Al-Matin Yatim is a familiar face to audiences in both theatre and television. In 2025, his role in the telemovie Belaian landed him a Mediacorp Suria Pesta Perdana for Best Actor. He adds that honour to his Life! Theatre Award for Best Ensemble, for his work in Wild Rice’s Pulau Ujong in 2023. Matin shares that even though accolades are celebrated, if you ask any actor, they will say the reason they act is because they are passionate and care about the craft.

With the rise of social media, popularity and virality have become the new currencies. Matin observes that anyone can become an actor these days—it doesn’t necessarily mean they can act, but they can gain visibility and opportunities when they have amassed followers. The ITI alumnus who graduated in 2015 says,

Matin speaks from rigorous ITI training, which is physically and mentally demanding, but approaches acting as an artform, not a trend. “The training really lets you dive deep into the world of acting,” he says. “If you truly want to expand your craft and are serious about acting, then ITI is the place for it.”

And Matin’s distinct, intercultural training shows in his versatility. Since graduation, his work has spanned: animation in Super Mermaid directed by Thong Pei Qin, which toured to Manipulate Festival in Edinburgh; acting in Malay-language, text-based Hawa by Hatch Theatrics; and experimental, multi-disciplinary performance in Ho Tzu Nyen’s Ten Thousand Tigers which toured to Festival Theaterformen in Braunschweig.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, Matin started working more in television. While the training at ITI doesn’t focus on acting for the camera, it sufficiently prepared him with the basic principles of acting—like understanding character and emotional work—and the skills to adapt. Today, Matin continues to share his unique skills and experience as a corporate trainer, voiceover artist and educator.