#SHOWBIZ: Daiyan dreams of starring in international movies

New Straits Times

3 days ago

POPULAR singer and actress Daiyan Trisha Mohamad Nasaruddin recently served for the first time as an official ambassador of the 8th Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest).
She joined actress Siti Saleha Baharom and actor Bront Palarae as Malaysia's three ambassadors for the annual event which culminated in the Malaysia Golden Global Awards (MGGA).
Honoured and excited to be selected as MIFFest and MGGA ambassador by the awards' and festival's founder Joanne Goh, Daiyan admitted that she was "most delighted" to be part of a world class event hosted by her home country.
In a recent interview with New Straits Times, she admitted that she had served as a brand ambassador for many brands since joining the entertainment industry a decade ago.
"While I've promoted many local and foreign brands from the start, MIFFest is the first time that I'm promoting an international film festival, and it's a great honour since I'm pretty new in the film industry," she said.
"As an ambassador, I've learnt a lot about filmmaking, met so many brilliant filmmakers and participated in interesting activities such as film workshops and screenings. I especially enjoyed myself at the opening gala, the Asean on Screen event and the MGGA awards night."
Daiyan added that while she did not get to watch all of the films in the festival, she attended the screenings of the main winning films and enjoyed them.
"All of these films broadened my perspectives on the world around me, and made me realise that we have many, many stories in common, regardless of time, place and language."
She is a big follower of international movies and loves Hollywood and South Korean films.
"My favourite types of movies are romantic comedies and thrillers. As for local films, I love them too, especially when they are about important topics of public interest, such as fighting terrorists (War on Terror: KL Anarchy) and curbing environmental pollution.
Daiyan's favourite Hollywood directors who come up with the best movies are Greta Gerwig, Ari Aster, Richard Linklater, Damien Chazelle, David Fincher and Christopher Nolan.
She said: "Greta gave us the amazing Barbie, Ari gave us Eddington, Richard gave us Hit Man, Damien gave us La La Land, David gave us the monumental The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Christopher gave us the superb The Dark Knight trilogy and Oppenheimer."
When it comes to non-Hollywood movies, Daiyan loves great animated movies by Japan's legendary Studio Ghibli such as My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away.
"I'm also a massive fan of Bollywood movies, South Korean movies and Thai movies. It is really hard for me to name my favourites here, because each of them has their own specialties," she said, adding that she could never get enough of them.
Of the film festival's movies, Daiyan enjoyed Malaysia's very own Ninavau, Palestine's All That's Left of You and To a Land Unknown, and Germany's Paternal Leave.
She said: " All That's Left of You is my favourite as it's a very poignant story about the final moments of a young Palestinian bearing the brunt of terror from Israeli soldiers. I'm really happy that it came out tops in the 8th MIFFest, and I'm even prouder that my country has always been a friend of the people of Palestine."
If Daiyan were to act in a non-Hollywood foreign movie, she would love to star in one that is family-oriented and highlights universal human values.
"If there is one director from MIFFest whom I would love to work with, it is definitely Cherien Dabis, a brilliant and lovely lady from Palestine who is behind All That's Left of You."
Since Daiyan began as a singer before becoming an actress, she is a fan of musical movies.
"I grew up enjoying Disney movies, so my all-time favourite movies are Disney movies. As for non-Disney musical movies, La La Land is tops any day!"
Daiyan does harbour dreams of producing local movies one day when she has gained sufficient experience.
"It's a long way to go, but I would love to produce something light-hearted yet meaningful. If it's a romantic comedy, then bring it on!"
Daiyan may enjoy Hollywood and South Korean movies most, but she follows the local movie scene "religiously".
"My all-time favourite Malaysian movies are Istanbul Aku Datang, Pisau Cukur, Sepet, Abang Adik, La Luna and Imaginur.
"All of them carry important lessons in life, that's what I like about them — they are 'edutainment' movies all the way," she said.
When asked about her next big screen project, Daiyan said it was Wantugo, the first "battle royale" film in Malaysia.
"It will hit cinemas in November, and I am really looking forward for its premiere."