BORN and raised in Kuala Lumpur, 24-year-old Syuen Chia’s journey to becoming a filmmaker began with a deep-seated passion for storytelling and social justice. Now based in Los Angeles, she reflects on the challenges of transitioning to a new cultural environment while staying true to her roots in an exclusive interview with theSun.
“When I first started writing my scripts, I realised that I was writing stories I could not quite connect with. Being in a place and culture so different from what I grew up in, I subconsciously tried to fit into the status quo. It was not until I was home in Malaysia during the pandemic that I was reminded of the people and places that first ignited my love for storytelling,” she told theSun.
This realisation became a turning point. Chia began weaving personal narratives set in Malaysia, finding both curiosity and support from international audiences.
“Sharing my Malaysian culture and roots through my work has been a way for me to connect with home while I am away,” she explained.
