The KOMAS Freedom Film Festival (FFF) which started in 2004 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 provides a platform to showcase films and documentaries focusing on social issues that affects ordinary people.
Archive for March, 2009
FreedomFilmFest on NTV7!
FreedomFilmFest appeared as guests on NTV7’s Breakfast Show this morning! To watch the clip, please watch it at FreedomFilmFest’s youtube site here.
Nasi Bungkus Cinema at MONASH
FreedomFilmFest will be holding a screening at Monash University’s Nasi Bungkus Cinema. This is your chance to know more about FreedomFilmFest and watch two of 2008’s winning films!
Date: 22 April 2009
Time: 5 – 6.30 PM
Venue: Plenary Theatre
This event is also open to the public. For further information, please email freedomfilmfest@komas.org
Roadshow at Taylors College PJ!
On the 18th of March, 2009 – FreedomFilmFest Roadshow was kicked off at Taylors College PJ Campus!
Students listening to the speaker.
Filmmaker and dedicated volunteer of KOMAS, Mien Lor was there throughout the two hour session engaging the 99 students who attended about the spirit of activism and FreedomFilmFest.
Apart from introduction FreedomFilmFest and having a half-an hour discussion about ‘Real Change’, one of last year’s winning film, ‘Who Speaks For Me?’ by Justin Johari was also screened much to the delight of the students. This was followed by a discussion session about the different issues raised in the film.
Best of all, all of the FreedomFilmFest DVDs we brought over for the students were sold out!
FreedomFilmFest would like to thank Mr. Azmyl Yunor and his colleagues for giving us the opportunity to introduce FreedomFilmFest to their students.
If YOU want FFF to come over to your college, please email freedomfilmfest@komas.org!
FreedomFilmFest Screening dates CONFIRMED!
Just in case you haven’t watch this yet, this video will pretty much tell you what FreedomFilmFest is all about over the years!
FreedomFilmFest screenings will be coming to a town near you in October!
KUALA LUMPUR: 3-5th October 2009
PENANG: 9-11th October 2009
KUCHING: 23-25th October 2009
JOHOR BAHRU: 30th October – 1st November 2009
We will definitely need your help to come and support us. If you are interested to become a volunteer, please send an email to freedomfilmfest@komas.org with your full details and city you want to volunteer.
Please visit this site again for a confirmation about the venues!
Embed the video on your blog(s) and facebook:
Win RM5,000 to make a film!
Greetings everyone!
FreedomFilmFest is back with the theme ‘Real Change?!’ To know more about our theme, please watch our thematic video here:
Now is YOUR chance to win RM5,000 to make a film about your story of change in Malaysia. All you need to do is to submit a short film proposal for our competition! Hurry! Deadline ends April 15,2009!
Already have a film made, do not fret! You can still submit it to us and stand a chance to win RM2,000!
For more details about the competition, please visit http://freedomfilmfest.komas.org/competition/competition/. You can also email freedomfilmfest@komas.org or call 03-79685415 if you have any questions.
Help us spread the word by promoting FFF on your blog!
JUDGES 2009
Ambiga Sreenevasan
Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan was the President of the Malaysian Bar from March 2007 to March 2009. She was called to the Malaysian Bar in 1982. She has been actively involved in commercial litigation and her present area of practice is Corporate, Intellectual Property and Industrial Law litigation. She has an active interest in human rights issues and has pursued these interests actively while in practice.
Haris Ibrahim
Fiona Lawson-Baker
Fiona Lawson-Baker is a Producer for Al Jazeera English, acquiring and commissioning documentaries from independent filmmakers across the Asia Pacific. Her priority is to find documentaries for Witness, the flagship documentary strand broadcast on Al Jazeera English. Fiona has worked in broadcast television since 1999. She began her television career at the BBC in London, where she gained experience across a broad range of factual television genres including current affairs, science and interactive specials. In 2003 Fiona attended the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) where she won several prestigious awards. Fiona then worked at SBS Television in Australia across production, commissioning and acquisitions. Fiona started her current position with Al Jazeera English in June 2008.
Anna Har
Anna Har specializes in developing community-based audiovisual units and support services for grassroots. Anna served as KOMAS Programme Coordinator for four years before pursuing her postgraduate to obtain a Masters in Visual Anthropology from Goldsmiths College, London. She has extensive experience in producing social documentaries about Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries. Anna was formerly the Creative Director of a Malaysian television production house and has since then established her own company Big Pictures Production.
FreedomFilmFest LONDON!
FREEDOMFILMFEST RETROSPECTIVE 2009
We are proud to announce that FreedomFilmFest is now in London!
The FreedomFilmFest Retrospective, which is scheduled to be on the 28th of March 2009 will be held at The Garden Court Chambers, London. For a map to the venue, please visit their website here.
True to the FFF spirit, the screenings of the Malaysian films touching on various social issues 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. If you are in the area or have friends in the area, please do let them know about this! If you are not, fret not! The FreedomFilmFest screenings in Malaysia will be held in October 2009!
Tickets would be sold at £5 each. For more details about the tickets and the FreedomFilmFest Retrospective or if you’re interest to be a volunteer, feel free to visit
http://freedomfilmfestlondon.blogspot.com or email komaslondon@gmail.com
Real Change?
Real Change?! In Malaysia?
Yes, you got that right. As you might already know, FreedomFilmFest is looking for stories of real change – after Malaysia’s 2008 general elections.
As depicted in our thematic video above, we see a woman being empowered after exercising her right as a Malaysian to vote. Are there changes in your life? Or is everything still the same ol’ story? It is all about what your perception of real change in Malaysia!
So why ‘Real Change?’ You see, we wanted to highlight the reawakening of the people’s power in bringing forth change to the nation. At the end of the day, we want Malaysians to realize that for change to happen – it must start within ourselves. As the famous quote by Gandhi goes, “Be the change you want to see in the world”.
During the launch of FreedomFilmFest2009 in February, different versions of Real Change stories have came out during the discussion. To some, nipping corruption is a sign of real change. Although it is not possible to end corruption in Malaysia overnight – it is a start. And for others, the increasing role of women in contributing to the development in Malaysia compared to years ago is a sign of real change!
Do keep in mind that these changes need not necessarily be political. It could be something you experience in your normal daily life – however mundane it may be, or maybe even at work or during class lectures. It could even be within yourself, did you suddenly feel more brave to voice out your thoughts since last year? Is the atmosphere in your classroom ‘different‘? If you are a lecturer or a teacher, did you see any changes among your students?
So, what are you waiting for?! Pen down your thoughts of real change and submit your proposals now! Your story could just be what we are looking for. Please click here for details.
