Malaysia banking on five entries at Asia-Pacific film fest
BY DALILAH IBRAHIMFUKUOKA: The 49th Asia-Pacific Film Festival (APFF) kicked off yesterday with Malaysia banking on five entries – including two documentaries – for the top awards.
However, the bad news for Malaysia’s delegates is that none of the entries has been included for screening.
Delegation head P. Panchacharam said he would appeal to the organisers to include at least one entry from Malaysia, although the choice of films to be screened would not, in any way, influence the selection of winners.
Among Malaysia’s entries is the horror flick Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam, as well as the melodramatic Berlari Ke Langit and thriller Trauma. Two Filem Negara documentaries – The Pioneers and Wetland-A Nation’s Treasure – are also competing,
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Amy:'Trauma' actress who will perform at a cultural show with Maya tomorrow. |
The APFF returned to Japan after 11 years, drawing entries from 13 countries that also include Indonesia, Singapore, and Australia.
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Maya: Leading actress in horror movie 'Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam'. |
Veteran actor-producer Datuk Jins Shamsudin is among the five people on the jury. The others are Yukichi Shinada and Hideyuki Hirayama from Japan, Chang Mi-hee (South Korea) and Li-Hsing Liu (Taiwan).
Veteran artiste Datuk Mustapha Maarof said he was disappointed that none of Malaysia’s entries was included, considering that the country would host the APPF next year.
Malaysia, which has sent one of the biggest delegations here, with more than 50 representatives, would host a KL Night tomorrow, combining a dinner, cultural show and performances by Pontianak’s leading actress Maya Karin and Trauma’s Amy Mastura.
Speaking to The Star, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said Malaysia hoped to use the fest to build its networking with the foreign film industry.
“We would like to tap some talent to merge with Malaysian talent in filmmaking,” he said.
On Malaysia’s chances at the current fest, he said: “I believe we stand an even chance for recognition but we must also understand that films from the region are very competitive in terms of technical performance and storyline.”
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