NEOFEST 2026 was successfully held last Friday at Panggung Pelinggam Cahaya, featuring five compelling short films that reflected bold ideas, creative risks, and strong collaborative spirit among students.
The festival was officially officiated by Dr Mohammad Khizal Mohamed Saat, Deputy Dean (Academic, Career & Internationalization), SOTA USM, with an inspiring opening speech by Dr Mohd Asyiek Bin Mat Desa.
The showcased short films were thoughtfully evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges:
• Dr Zuriawati Ahmad Zahari (Graphic Communication)
• Dr Fara Dayana Mohd Jufry (Acting and Directing)
• Dr Azrul Azizi Amirrul (Acting and Directing)
• Encik Mohd Yusof Bin Bakar (Head of Cultural Unit)
As an annual signature platform, NEOFEST functions as a debut stage for students from the New Media Design and Technology and Drama and Theatre programmes to present their final projects to a live audience. From concept to execution, the festival embodies:
Short film screenings
Coursework-based creative showcases
Thematic storytelling challenges
Cross-disciplinary collaboration
NEOFEST bridges academic learning with real-world creative practice, preparing students to step confidently into the professional creative industry.
