ISKL hosts IASAS Cultural Convention showcasing visual arts and film talent

The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) was proud to host the recent International Association of Southeast Asian Schools (IASAS) Cultural Convention (CulCon) from November 7 - 9, 2024. The event was a celebration of creative talent that brought together student filmmakers and visual artists in the region.

IASAS, a platform that unites six international schools in Southeast Asia, including ISKL, is renowned as one of the world's premier international school activities and athletics conferences for High School (HS) students. The IASAS competitions span three athletic seasons with 13 international tournaments and two distinct Cultural Conventions featuring Music, Art, Drama, Dance, Film, Debate, and Forensics.

This year's IASAS CulCon for Art and Film held at ISKL's state-of-the-art campus showcased student work in visual arts and film, offering young creatives from IASAS schools to explore their craft and connect with like-minded peers.

An exciting red carpet event on the first evening set the tone for three days of creativity and collaboration. The evening showcased the extraordinary talents of participating students with captivating art exhibits and film screenings. ISKL's Head of School, Mr. Rami Madani, shared: "The thought-provoking film premiere and stunning art exhibition was a truly inspiring start to a convention dedicated to creative exploration. It was uplifting to see the impressive talent, excitement, and passion of these young artists and filmmakers."

Attendees walked through a gallery of masterpieces during the visual arts exhibition and were then treated to a student film screening.

Highlights of IASAS CulCon included:

Visual Arts Exhibition: The exhibition celebrated diverse student masterpieces, featuring 25 artworks from each school. From striking paintings, stunning ceramics, fashion installations, and intricate photography works to innovative digital designs, this rich tapestry of artistic expression showcased the diversity of perspectives across the region.

Film Premiere: All six IASAS schools were asked to create up to twelve-minute short films based on a prompt for the year: the phrase BeralihAngin in Bahasa Melayu, which translates to "changing wind."

Furthermore, two of these films created by Grade 10 students from ISKL were submitted to the UDEM International Student Film Festival. Abhig R. ('27), who skilfully directed "Candidate 33," was honoured with the prestigious Best International Short Film award for outstanding work. Meanwhile, Alex B. ('27), the creative mind behind "They Seek," received an Honourable Mention for his storytelling.

Collaborative Workshops with ISKL Alumni and International Professionals: Film delegates explored advanced cinematography, editing, and storytelling techniques through hands-on workshops led by professional filmmakers and ISKL alumni. Three of these workshops were held by the ISKL Alumni community: Alumni faculty Breen O'Reilly (1997-2001), an Irish educational consultant based in KL; alumni student Cam McCutcheon (‘17), a Canadian colourist and photographer; and alumni student Moe Izwan Kamal (‘00), a Malaysian filmmaker.

Engaging Activities for Art and Film Delegates On and Off Campus: During the three-day conference, art delegates visited galleries such as Rimbun Dahan, the National Art Gallery, and Ilham Gallery, as well as an immersive exhibition at REX KL.

Visual art delegates participated in interactive workshops on mixed media, printmaking, photography, and digital design led by local artists, inspiring them to experiment with new techniques.

IASAS film delegates collaborated to produce a short film in the creative community hub REX KL. On campus, delegates attended a Q&A session with Malaysian filmmakers, providing valuable industry insights and giving students a behind-the-scenes look into professional filmmaking.

IASAS CulCon 2024 highlights ISKL's commitment to developing students who are academically strong, culturally aware, and artistically involved. We extend our gratitude to the IASAS community for contributing to the success of this year's event.

For more information on the HS student experience, please visit the ISKL website.