Brenda Danker, Edmund Bon, Abror Rivai, Justin Johari Azman, Benjamin Mckay, and Anna Har

YB Saari Sungib and family

Finally it’s official! The three winners of the KOMAS FreedomFilmFest (FFF) 2008 human rights film proposal making competition were announced tonight! The declaration was made together with the launching of KOMAS-produced human rights video ‘Mari Kita Beraktivism’, a series of short films featuring ordinary Malaysians and their experiences with human rights’.

They are:
• Abror Rivai for his proposal on “free and fair elections entitled “Pilihanraya Umum 12, Demokrasi atau Rebutan Kerusi”.

• Justin Johari for his proposal on “the state of music/art as a form of freedom of expression” – also titled “project x”.

• Poh Si Teng for her proposal on “sexual conformity�? in Malaysia

The panel of judges consisted of Edmund Bon, a prominent human rights lawyer; Dina Zaman, a renowned writer; Benjamin Mckay, a film lecturer at Monash University, and Brenda Danker, producer and director of production house, Big Pictures.

“These three film proposals were chosen firstly because they represent an investigation into democratic space, which may now be more accessible since the March 8th elections and secondly, they perhaps represent a positive change in the way Malaysia is coming to deal with its human rights issues,�? said Benjamin Mckay spokesperson for the FFF2008 judges.

Winners’ Profiles

Abror Rivai, 32, graduated from UiTM in Performing Arts, 2002. He is a contributor for cultural political magazine, Siasah, writing independent film reviews independent movie. He also directed Tanjong Kelang, a short film which was selected for the International Film Festival in Thailand and received critical acclaim from Cinemasia Film Festival in Amsterdam in 2005. He is deeply involved in activism and was part of the 2005 Asian Network for Free Election’s mission in Afghanistan as an international elections observer. He is currently an in-house writer and director for a new local production house.

Justin Johari, 28, is the manager of the aspiring Rap/Hip Hop group D&A. He has a Masters in Transnational Crime Prevention from the University of Wollongong, Australia and has experience in emcee work and theatre. He is also volunteer for the KL Bar Legal Aid.

Poh Si Teng, 23, is a born and bred Penangite but is currently working in the USA. A graduate of San Francisco State University, Poh Si’s interests in human rights and issues affecting society particularly identity and immigration, have led her to work with high profile media companies like the Associated Press in Miami and the New Straits Times in KL. Among her many talents as a writer and video journalist, Poh Si is also the Director and Founder of the Malaysian political and pop culture online magazine, the Cicak.

The votes are in and the results out. After a gruelling interview session with five of the shortlised film makers, of which one consisted of a Skype conference call overseas, (see, we at KOMAS are technologically advancing!) three filmmakers were chosen from some very interesting submissions indeed. But sadly only three can receive the RM5,000 to help turn their ideas into real and daring Human Rights films. A responsibility we hope they will all take very seriously. Anyway, I shall say no more as I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise. Join us on Friday from 7pm to 9pm when one of our four judges; Edmund Bon, Dina Zaman, Benjamin Mckay or Brenda Danker will officially announce the winners . Plus KOMAS will screen their newest Human Rights Video entitled “Mari Kita Beraktivism” – a series of short films about ordinary folks and their transforming experiences with Human Rights. Hope to see you all there fighting the good fight!