When Muhamad Haikal Nukiman Zulkifli’s teacher introduced him to the history of filmmaking, it piqued his interest, and he was thrilled beyond words.

Being stateless in Sabah, he had limited exposure to famous films, having only seen what aired on television.

So, when his teacher announced a project to create their film, Haikal was determined to make something remarkable. His enthusiasm was so intense that he wrote a script in less than three hours and was ready to start shooting the short film the next day.

Fast forward a year, and Haikal’s work, "Budi dan Nenek Kebayan" (Budi and the Mythical Grandmother), premiered alongside his classmates' films at the Freedom Film Fest this year.