From Left: Charles Santiago- Klang member of parliament, Jerald Joseph – KOMAS director, Jeffrey Phang, Dr. Thomas Knirsch- KAS representative in Malaysia, Dr. Stefan Friedrich- head of KAS team Asia, Tan Jo Hann KOMAS executive director, Dr. Peter Hefele – KAS representative

On the 14th February 2009, the KOMAS FreedomFilmFest2009 was launched at The Annexe, Central Market.

The launch which saw the unveiling of this year’s logo and theme ‘Real Change?’— also signifies the opening of submissions for the ‘Dare 2 Document’ film competition. The latest FFF Trailer video and the FFF Thematic video for this year was also played to the public.

The event which was held on Saturday morning, also featured an interactive discussion with the audience with the topic ‘Real Change?’. The discussion, which was moderated by KOMAS’s Director – Mr. Jerald Joseph also welcomes two guest commentators: YB Charles Santiago, MP of Klang and Mr. Jeffrey Phang, Friends of Kota Damansara – Member of Coalition of Good Governance.

The discussion was kicked off with Mr. Jerald getting the audience to throw in their thoughts about issues which they feel is significant over the past year. These includes the political state of the current Perak government and the use of Bahasa Malaysia as a national language. After that, YB Charles and Mr. Jeffrey shared their views and own experience which they feel reflects our theme ‘Real Change?’. In addition to that, one of the representative of KAS – Dr. Thomas also shared his story with the audience.

For more information about FFF and the ‘Dare 2 Document’ competition, please visit here!

The FreedomFilmFest is now accepting entries for FFF 2009 with the theme “Real Change?”.
The outcome of March 8th 2008 Malaysian General Election had everyone from mamak stalls to corporate boardrooms talking about the reawakening of people’s power. But has this political transformation resulted in real changes to our lives as Malaysians?
KOMAS FreedomFilmFest (FFF09) is once again looking for human right stories about Malaysia .
Three of the best proposals will be awarded a grant of RM5,000 each and will be supported by KOMAS to make it come to life! This year, we will also be accepting completed films whereby the best one would be awarded RM 2,000.
Winning films will be premiered at the annual Freedom Film Fest screenings in October 2009. Winners will also receive the Justin Louis Award in honour of the first KOMAS coordinator who was killed in a boat accident while on a fact finding mission to investigate abuse of Penan indigenous peoples by security forces in Sarawak , Malaysia .
KOMAS (Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat), a human rights popular communications media center was established in 1993 to support human rights issues especially among the grassroots communities and NGOs in Malaysia .

The FreedomFilmFest is now accepting entries for FFF 2009 with the theme “Real Change?”.

The outcome of March 8th 2008 Malaysian General Election had everyone from mamak stalls to corporate boardrooms talking about the reawakening of people’s power. But has this political transformation resulted in real changes to our lives as Malaysians?

KOMAS FreedomFilmFest (FFF09) is once again looking for human right stories about Malaysia.

Three of the best proposals will be awarded a grant of RM5,000 each and will be supported by KOMAS to make it come to life! This year, we will also be accepting completed films whereby the best one would be awarded RM 2,000.

Winning films will be premiered at the annual Freedom Film Fest screenings in October 2009. Winners will also receive the Justin Louis Award in honour of the first KOMAS coordinator who was killed in a boat accident while on a fact finding mission to investigate abuse of Penan indigenous peoples by security forces in Sarawak, Malaysia.

KOMAS (Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat), a human rights popular communications media center was established in 1993 to support human rights issues especially among the grassroots communities and NGOs in Malaysia.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kuala Lumpur, Saturday, 14th February – The FreedomFilmFest (FFF) is in town again! The campaign to promote socially conscious film making and films about human rights in Malaysia is being organized for the 6th year!

KOMAS FreedomFilmFest (FFF) is the first film event of its kind in Malaysia. FFF adopts the themes encompassed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which express our aspirations for genuine justice, peace, equality and democracy.

Through an annual film contest, workshops and screenings, FFF creates an annual showcase of outstanding films and documentaries focusing on social issues that affect ordinary people like HIV/AIDS, human rights, poverty and the environment; alternative films which, due to a lack of commercial backing and because of the tyranny of popular mainstream media, are out of the reach to most Malaysians.

The theme for this year is ‘Real Change?’ is highlight the reawakening of the people’s power ever since the March 8 general elections last year. With this year’s theme, FreedomFilmFest hopes to unearth real stories about ordinary Malaysians and how they perceive the changes happening around them.

For the past five years, FFF has earned a strong reputation for creating an open space for sharing socially engaging media and critical discussions among different sectors of the Malaysian public. Last year, the FFF2008 screened 31 social documentaries and independent films from all over the world in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru and Sarawak.

For more information on the competition and tips to write a good proposal, please visit www.freedomfilmfest.komas.org

For further inquiries:

Maisarah Muhd Najib, FreedomFilmFest Coordinator,
Tel/Fax: 03-79685415
Email: freedomfilmfest@komas.org

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

Kuala Lumpur, Thursday, 12th March – The FreedomFilmFest (freedomfilmfest.komas.org) is now heading to London! The 1st FreedomFilmFest Retrospective LONDON will be held at The Garden Court Chambers, London on the 28th March 2009.

True to the FFF spirit, the screenings of the Malaysian films touching on various social issues at this one day event will be followed by a discussion session. The FreedomFilmFest Retrospective will have four sessions with different themes throughout the day: Democratic Space, Activism and the British Connection, Minority Groups and the Authorities and Prescribed Development. Each session will feature films from the previous FreedomFilmFest winners as well as from other Malaysian film-makers.

This would definitely be a great chance for Malaysians (and friends) in London to catch up on the different issues which have been raised by Malaysian activists over the years.

Tickets would be sold at £5 each.

For more details about the tickets and the FreedomFilmFest, feel free to visit http://freedomfilmfestlondon.blogspot.com or email komaslondon@gmail.com.

For further inquiries:
Maisarah Muhd Najib, FreedomFilmFest Coordinator,
Tel/Fax: 03-79685415
Email: freedomfilmfest@komas.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Calling All Activists & Film Makers!

Kuala Lumpur, Saturday, 14th February – The FreedomFilmFest (FFF)’s Dare 2 Document competition is back!

This annual competition encompasses the spirit of activism through filmmaking and it is the first of its kind to be organised in Malaysia. It has created opportunities for local filmmakers and social activists to use their film making craft to express social concerns and human rights issues.

FreedomFilmFest theme this year – ‘Real Change?’ is to highlight the reawakening of the people’s power ever since the March 8 general elections last year.

The main question playing on most of our minds is whether this political transformation in our country has resulted in real changes to the lives and society of Malaysians. FFF2009 therefore hopes to unearth real stories about ordinary Malaysians and how they perceive the changes happening around them.

This year, FreedomFilmFest will have two categories for submissions. Category A is for the submission of short film proposals and Category B is for the submission of completed films. The proposals or completed films submitted should be related to the theme ‘Real Change?’.

Three of the chosen best film proposals will be awarded a grant of RM5,000 each and supported by KOMAS to transform their proposals into a film. The best chosen completed film will win a cash prize of RM2,000! Finally one of these winning films will be selected as the “Most Outstanding Human Rights Film”.

Winners will also receive the Justin Louis Award and have their films premiere at the FFF2009 screenings to be organized in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru and Sarawak in the entire month of October 2009.

For more information on the competition and tips to write a good proposal, please visit www.freedomfilmfest.komas.org

For further inquiries:
Maisarah Muhd Najib, FreedomFilmFest Coordinator,
Tel/Fax: 03-79685415
Email: freedomfilmfest@komas.org

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

Calling All Activists & Film Makers!

Kuala Lumpur, Saturday, 14th February – The Freedom Film Fest (FFF) is in town again! The campaign to promote socially conscious film making and films about human rights in Malaysia is being organized for the 6th year!

The FFF2009 carries the slogan ‘Dare 2 Document’ adopted since its inception 6 years ago. This annual event encompasses the spirit of activism through filmmaking and it is the first of its kind to be organised in Malaysia. It has created opportunities for local filmmakers and social activists to use their film making craft to express social concerns and human rights issues.

Today’s launching signifies the opening of submissions for the FFF2009 film competition for this year. The logo based on this year’s theme of ‘Real Change?’ is to highlight the reawakening of the people’s power ever since the March 8 general elections last year.

The main question playing on most of our minds is whether this political transformation in our country has resulted in real changes to the lives and society of Malaysians. FFF2009 therefore hopes to unearth real stories about ordinary Malaysians and how they perceive the changes happening around them.

The Launch will signify the opening for submission of film proposals and completed films related to the theme ‘Real Change?’. Three of the chosen best film proposals will be awarded a grant of RM5,000 each and supported by KOMAS to transform their proposals into a film. The best chosen completed film will win a cash prize of RM2,000! Finally one of these winning films will be selected as the “Most Outstanding Human Rights Film”.

Winners will also receive the Justin Louis Award and have their films premiere at the FFF2009 screenings to be organized in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru and Sarawak in the entire month of October 2009.

For the past five years, FFF has earned a strong reputation for creating an open space for sharing socially engaging media and critical discussions among different sectors of the Malaysian public. Last year, the FFF2008 screened 31 social documentaries and independent films from all over the world in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru and Sarawak.

For more information on the competition and tips to write a good proposal, please visit www.freedomfilmfest.komas.org

For further inquiries:
Maisarah Muhd Najib, FreedomFilmFest Coordinator,
Tel/Fax: 03-79685415
Email: freedomfilmfest@komas.org

FreedomFilmFest would not happen without our dedicated pool of volunteers, friends and colleagues. We are always in need of help, throughout the year; putting up posters, distributing flyers, even just getting the word out. We especially could do with a few extra pair of hands throughout the year with the upcoming screenings in October 2010.

If you’re a student, or would like to offer us your time and energy, we invite you to join our FFF2010Team! Send us an email at freedomfilmfest @ komas.org with:

1. FULL Name.
2. E-Mail.
3. HP Number.
4. State which you would like to volunteer (KL, Kuching, JB or Penang).

KLANG VALLEY: 16-17 October 2010

JOHOR: 22 October 2010

MIRI: 30 October 2010

PENANG: 13-14 November 2010

SINGAPORE: 14 October 2010

LONDON: TBD

Greetings everyone!

Firstly, Pusat KOMAS would like to thank all of you for your continuous support of the FreedomFilmFest over the past years. And now, we’re proud to announce that FFF is back!

We are launching FFF2009 this year on the 14th of February, 2009 at Central Market Annexe at 10AM.

This year the FreedomFilmFest2009 (FFF2009) will carry the theme “Real Change?”. With the unveiling of our new theme, Pusat KOMAS hope to unearth stories of real change which Malaysians has experienced over the past year since the results of the March 8 2008 General Elections.

The launch which also signals the opening of the ‘Dare 2 Document’ competition will be followed by an interactive discussion regarding our theme this year. Guest commentators are YB Charles Santiago, MP of KLANG and Mr. Jeffrey Phang, Friends of Kota Damansara – Member of Coalition for Good Governance.

Do come and join us at the launch!

Date: 14th February 2009
Time: 10AM – 12.00PM
Venue: The Annexe, Central Market

Please click Dare 2 Document for more information regarding about the Dare 2 Document competition.