Seeking Contenders For Malaysian Film Festival

Kinabalu, Malaysia - Many are surprised the Malaysian Film Festival has been running for 22 long years and expanding its scope to keep up with modern times. Still, its high-tech categories are still sorely lacking in entries.

“We have enough entries for the main category feature films which are full-length movies shown in cinemas. But for whatever reason, Malaysian Film Festival is still lacking entries in animation, documentaries, short films and digital films,” says actress-producer Nancie Foo, who won the Most Promising Actress in the 2nd Merak Kayangan Malaysian Film Festival in 1981. She has been appointed Chairman of Entries and Jury for the past three years.

“Full-length movies always attract the highest number of entries and so far we have 24 films competing for the coveted Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor/Actress awards. There are 13 awards for Feature Films under Anugerah Perdana, and 12 awards under Anugerah Cipta.”

There are five special Jury Awards including Veteran Artiste, Behind the Scene and Highest Grossing Ticket Sales in the box office last year.

“Feature films are seen as the more important and glamorous since they form the bulwark of any country`s film industry. But this year there will be a new award for `Best Comedy` as many of the entries are slanted towards comedy or light-hearted drama.

“The more niche categories attract less attention and fewer entries. We have been contacting college students, young producers from advertising agencies, government universities, private institutes as well as production houses and even TV stations. Strangely, most seem unaware of the Film Festival despite our advertisements and posters. Our TV promotions will be out soon.”

Some have lamented this is a “Malay movie fest” as the current line-up of 24 films are all Malay movies.

“The Malaysian movie industry is still very small and tends to cater to Malay movies simply because it is impossible to compete with American blockbusters that may cost RM200mil for each film! Which Malaysian company can come up with such financing to produce non-Bahasa Malaysia or BM movies to be on par in terms of script, direction and star appeal?” sighs Foo.

“Of course we do have a handful of non-Bahasa Malaysia movies but the Film Festival requires a minimum of five entries for the Chinese, Indian or English movies. If we have enough, then there will be a special category for vernacular movies.

“Almost all Indian movies come from Bollywood while Hong Kong churns out the best Cantonese or Mandarin movies. Malaysian film producers usually don`t even bother trying to compete with such established leaders. Luckily we still have some brave and intrepid producers willing to risk producing such films with Malaysian identity even though it is a non-BM movie.”

For the first time, the Malaysian Film Festival will be held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah this year, from Aug 5 to 8.

For the past three years, Astro was the broadcaster but now RTM has taken over and the entire event will be beamed live which will reach a much bigger audience. Organised by Gafim (Federation of Screen Guilds of Malaysia) and PFM (Malaysian Film Producers Association) and supported by Information, Communications and Culture Ministry, the Sabah State Government and Kota Kinabalu City Hall, this year`s extravaganza is estimated to cost under RM3mil.

Last year`s jury for feature films consisted of five judges but this year the festival will revert to the usual seven.

“It may seem glamorous and exciting to be a judge but let me tell you it is practically a full-time job and not a piece of cake as most think. The judges are `quarantined` in a hotel`s screening hall for 10 to 12 days. They begin viewing movies from 9am till evening and have to watch three to four movies a day. It is not easy after the first few days as you tend to suffer from sensory overload. After each movie, notes are taken and the judges usually discuss its merits and flaws. If necessary the movie can be replayed for the final judging. So it is very taxing and judges must be dedicated industry players.”

Not any movie addict qualifies.

“We need judges well-versed in the local movie industry who are respected so their decisions carry weight. Of course these are people who have busy careers and their time is money so we do give them allowances to compensate for their time, effort and expertise,” says Foo.

Last year`s judges were Pansha (producer/director), Suraya Al-Atas (journalist), Dr Fuziah Kartini (lecturer), Adman Salleh (director/lecturer) and Ahmad Yatim (actor/lecturer). Of course this year`s list of judges is top secret.

Each category has its own panel of judges. “Judges for animation and digital must have knowledge of computer technology to know how easy or difficult it was to create them.” Kee Hua Chee

For those who think their feature movie, animation, documentary, short film or digital film stands a shot at the 22nd Malaysian Film Festival, contact Rafidah Shariff at the Malaysia Film Festival Secretariat (tel: 03-4104 1404) or get more information at www.sinemamalaysia.com.my

Source: http://www.star-ecentral.com (25 May 2009)

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