IACT College Strikes Gold (Again!) at the 2025 Student Kancil x sCooler Awards

IACT College once again proved that creativity is not just something learned in the classroom; it’s a part of everyday life on campus. The college picked up major wins at the Student Kancil x sCooler Awards 2025, adding to its growing list of achievements while simultaneously reinforcing its place as one of Malaysia’s leading hubs for young creative talent.

This year’s Kancil Awards and Festival of Creativity brought EX8 Subang to life on 28 November 2025, turning the space into a lively gathering spot for Malaysia’s rising creative talents. For anyone curious about the direction of the advertising industry, the festival offered a clear glimpse of what’s coming next.

For those who aren’t familiar, the Kancil Awards are one of the most significant achievements every Malaysian creative hopes to win. As the country’s biggest and most respected advertising competition, the Kancils have been celebrating creativity since at least 1978. Originally called the “6As,” the awards were rebranded as the Kancil Awards in 1995, a move that highlighted pride in Malaysian creative work and cemented the event as the industry’s top standard for quality and innovation.

What really sets the Kancil Awards apart is the credibility behind them. The awards are run by 4As Malaysia, the country’s leading advertising body. Established in 1971, the 4As champions the role and value of advertising agencies in the wider marketing landscape.

The judges are some of Malaysia’s most respected creative leaders, many of whom have won awards locally and internationally. Winning a Kancil means more than impressing your teachers; it’s recognition from the people who are actually shaping the industry

And then there are the real stars: IACT College’s young creatives, who brought home an impressive haul of awards – 1 Gold, 2 Bronze and 3 Merit Awards.

The Gold Award went to Halulu? Try Yahoo! – a clever, high-energy campaign by Douglas Chin Zhan Yuen and Teo Chen En. The team turned a viral Gen Z catchphrase into a fresh conversation about online behaviour and their creativity clearly won over the judges.

For the Bronze Awards, IACT secured wins for two standout projects. 灵汐 TIDE impressed with its visual storytelling, earning a Bronze for Best Film & Audio Craft – Cinematography. Another Bronze went to a second inventive project, showing that IACT students consistently deliver across different mediums and categories.

The college also took home three Merit Awards, highlighting the range of its creative talent. Navigating Adulthood, a relatable and visually sharp Static Visual Art Direction piece by Zoey Chow Chin Yi, captured the humour, chaos and vulnerability of growing up. Another Merit recognised an additional IACT project, adding to the college’s growing portfolio of celebrated student work.

The final Merit Award went to the team behind PTSD – Hew Ern Chee, Chandra Kate a/p Kesavan and Choong Too Feon – for their strong performance in the Real Brief Challenge, demonstrating both bold creativity and sharp strategic thinking.

With more than 900 student entries from schools across Malaysia, the competition was tougher than ever. Still, IACT College rose to the challenge, showing once again why it remains one of the country’s leading centres for creative education.

From Gold to Merit Awards, each win highlights the imagination and bold spirit of Malaysia’s next generation of creatives.