KUALA LUMPUR: An acclaimed documentary capturing the journeys of six international students in Shanghai captivated students, academics, and filmmakers at the Golden Screen Cinema (GSC) MyTOWN on 1 August 2026, during a special Malaysian screening organised by Fudan University and YoyWow.
The Moon Is Yours follows students from Italy, Zimbabwe, Croatia, Russia, the United States, and Thailand over 18 months at Fudan University. It’s less about studying abroad and more about what surrounds it: language mishaps, homesickness, forging friendships across six different languages, and the gradual process of turning an unfamiliar city into home.
The screening arrives at a pivotal moment in strengthening educational ties between Malaysia and China. As of April 2026, over 5,000 Malaysian students were enrolled in Chinese higher education institutions, according to the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia.
Over 80 guests attended, including faculty and students from Kuala Lumpur University of Science and Technology, which has played a key role in promoting the documentary. Representatives from various Malaysian universities also gathered to witness the film’s Malaysian premiere.
Rather than focusing solely on academic success, the documentary highlights everyday moments — sharing a meal, making difficult calls home, small breakthroughs in lectures — through which the six protagonists develop independence and mutual understanding.
Mr Wu Bei, Director and Fudan University alumnus, explained the film’s aim: “The students in this documentary come from very different backgrounds, but they share the same hopes and uncertainties as young people everywhere. We wanted to show that studying abroad is not just about academics — it’s about self-discovery, friendship, and seeing the world through someone else’s eyes.”
Bringing the film to Malaysia offers students, academics, and audiences a chance to exchange perspectives and explore how education and storytelling can bring societies closer.
Professor Tang Jun, Producer and Department of Journalism faculty at Fudan University, emphasised the human side of international education: “Universities are often judged by rankings and research output, but that’s only part of the story. Documentary filmmaking reveals the friendships, misunderstandings, and small acts of kindness that truly shape campus life. That’s also how our journalism students learn to observe and tell stories with care.”
Yu Chuchu, a Fudan journalism student and full-time crew member, reflected on the filmmaking process: “We filmed for over a year, capturing moments that weren’t planned — students cooking late at night, sitting quietly after a long day. These moments reveal who they are becoming. We didn’t want to make a film about how impressive studying abroad is; we wanted to show the real, everyday struggles because that’s what people recognise.”
Wang Zheng, General Manager of YoyWow Communications, expressed hope that the documentary would inspire conversations about international education in Malaysia: “We brought this film here because it reflects experiences already happening in Malaysia. Thousands of Malaysian families are deciding where to send their children, and while this film doesn’t give answers, it offers an honest inside look at what studying abroad entails.”
With over 5,000 Malaysians currently studying in China, the questions raised in The Moon Is Yours are highly relevant. This screening provided a genuine insight into that experience, not as an endorsement, but as an honest account of what it demands.-pr/BNN
