6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
MSA Festival of Media 2025 aims to bridge progress, craft connections
THE Malaysian media industry is set to gather at the MSA Festival of Media 2025, taking place on Aug 14 at the Sheraton Hotel, Petaling Jaya.
Organised by the Media Specialists Association (MSA), this year's festival carries the theme 'Bridging Progress', a reflection of the industry's journey through resilience, reinvention and meaningful connection in a rapidly shifting landscape.
Designed as a high-impact, one-day experience, the festival gathers professionals across media, marketing, data, and creative to explore how people, platforms, and purpose intersect to shape what's next in the industry.
From solo keynotes to panels, fireside chats to live debates, the day is built around one powerful idea: 'Crafting Connections – The Art and Science of Meaningful Engagement.'
It is about how bold ideas, rooted in human truth and powered by tech, grow into cultural movements that shift industries and reframe the rules of modern media.
The programme will kick off with an inspiring keynote by Singapore's Yong Siew Toh Conservatory principal conductor Jason Lai.
In his 'Connected in Rhythm: Lessons from the Orchestra' keynote, Lai will draw powerful parallels between orchestras and organisations, showing how alignment, listening, and shared intent drive both musical and business brilliance.
Industry leaders will also take the stage for solo sessions exploring storytelling, tech, psychology and human behaviour, revealing what it takes to build brand relevance in a noisy world.
A standout this year comes from Tier 1 sponsor HEPMIL Malaysia, who will lead a 90-minute masterclass titled 'Made-In-Culture: Goodbye Virality, Hello Viscosity.'
This provocative session challenges the obsession with quick wins and viral hits, arguing instead for cultural "stickiness", campaigns that linger, grow, and matter.
The day ends with a no-holds-barred panel, 'The Culture Shift – What Scares Us Most?' featuring creators, marketers, and cultural provocateurs unpacking the fears, forces, and frontiers shaping modern culture.
A CALL TO BUILD
The festival's organising chairperson Jo Yau said: "This year's Festival invites us to look beyond recognition. It's about movement of people, of ideas, of innovation.
"We want every attendee to leave feeling connected, recharged, and ready to help build what's next."
All festival ticket holders will receive complimentary access to the MSA Awards Dinner on Aug 15, celebrating the industry's best campaigns, teams and talents.
The MSA Festival of Media 2025 is made possible through the support of sponsors: HEPMIL Malaysia (Tier 1), with additional support from Blis, Google, Hivestack, Tyroo, Nexxen, Ogury and Social Video Lab, united in a shared belief in progress through partnership.
Tickets are now available at RM1,300 (HRDC-claimable) and RM1,000 (non-HRDC claimable).
