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Cloud Kingdom

Amidst larger issues like climate change, the Cloud Forest of Mount Brinchang, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia is facing attacks from within its environment by the very people living under its shelter. Excessive use of pesticides by farmers pollute its microclimate and water reserves, while expansion into the forest for commercial purposes damages its ecological structure. If this destruction continues, the 200-million-year-old Cloud Forest will soon see its end -- and with it, its protection of Cameron Highlands as a whole.

  • Nady Afiqah
    Director
  • Natasha Emir
    Producer
  • Ong Wen Jing
    Director of Photography
  • Kessa Choo
    Editor and Sound
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Nature, Natural History
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 23, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    3,200 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Singapore
  • Country of Filming:
    Malaysia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Asian Cinematography AWARDS (ACA) 2020
    Manila
    Philippines
    July 2019 - Best Student/First Time Director, Best Documentary Short Film, Best Cinematography of a Documentary Short Film
  • Filament 2019
    Singapore
    Singapore
    August 3, 2019
    Graduate Showcase
  • 12th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival 2019
    Kuala Lumpur
    Malaysia
    October 12, 2019
    International Premiere
    Official Selection, ASEAN Young Filmmaker Award, MyForest Award 3rd Place Winner
  • London Eco Film Festival 2019
    London
    United Kingdom
    November 2, 2019
    Best Documentary Short Finalist
  • SEA Movie 2019: A Southeast Asia Short Film Festival “The Future of Humanity”
    Yogyakarta
    Indonesia
    November 26, 2019
    Official Selection - Main Event
  • Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival 2019
    Kathmandu
    Nepal
    December 11, 2019
    Official Selection - Non Competitive Section
  • Beyond Earth Film Festival 2019
    Kolkata
    India
    December 21, 2019
    Official Selection - Season 4
  • Galil Adventure Film Festival 2020
    Rosh Pina, The Upper Galillee
    Israel
    Official Selection
  • VI. International Nature Film Festival Gödöllő
    Gödöllő
    Hungary
    September 11, 2020
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Nady Afiqah

Nady Afiqah is a documentarian and cinematographer. Growing up in both the village and the city, Nady has always had a keen interest in nature, animals and its connection to humanity. She believes in bridging the gap through awareness via multimedia works.

With a Bachelor's Degree in Communications Studies from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, she was trained in documentary filmmaking and has directed a total of two short documentary films. Cloud Kingdom is her first foray into directing and it has won three awards at the Asian Cinematography Awards and two awards at KLEFF 2019.

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Director Statement

Our film aims to create a world where viewers are given the time to sense things, to perceive the natural beauty of the cloud forest and to be able to understand how it provides so much to the local community. Yet we, as humans, seldom give back in the best way possible.

While embarking on this journey we have met environmentalists, scientists, farmers and the locals of Cameron Highlands to learn more about the cloud forest, as well as the environmental issues of Cameron Highlands. Every individual we met was so passionate about the forest or about their home that we, as filmmakers, felt even more inspired to tell a story that is not only visually stimulating but also captures the need for conservation and protection of the cloud forest.