LINA TAN 
(Plenary Session 2:  The Challenges of Women Entrepreneurs)

                                                                                

Upon graduating with a Film and Television degree in 1991, Lina entered into the world of television commercial production, working in production houses in Malaysia as Producer.  There she handled a range of TV Commercials from medium to high budget productions, working with a range of local and foreign directors. She also directed and produced interstitials for Disney Channel, music videos and created several programs for Astro. A social message video on AIDS called Love Me Tender which was conceptualized, produced and directed by Lina won Best Promo Gold and Best Editing Silver in the Malaysian Video Awards 1996 and a Red Ribbon Media Award from the Malaysian Aids Council. (1995).

In 1999, Lina founded Red Communications Sdn Bhd to focus on creating innovative and meaningful content. She has since created a whole variety of television programs and commercials, specializing in youth, kids and women issues. Among them is a program for young women called 3R (Respect, Relax and Respond) which has won the Asian Television awards 2002 for Best Infotainment Program; Red Ribbon Media Award 2002; Malaysian Video Award for Best Magazine Program 2003 and Runner-up Best Social Awareness Program – Asia TV Awards 2005. The show has also been sold in Singapore and produced as a format in Philippines and Vietnam.

She has also produced adaptations of a variety of formats including Project Runway Malaysia and Clever.

Besides creating television shows, Lina has also produced a variety of films. Beginning with Visits: Hungry Ghost Anthology, followed by Gol & Gincu (Goalposts & Lipsticks) which was screened in Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei and International Film Festivals in Bangkok, Tokyo, Amsterdam and Busan, Korea. Other films include “KAMI” which has won 2 local awards in 2009 and “Pisau Cukur” (Gold diggers) which is a box-office hit and soon to be released “Songlap”.