MDEC launches Digital Content Creators Challenge (DC3) 2023

• Funded 372 projects, disbursed US$3.6mil in prize money since 2006
• Assist content creators in developing world class digital content and IP

Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Malaysia's leading digital economy agency, has announced the launch of the 2023 Digital Content Creators Challenge (DC3).

Since its inception in 2006, DC3 has been a platform under the Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) that offers seed funding to creative content developers. The goal is to create portfolios or intellectual properties (IPs) that can be pitched to investors, broadcasters, and publishers to obtain further funding.

Over the years, MDEC has funded 372 projects and disbursed US$3.6 million (RM15.8 million) in prize money to the winners. DC3 is a competition-based program designed to assist content creators in developing and producing world-class digital content while also increasing the creation of IPs.

Digital content has been identified as one of the nine promoted sectors under the national strategic initiative, Malaysia Digital (MD). The winners of DC3 2023 will receive prize money to develop their proposed digital creative content, with the support of industry experts through a mentorship program. This would provide the necessary catalysts for Malaysian talent to penetrate the local and global market.

“As we move towards an increasingly digital future, the role of content creators in shaping our collective experiences and narratives cannot be overstated. The DC3 2023 showcases the creativity, resilience, and potential of Malaysian digital content creators. MDEC is proud to support and champion this initiative, nurturing a thriving ecosystem of creators driving innovation and growth for Malaysia's creative industries." said Ts. Mahadhir Aziz (pic), CEO of MDEC.

The program is open to digital content creation companies and is divided into four categories, namely, digital comic, animation, interactive media, and digital games.

Under the digital comic category, winners will receive a prize money of up to US$5,682 (RM25,000) and six months to complete their project.

Meanwhile, winners from the animation category will receive a prize money of up to RM100,000 and eight months to complete their project. Interactive Media and Digital games producers will receive up to RM100,000 for each category and ten months to complete their projects.

[RM1 = US$0.227]

Among the notable past DC3 projects include the “Legends of Ancient Borneo" by All for One Productions, who received Best Digital Animation Film by Malaysia Digital Film Award 2019 and Best Animated Short Film by Great Message International Film Festival 2019. The project is now in early development for an animated series, target to complete production by 2023. This is the first animated film in Kadazan language and one of the ways to pay tribute to Sabah’s native heritage and culture.

Meanwhile, “Cramped Room Of Death” by Wombatman Games (pic below) was a finalist for the Best Design category in Indie Game Show Award as featured in the Taipei Game Show 2020. The game was recently launched and will soon be published on Steam and Nintendo Switch.

Applications for DC3 programme are now open until 5 May 2023.