TOP Malaysian actor Sharnaaz Ahmad has said that earning a nomination in the Top 5 Best Actor category at the 34th Malaysian Film Festival (FFM34) is not something he actively seeks. What matters more to him, he insists, is transparency and fairness in determining the winners — not influence or overseas recognition.
“I’m honestly not too concerned about winning,” said the 40-year-old actor. “What I truly hope for is that FFM remains fair and transparent, free from outside influence.
“To be frank, I came tonight with something to say — don’t let foreign recognition dictate our choices here. Just because someone wins abroad doesn’t mean they must win here too. Respect our own stage,” he told reporters after the launch and Top 5 announcement ceremony for FFM34 held recently.
The “Blood Brothers: Bara Naga” star stressed that victories at FFM should reflect the true strength of Malaysia’s film industry, not simply follow international trends.
“Let’s build and champion our own film industry. I don’t care about foreign recognition — what matters is quality. Make sure the win is based on merit. This is the Malaysian Film Festival, not an international one. Respect that,” he asserted.
When asked to elaborate on his remarks, Sharnaaz downplayed any speculation of criticism, saying his comments were spontaneous and not directed at anyone in particular.
“No hidden meaning… it was just a spontaneous expression,” he said briefly.
Despite his candid comments, Sharnaaz expressed gratitude for the strong showing of “Blood Brothers: Bara Naga”, which leads this year’s festival with 13 nominations, including Best Theme Song.
“Alhamdulillah, this is the result of everyone’s hard work — from directors Syafiq Yusof and Abhilash Chandra to the entire cast and crew. These nominations are a shared achievement,” he added.
In the Best Actor category, Sharnaaz faces tough competition from Beto Kusyairy (Reversi), Qi Razali (Babah), Aeril Zafrel (Laknat), and Tony Eusoff (Mencari Ramlee).
