Syafiq Yusof

Malaysian actor, director, screenwriter and filmmaker (born 1992)
Aisyeah Zainal
​
(m. 2014)​
Children3Parents
  • Yusof Haslam (father)
  • Fatimah Ismail (mother)
RelativesSyamsul Yusof (brother)

Mohd Syafiq bin Mohd Yusof (born 7 December 1992) is a Malaysian filmmaker. He is a younger brother of actor Syamsul Yusof and son of veteran actor Yusof Haslam. Initially began his career by making short films, his directorial debut, SAM: Saya Amat Mencintaimu was released in 2012. Since then, he directed seven notable films which all of them became commercial success.

Early life

Syafiq Yusof was born on 7 December 1992 in Kuala Lumpur. He hails from a family of filmmakers and actors. His older brother, Syamsul is an actor and film director who is well-known for directing horror film series Munafik and Munafik 2, as well as Mat Kilau (film), the latter of which currently ranks as the highest-grossing Malaysian made film.[1] His cousins Rizal Ashreff, Sabrina Ali, Aliff Ali and Miller Khan are also actors. His father is a veteran actor turned film director cum producer, Yusof Haslam.

Career

Hailing from the well-known Yusof family, Syafiq began his filmmaking career by making short films. SAM: Saya Amat Mencintaimu, his feature film directorial debut, starring Shaheizy Sam and Lisa Surihani, was released on 19 August 2012 during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.[1] Also in the same year, he and his cousin, Rizal Ashreff co-directed Evolusi KL Drift: The Series, a TV series adaptation from 2008 film, Evolusi KL Drift directed by his brother, Syamsul Yusof, who reprised his role in the TV series.[2]

On 11 January 2013, Syafiq and his two business partners set-up Viper Studios which specializes in film production, visual effects, post-production, and animation, where he served as the Chief Executive Officer.[3]

A year later, he directed Abang Long Fadil, a spin-off from 2011 film, KL Gangster, one of its main star, Zizan Razak reprising his role as Fadil.[4] The film was released in May 2014 to popular success. His third movie, a horror documentary film entitled Villa Nabila was released in January 2015, starring Pekin Ibrahim and Tisha Shamsir, which is based on the 2013 eponymous bungalow incident.[5]

Syafiq subsequently directed his fifth film which began principal photography on 13 November 2014 in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.[6] Released on 8 December 2016, a mystery science fiction Desolasi starring his brother Syamsul as Aiman, a visual artist who deals with never-ending problems starts to wonder the judgment given by God which brings him to stuck in another dimension leading him being fully alone until he starts meeting a mysterious woman named Maya.[6] For this film, he utilized the Anton-Babinski syndrome metaphor as a subject into the storyline[6][7] and using special effects to blanking the city of Kuala Lumpur.[8][9] It also stars Jalaluddin Hassan, Pekin Ibrahim, and Bella Dally.[10][11]

His seventh film, Abang Long Fadil 2 was released on 24 August 2017. With a budget estimated RM 3.2 million, the film earns highest grossed more than RM 18.15 million,[12] behind Munafik directed by his brother, which grossed RM 17.04 million.[13]

On 8 March 2018, his action film KL Special Force was released, starring Rosyam Nor, Fattah Amin and his brother, who played Asyraf, a leader of the Anarchy Gang (Geng Anarki).[14] The film sets up new record in Malaysian film industry by garnering highest box office grossing more than RM12.1 million and received mixed positive reviews from film critics.[15]

His latest effort, a psychological horror Misteri Dilaila was released on February 21, 2019. Principal photography took place in Fraser's Hill, Pahang; the film was starring Zul Ariffin, Elizabeth Tan, Rosyam Nor, Namron, Sasqia Dahuri and others.[16]

It was announced in September 2019 that he would be directing the third sequel of Polis Evo with Shaheizy Sam and Zizan Razak reprising their respective roles.[17]

Personal life

Syafiq married with his long-time girlfriend, Aisyeah Zainal on 5 April 2014.[18][19] The couple have three children, namely two daughters – Nuur Jannah (born 2016),[20] Nuur Nusaybah (born 2018)[21] and a son - Muhamad Nu'Aiman (born 2023).[22]

Filmography

Film

Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Writer Producer
2010 Abangku Gengster Yes No No Short film
Hantu Takde Kepala Yes No No
Abangku Gengster II Yes No No
Lorong Yes No Yes Short film; also as editor and Director of Photography
2011 Along Yes Yes Yes Short film
2012 SAM: Saya Amat Mencintaimu Yes Yes No Directorial debut, also as editor
2014 Abang Long Fadil Yes Yes No Also as editor
2015 Villa Nabila Yes No Yes Documentary film
2016 Mat Moto Yes No Yes Co-directed with Pekin Ibrahim
Desolasi Yes Yes No Also as editor
2017 Abang Long Fadil 2 Yes Yes No Also as editor
2018 KL Special Force Yes Yes Yes Also as editor
2019 Misteri Dilaila Yes Yes No
Rise to Power: KLGU Yes No No Co-directed with Faisal Ishak
2021 Penunggang Agama Yes No No
Penunggang Agama 2 Yes No No
2022 Abang Long Fadil 3 Yes Yes No Also an editor
2023 Polis Evo 3 Yes No No
Budak Flat Yes No No Also as supervising director
2024 Sheriff Yes Yes No
Telekinesis Yes No No Post-production
2025 Game Of Life Yes Yes No Pre-production

Television series

Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Producer
2008–2013 Roda-Roda Kuala Lumpur Yes No Direct only few episode, also actor
2009–2011, 2014–2021 Gerak Khas Yes Yes 2009–2011 - direct only few episode, 2014–2021 - as co-producer
2012–2013 Evolusi KL Drift: The Series Yes Yes Also actor as Daniel, co-director with Rizal Ashraff
2015 Cinta Dari Marikh Yes Yes Also actor as Adam
2018 KL Gangster: Underworld No Yes
2020 KL Gangster: Underworld 2 No Yes
2021–2022 Gerak Khas Undercover Yes Yes Also as co-director and co-producer
2023 Special Force: Anarchy Yes No

Music video

Year Title Artist Director
2012 "Nyawaku" DJ Dave Yes
"Sempurnakan Aku" Anuar Zain Yes
"Ajari Aku" Yes
2013 "Jalan Bersimpang" Filsuf and Sleeq Yes
2014 "Cobaan" Zizan Razak Yes
2016 "Kalah Dalam Menang" Syamsul Yusof and Mawi Yes
"Bukan Propaganda" Yes

Awards and nominations

Year Award Recipient Nominated works Category Result Ref.
2013 25th Malaysian Film Festival Syafiq Yusof SAM Best Director Nominated
Best Editing Nominated
Most Promising Director Won [23]
2017 2017 PROFIMA Awards Desolasi Best Director Won [24]
29th Malaysian Film Festival Abang Long Fadil 2 Box Office Film Won [25]
2019 31st Malaysian Film Festival Misteri Dilaila Best Editing Nominated
2022 32nd Malaysian Film Festival Abang Long Fadil 3 Best Director Nominated
Best Screenplay Nominated
Best Editing Nominated

References

  1. ^ Wahiduzzaman (23 Ogos 2012). Eksperimen Syafiq Yusof Menjadi Dalam 'SAM' mStar. Diperoleh pada 1 September 2012.
  2. ^ Wartawan Sinar Harian (22 September 2012). 2 pengarah muda arah drama bersiri Skop Productions Sinar Harian. Retrieved on 24 March 2018.
  3. ^ "Viper Studios: About Us". Viper Studios. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  4. ^ Feride Hikmet Atak (10 June 2014). "Abang Long Fadil berpaksikan dunia gengsterisme". mStar Online. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  5. ^ Raziatul Hanum A. Rajak (10 January 2015). "Villa Nabila: Dari kisah sebenar ke layar perak". Sinar Harian. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  6. ^ a b c Bibi Nurshuhada Ramli (9 December 2016). "Mind-boggling Desolasi takes local CGI films staggering new heights". New Straits Times. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  7. ^ Dennis Chua (18 January 2016). "Syafiq Yusof directs elder brother Syamsul in Desolasi". New Straits Times. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  8. ^ Angelin Yeoh (6 December 2016). "How did Syafiq Yusof empty the streets of KL for Desolasi?". Star2. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  9. ^ Syafil Syazwan Jefri (2 November 2016). "Syafiq 'kosong' lokasi sibuk KL". Harian Metro. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  10. ^ Syanty Octavia Amry (7 December 2016). "Minda celaru mencari jawapan". Harian Metro. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  11. ^ Bibi Nurshuhada Ramli (9 December 2016). "In a league of its own: Desolasi represents a new direction for M'sian films, banking on CGI". New Straits Times. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  12. ^ Akmal Abdullah (22 November 2015). "Filem 'Abang Long Fadil 2' bakal jalani penggambaran 50 hari, kos RM3.2 juta" (in Malay). Tabloidseni.com. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  13. ^ Mumtaj Begum (10 March 2016). "Malaysian horror flick Munafik set to scare other films off". Star2. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  14. ^ Elrafaei Sapi (16 August 2016). "KL Special Force Filem Aksi Setanding Hollywood". Rojak Daily. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  15. ^ Dennis Chua (4 April 2018). "#Showbiz: KL Special Force powers on RM12.1 million collection". New Straits Times. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  16. ^ Bissme S. "Playing mind games". The Sun (Malaysia). Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  17. ^ Amri Hassan (25 September 2019). "Polis EVO 3 bakal shoot tidak lama lagi" - Peminat teruja tunggu kemunculan Zizan dan Sam Astro Gempak. Dicapai pada 3 December 2019.
  18. ^ Hanan Mansor (20 April 2014). "Majlis resepsi sederhana tapi meriah". Sinar Harian. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  19. ^ "SYAFIQ YUSOF KINI SUAMI AEISHA". Media Hiburan. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  20. ^ "Syafiq Yusof, Isteri Selamat Timang Cahaya Mata Pertama". Rotikaya. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  21. ^ Norhidayyu Zainal (5 February 2018). "Syafiq Yusof timang anak kedua". Sinar Harian. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  22. ^ "Syafiq Yusof dapat anak ketiga". Harian Metro. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  23. ^ Nurezzatul Aqmar Mustaza (1 March 2013). "Syafiq julang trofi Pengarah Harapan". Sinar Harian. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  24. ^ Muhamad Fairoz Azizan (7 November 2017). "Syafiq Yusof menang Pengarah Terbaik Anugerah PROFIMA". Berita Harian. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  25. ^ Angelin Yeoh (30 December 2017). "Year of Champions: Director Syafiq Yusof and his success with 'Abang Long Fadil 2'". Star2. Retrieved 14 April 2018.

External links

  • Syafiq Yusof at IMDb
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Films directed by Syafiq Yusof
1 Co-directed with Pekin Ibrahim
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