Walkabout Asia
Initiative

Small Story Big Impact

Small Story Big Impact — Walkabout Asia Roadshow & Mentorship Programme

Small Story Big Impact (SSBI) is an incubator program to boost the creation of factual content and documentaries of nature, environment, culture, heritage and people.

The program aims to develop talents and encourage content creators to engage with their surroundings and capture the many untold stories around their community.

Each year, around 8 - 10 selected filmmakers will receive a grant and mentorship to produce a short documentary according to a specific chosen theme.

All SSBI documentaries will be premiered and judged at the annual Walk The Doc Festival and one documentary will be awarded SSBI Outstanding Documentary.

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Grantees

SSBI 2025

Seven filmmakers exploring coastal memory, street life, ritual, faith, tradition, and the quiet keepers of place.

SSBI 2025 award recipients — Agnes Yap Jen Nie and Matthew Tan (Honourable Mentions) flanking Bernard Lim (Best Outstanding Documentary, Old Leaves) and Cadence Cheah.
SSBI 2025 awardees at the Walk The Doc Festival — Bernard Lim (centre, with trophy), winner of Best Outstanding Documentary for Old Leaves, with Honourable Mention recipients Agnes Yap Jen Nie and Matthew Tan & Cadence Cheah.
  • Chong Kok Choon
    Echoes From the Shore
  • Ezzah Mahmud
    Kaki Lima in Living Colours
  • Agnes Yap Jen Nie
    ☆ Honourable Mention
    Beyond Rituals — The Last Journey
  • Matthew Tan & Cadence Cheah
    ☆ Honourable Mention
    Body of Faith
  • Siti Nurhajar binti Mohd Mani
    Menjejaki Adat — Turun Tanah
  • Bernard Lim
    ★ Winner — SSBI Best Outstanding Documentary
    Old Leaves
  • Nurul Faresya
    Keeper of the Boats
Highlights from the SSBI 2025 mentorship programme.
Grantees

SSBI 2024

Eight filmmakers whose work spans cinema heritage, urban memory, marine conservation, and stories of identity and belonging.

Hannah Newman receiving the SSBI 2024 Best Outstanding Documentary Award for When the Coliseum Sang.
Hannah Newman (centre) — winner of SSBI 2024 Best Outstanding Documentary for When the Coliseum Sang.
Nurul Fariha Bt On receiving the SSBI 2024 Honourable Mention for Stadium Merdeka — A Living Memory.
Nurul Fariha Bt On — Honourable Mention 2024 for Stadium Merdeka — A Living Memory.
  • Amirul Ruslan
    Know Me, Naomi
  • Ezzah Mahmud
    Tracks through Time: The Story of Kuala Lumpur Train Station
  • Hannah Newman
    ★ Winner — SSBI Best Outstanding Documentary
    When the Coliseum Sang
  • Siti Nur Aqilah Amira binti Nor Alhamdi
    Tale of Riwayat
  • Haseena binti Zol Azlan
    My Favourite Fin
  • Siti Nurhajar binti Mohd Mani
    Bunga di Pasar Seni
  • Irene Chea & Claudine Lim
    Mixed & Match
  • Nurul Fariha Bt On
    ☆ Honourable Mention
    Stadium Merdeka — A Living Memory
Highlights from the SSBI 2024 mentorship programme with Multiple Emmy Award Documentary Winner, Mr Chris Schueler
Grantees

SSBI 2023

The inaugural cohort of Small Story Big Impact — filmmakers documenting communities, traditions, and landscapes across Malaysia.

Tengku Nur Sajidah and team celebrating the SSBI Best Outstanding Video award at the Sunset Dinner & Award Ceremony, Paradise Island Langkawi, 3 August 2023.
Tengku Nur Sajidah (centre, with award) — winner of SSBI Best Outstanding Video 2023 for Tokki. Sunset Dinner & Award Ceremony, Paradise Island Langkawi, 3 August 2023.
  • Chong Kok Choon
    Flowing in Sauk
  • Mohd Fazli bin Mohd Zulkifli
    Tarian Labi-Labi
  • Tengku Nur Sajidah binti Tengku Khairi
    ★ Winner — SSBI Best Outstanding Video
    Tokki
  • Loo Hui Xin
    Echoes of the past — Stories of Kuala Sepetang Girls
  • Haseena Zol Azlan
    Beyond The Marine Park: A Ranger's Story
  • Irene Yap
    The Ong Chun Procession
  • Eunice Tan
    Where are the People of Papan?
Highlights from SSBI 2023 Roadshow.