Lim Xin Ruu collects Gold New Director Lotus

Lim Xin Ruu, the winner of the Kancils Sick Six New Director’s Challenge 2024 for her emotional film ‘Papayah’ produced in partnership with Graph Studio, has also picked up the Gold New Director Lotus at ADFEST 2025. Not only that, hers is the only Gold awarded in the category.

‘Papayah’, which was also written by Lim, was inspired by a childhood memory of seeing her dad graft a male papaya tree, so it could bear fruit independently – using this as inspiration for her character’s role as both a strong father and a mother.

“Receiving this award is truly an honour, and I feel a profound gratitude for being able to represent Malaysia, a name that deserves to be heard more often on the global stage,” said Lim Xin Ruu. “As a female director, I recognize the importance of our voices in storytelling, and I hope this small step encourages others to share their own narratives. Together, we can create a space where diverse stories are valued and celebrated.”

This is the second ADFEST win in a row for Graph Studio. Their film ‘Push-Pull’, written and directed by Fish Cheng went on to win the Gold New Director Lotus at ADFEST 2024, a Shortlist at the Cannes Young Director Awards, and Finalist of the Shots Award Asia Pacific 2024.

“We’re incredibly grateful to ADFEST and the Kancil Sick Six New Director’s Challenge for continuing to spotlight and celebrate new voices in the industry,” said Derrik Yaw, co-founder of Graph Studio. “Winning Gold in the New Director Lotus category for two consecutive years is both humbling and energizing—it’s a powerful reminder that there’s no shortage of world-class creative talent in Malaysia. We’re so proud of Xin Ruu and can’t wait to see how she brings her unique storytelling voice to brands looking to connect with audiences in meaningful ways.”

Fresh off this historic win, Lim Xin Ruu and Graph Studio are excited for new partnerships and the chance to add their winning touch to any brand open to collaborate.