Film & TV Director
StableCreative
Leads the creative side of a film, drama, commercial or TV show, guiding actors, camera and editing to tell the story. Most start through an ASWARA or college film diploma or degree, then work their way up as assistant director or through short films, music videos and ads.
You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.
Picture the job
Where you'd usually workA media or broadcast studio
An illustration of a typical workplace, not a photo. Real workplaces vary.
In Malaysia
- How people get into it here
- SPM with at least 3 credits including Bahasa Melayu → Diploma or Degree in Film & Television at ASWARA (audition/portfolio such as storyboard or short film) or a university or private college → build a showreel of short films → work as production assistant or assistant director → direct ads, music videos and TV dramas → feature films. FINAS funding and festivals help new directors.
Sources:aswara.edu.myecentral.my
Pay in the private market
Monthly pay from fresh grad to mid-career, from the salary guide cited on this page.
No official pay figure is published for this job, so we show none.
Government pay isn't shown: we haven't yet sourced the SSPA civil-service salary tables, and we won't estimate them.
Job demand outlook
Steady, reliable demand: a consistent number of openings.
Your readiness
How your current SPM subjects line up with this career.
Add your SPM grades to see how ready you are for this career.
Add my gradesHow to get here
Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.
TVET
Hands-on trades with strong employability: ILP, ADTEC, kolej vokasional, GiatMARA.
Asasi / Foundation
One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.
Diploma
Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.
Check what you may qualify for
Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.
Quick answers
How do you become a Film & TV Director in Malaysia?
SPM with at least 3 credits including Bahasa Melayu → Diploma or Degree in Film & Television at ASWARA (audition/portfolio such as storyboard or short film) or a university or private college → build a showreel of short films → work as production assistant or assistant director → direct ads, music videos and TV dramas → feature films. FINAS funding and festivals help new directors.
Can I become a Film & TV Director straight after SPM?
Yes. This career can be started with a certificate, diploma or TVET training straight after SPM, without a degree.
What should I study to become a Film & TV Director?
Related fields of study: Creative Arts & Media and Mass Communication & Media. SPM subjects that help most: Visual Art (PSV), Computer Science / ICT and English.
How much does a Film & TV Director earn in Malaysia?
We don't yet have a Malaysian source we can cite for Film & TV Director pay, so we show no figure.
Subjects that matter here
The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.
Skills to build
What beginner adverts asked for
We read 15 internship and fresh-graduate adverts in related fields (August 2026). A small sample from one job site, not every vacancy.
13 of 15 were internships
Allowance or pay, when stated
RM825 – RM1,075
6 of 15 adverts printed an amount: usually between RM825 and RM1,075 a month. Many print none.
Languages named
Bahasa Malaysia
An empty line means the adverts did not say, not that employers have no requirement. Check each employer's own advert before you plan around it.
About this information
This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.
Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org