Armed with editing software and teenage curiosity, she stitched together snippets of daily life, family trips and, eventually, a mini documentary about Kuala Lumpur.
Koo later participated in an audio-visual programme for secondary schools, about which she said: “It really solidified the fact that I wanted to pursue filmmaking.”
What started as playful uploads to YouTube planted the seed for a career that would today bring Malaysia to one of the world’s acclaimed cinematic stages.
Koo’s short film “Ndhuk” – a tender exploration of migrant motherhood – has made history as the first Malaysian and Southeast Asian entry in the NEST Competition, the student-film section of the 73rd San Sebastián International Film Festival in Spain, which runs from Sept 19-27.
Produced as part of her final-year project at Multimedia University’s faculty of cinematic arts, this is no small feat. Out of 473 submissions from 220 schools across 57 countries, only 14 films were chosen.
Indeed, Malaysia is in fine company, with other entries having come from the likes of France’s La Fémis, the UK’s National Film and Television School, and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Koo revealed that when she received the acceptance email, she didn’t leap up in celebration.
“I was in denial,” the 23-year-old recalled with a laugh. “Part of me couldn’t believe that a film as small as ours could be selected for such a prestigious competition.”
Beyond the screening, she and her team will compete for prizes such as the Nest Mediapro Studio Award, Movistar Plus+ Award, and Tabakalera Award, the latter of which offers a three-week residency in Spain.
“I’m very appreciative – we’re not just representing our university but Malaysia and Southeast Asia. It’s definitely a proud and happy moment for us,” said the cinematic-arts degree graduate.
“Ndhuk”, which means “daughter”, is a story woven from Koo’s own childhood. Growing up, her family employed domestic workers who became like older sisters to her.
She felt grief when they left, not realising the deeper irony: these women were mothers themselves, forced to leave their own children to care for someone else’s.
The 16-minute short follows Ika, an Indonesian domestic worker in Malaysia who finds comfort in caring for her employer’s daughter while aching for her own child back home.
The emotional core? Her daughter’s possible pregnancy, which pushes Ika to confront her identity as a mother from afar.
Research was essential to get things right: Koo spent time with migrant women, listening to their stories of sacrifice and longing.
“The hardest part was acknowledging that I didn’t know enough,” she said. “But once I spoke to them, I realised the heart of the story – mothers missing their children, holding on to connection through video calls.”
Casting also brought serendipity: Theia Ela Yusnita, an actress from Jakarta, reached out over Instagram after spotting their open call. One online chat later, and Koo knew she was the one.
“We instantly connected,” she said. “Even though the character is semi-fictional, Theia brought her to life in such a human way.”
Theia eventually flew to Malaysia for a three-day shoot, and the two remain friends.
Behind the camera, Koo had her own poignant moment. During filming, her parents made a surprise visit to the set after three months apart.
“The moment I saw my mum, I burst into tears,” she recalled. “It was ironic – my film is about mothers and daughters separated by distance, and there I was, crying because I’d missed mine.”
With “Ndhuk” having made its way to San Sebastián, Koo hopes global audiences will see more than mere entertainment. Featuring dialogue in English, Mandarin, Malay, and Javanese, the film embodies a cultural blend she wants the world to recognise.
“Malaysia is such a diverse country, and our stories reflect that,” she said. “I hope this inspires more Malaysian stories to reach international film festivals. We have so many untold stories that deserve to, and should, be told.”
Find out more about the NEST Competition here.