaysian films internationally, and facilitate collaborations between studios and government agencies.
The forum served as another avenue for students to learn from professionals who have successfully navigated the animation industry. The invited speakers demonstrated how Malaysian creativity can reach global audiences and inspired students to explore innovative approaches in their own projects. Through this session, students gained a unique platform to bridge academia and industry, providing experiential learning opportunities while fostering collaboration with leading professionals in the animation sector.