Behind the Curtains of NTFB 2025
- AICREATIVV
- Sep 18
- 4 min read
The National Theatre Festival Brunei (NTFB) returned for its 4th edition at Jerudong International School Arts Centre (15–17 August 2025), and for the third year running AICREATIVV showed up as creative partners and on-the-ground media. We weren’t helming departments this time, but we were exactly where we love to be: side by side with the organisers, documenting, designing, and lending hands wherever they were needed. As Iman Shamsuddin put it, it’s about “constant support to the creative and cultural industries in Brunei,” and staying loyal to a community that keeps putting Brunei theatre on the map.
Why This Year Mattered
For some of us, NTFB was a full-circle moment. Not long ago, Alimin Affendi and Rusydinul Aiman were IBTE students in the audience; this year, they were behind the cameras capturing the magic. Amal Osmera, famously allergic to stages, stepped up during the opening ceremony to receive the certificate on behalf of AICREATIVV. “Why am I here?” she joked. “I’m usually at the back with my laptop.”
Meanwhile, Ampuan Hafiz juggled dual roles: supporting AICREATIVV while directing 247 Studios’ Bayang Kulit. “No matter where I was, I carried AICREATIVV’s culture with me,” he said.
On the design side, Iman Shamsuddin contributed for the second time under the wing of Halim Ashari from 247 Studios, this round with playful Bruneian motifs, geometric shapes, and doodle energy—an approach that made the national theme feel current and alive.
“We had to represent Brunei through creative means,” she shared. “It made me proud that we were representing our country.
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Covering A Festival At Full Tilt
Three festival days. Eleven performing groups. Six workshops. Two forums. Plus inter-school finalists. To make sure no moment slipped away, the media team split into shifts: Team A (Syafi ‘Aizzuddeen + Alimin Affendi) and Team B (Rusydinul Aiman + Hisham Firdaus), with everyone on deck for the opening and closing ceremonies.
The challenges were real and immediate. Autofocus refused to play nice, so Rusydinul Aiman spent stretches in full manual. “Tiring, but worth it,” he said. Lenses were swapped on the fly, gimbals rebalanced mid-corridor, and communication got tricky in packed halls. Syafi ‘Aizzuddeen summed up the rhythm: “Chasing time, staying close to subjects, planning zones and angles ahead.” Preparation carried the day; trust kept it moving.
We also worked with what we had. “It’s not always about high-end equipment,” Sharifah Zaini noted. “It’s the users and the skills.” That mindset, plus a lot of cardio, meant we could keep pace with a festival that never sits still.
Weekends Given, Memories Kept
Yes, it was a weekend. Yes, everyone was tired. But it was worth every frame. “It felt normal to me,” said Syafi ‘Aizzudeen, who’s cut his teeth in weddings, “but seeing how a new team adapts, that was exciting.” There were perks: a few meal coupons that felt like gold after a long block of coverage, and quiet huddles between shows to review shots, plan next moves, and laugh off the fatigue.
“Experiences were gained, cool shots were taken, and memories were made,” Hisham said.
Rooted In Culture, Rendered With Heart
This year’s theme, Rooted in Brunei Culture, came through both onstage and in the visuals. We weren’t trying to rebrand NTFB; we were there to amplify it. For Iman Shamsuddin, that meant weaving Bruneian patterns into modern layouts. For the shooters, it meant making culture feel kinetic. Hisham Firdaus experimented with slow shutter inside the theatre to paint light trails and motion into the stills—unplanned, instinctive, and instantly loved.
“It felt meaningful because we weren’t just creating visuals,” said Aaqilull Qhaeer. “We were helping preserve and showcase cultural identity in a modern way.”
Moments We Won’t Forget
The atmosphere at JIS was bright, loud, and generous—crowded foyers, festival buzz, and cheers that rolled from show to show. Rusydinul Aiman loved sneaking glances at performances while filming; Alimin Affendi called the energy warm and welcoming. Ampuan Hafiz, a theatre kid at heart, felt “back in the playground,” inspired all over again.
Standouts? Plenty. Studio Elevé’s ballet had Sharifah Zaini whispering wow the entire set. Step One Theatre’s 'Human or Machine?' workshop stuck with Hisham Firdaus. 247 Studios’ Bayang Kulit, directed by our very own Ampuan Hafiz; pushed boundaries with minimal dialogue and an experimental form he’s deeply proud of. And on our side of the console, a small feat with big applause: Aaqilull Qhaeer delivered the closing video on time with footage from the final shows freshly woven in. The room’s surprise said the rest.
What NTFB Taught Us (Again)
NTFB has grown bolder: more public activities, bigger crowds, higher standards. “You can see organisers and volunteers working hard together,” Amal Osmera said. “When we do things together, things are better.” For our newer team members, the festival was a crash course in speed, sensitivity, and stamina. For the veterans, a reminder of why we keep showing up for local arts: because the work matters and the people do too.
Being creative partners doesn’t always mean leading the charge. Sometimes it means standing next to the ones who do, documenting, designing, and helping them be seen. That’s where we thrive.
Final Bow
To the organisers, performers, volunteers, and audience—thank you for the stories, the craft, and the trust. To our team who traded weekends for timelines: we see you. NTFB isn’t just a festival on the calendar; it’s a mirror of the scene we’re building together.
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