On 16 September, coinciding with Malaysia Day, Xing Yu Group ‘s “Xing Yu Grand Honours × The Shining Award 2026” was held at D Theatre, Hextar World, Petaling Jaya. The event brought together corporate leaders, film industry professionals, creators, brands and partners for an evening centred on the official launch of VYBE Malaysia, a series of strategic partnership signings, multiple award presentations, and the reveal of the film The Courage to Start Over.
VYBE officially launches as Dr Kervis Soo shares the platform’s direction
The evening opened with guest check-in, networking and VVIP entrance, followed by the national anthem before the programme moved into its formal segments. Xing Yu Group and VYBE founder Dr Kervis Soo delivered the opening address, followed by remarks from Dato Kamil Othman, Chairman of VYBE and Xing Yu Group.
Dr Kervis Soo said he was honoured to mark Malaysia Day by officially launching VYBE alongside partners from the enterprise, education, technology, film and creator sectors, and thanked his team and partners for their continued support. He said VYBE aims to further connect creators, brands, technology and real content projects, allowing different resources to generate more collaboration opportunities within a single ecosystem.
VYBE Malaysia and its AI Creator Operating System were then officially unveiled on stage. The platform’s direction extends beyond content publishing to creator participation, brand collaboration, film content and AI application scenarios — positioning it as a broader ecosystem rather than a single content app.
Multiple strategic partnerships land at the same event
The 916 VYBE Launch Ceremony also served as the stage for a series of partnership signings. Organisations establishing strategic cooperation with VYBE included Lincoln Professional Academy, Yayasan Dato Malaysia, TTT Bullion (M) Sdn Bhd, Monochrome, QR Fashion, AI Robo and Media Prism — spanning education, artificial intelligence, digital assets, media, business and content ecosystems.
Monochrome was represented by Jeff Yew, and QR Fashion by Andrew Lim. The Lincoln Professional Academy partnership focuses on combining education, creators and AI, while Yayasan Dato Malaysia also entered into cooperation with Xing Yu Group and VYBE. The remaining partners connect into the VYBE ecosystem from the media, AI applications, digital assets, gold trading systems and livestream commerce directions respectively.
Award ceremonies honour business, film and creator representatives
The evening also hosted award presentations under The Shining Award 2026, TNCSEA Shining Business Award 2026, and 916 Xing Yu Grand Honours Gala 2026, recognising representatives from business, content creation, entertainment, production, technology and media. Presenting guests included Tan Sri Datuk Seri Dr M. Kayveas, Datin Maylene Yong, and YM Tengku Dato’ Dr. Hishammuddin Zaizi bin Y.A.M.TNCSEA Shining Business Award 2026 honourees included Thomas, Dato Kamil Othman, Dato Sri Professor (Dr) Tan Fong Fook, Dato Seri Kenta Goh, Clifton Ko, Yuan Teng, Henn, LOMO Pictures and Qi AI — a line-up spanning enterprise, film, content creation and branding that reflected the cross-sector nature of the evening.
Other guests present included Tan Sri Jojo, Dato Jeff Kua, Teo Yi Ling and producer Aron Koh. Y.M. Che Puan Datin Hezeita binti Hafidz, spouse of YM Tengku Dato’ Dr. Hishammuddin Zaizi bin Y.A.M., also attended the event.
The Courage to Start Over becomes another focal point of the night
Alongside the platform launch and award presentations, another major highlight of the evening was the official reveal of the film The Courage to Start Over. Directed by Lee Yong Chang — his eleventh feature film — the story follows a group of people chasing their film-making dreams, weaving reality, setbacks, choices and second starts into its narrative.
The cast unveiled at the event includes Chen Yingheng, Yuan Teng, An Yuqing and Henn. Behind the scenes, the production team comprises producer Dr Kervis Soo, director Lee Yong Chang, executive director Luo Tingyong, producer Xu Kangwen, and coordinator Huang Yilin. A special presentation segment featured the film’s music video and related content, after which the production team took to the stage to meet guests and take photographs.
The director and lead actress on chasing dreams and starting over
Director Lee Yong Chang shared that he hopes the film will resonate with audiences, especially those who need courage to keep moving forward at a certain stage in life. He wants viewers to find resonance — and even a way forward of their own — through the film’s characters and story. For him, the project explores more than a film-making dream. It also asks how people rediscover the strength to keep going after hitting a low point.
Lead actress An Yuqing said that “starting over” is not a distant concept, since everyone may face a moment in life when they must begin again. She hopes audiences will connect with the characters’ choices, emotions and experiences. She also looks forward to seeing audiences support the film in cinemas once it opens.
Supporting cast and crew share their own reflections
Yuan Teng introduced his role as “Ah Hui” and said he looks forward to bringing the character to audiences. The actor playing the film’s antagonist shared his character’s setup in a lighter tone. He joked that his character’s obstacles push the other characters to work harder — a dynamic that made the interpersonal conflicts more vivid for those present.
Actor Luo Tingyong said he hopes the project tells a story that feels ordinary on the surface yet genuinely relatable. Coordinator Huang Yilin revealed that preparation for the project has already run for more than six months. Some team members are reuniting after previous collaborations for this new production. She added that the team will announce more cast members progressively, with the goal of giving people from different backgrounds a chance to take part in film-making.
Huang Yilin also noted that livestreamers, content creators, and anyone interested in entering the film industry can follow the team’s upcoming film and short-drama projects, as long as they share an interest in performing and creating. This open approach extends the release of The Courage to Start Over beyond a single film. It reaches into actor discovery, newcomer participation and future content production.
Dr Kervis Soo: hoping the film brings the courage to start over to more people
Speaking about The Courage to Start Over, Dr Kervis Soo said he felt honoured to work alongside director Lee Yong Chang, the cast and the entire production team. He thanked every participant for the time and expertise they invested in bringing the project to life.
He said he looks forward to more audiences seeing the film. He hopes they take away more than the story of a group chasing a film-making dream. He wants them to feel the courage needed to start over, drawn from the characters’ experience of hitting lows, changing course and choosing again.
Dr Kervis Soo also hopes the film’s release will create more connection opportunities for local film production, actors, behind-the-scenes talent and the next generation of content creators. He wants it to form a more direct space for collaboration between film projects, the VYBE platform, brands and industry resources.
Platform, partnerships and film converge on the same stage
From VYBE’s official launch and multiple strategic partnerships, to the award presentations and the reveal of The Courage to Start Over, 916 delivered more than a single product launch or award ceremony. It placed creator platforms, film projects, AI, education, business and brand resources on the same stage in one evening. The different segments connected with one another. This let VYBE — the platform under Xing Yu Group‘s Shiguang Xingyu (Zocco) — build direct connections with real projects, creators and industry partners on the very day of its launch.
