‘FFF 2010: News’
Twelve 11
Documentary Highlight
In remembrance of the Highland Towers tragedy that hapenned on Dec 11,1993, we would like to highlight ‘Twelve 11″, FreedomFilmFest’s Most Outstanding Human Rights Film of 2006.
This film, Twelve 11 was made by Loh Yin San & Claudia Theophilus.
Watch this film online now at:
Twelve 11 from Pusat KOMAS on Vimeo.
WATCH FILM: VIMEO or ENGAGEMEDIA
Film synopsis:
A tragedy of a magnitude never before seen in Malaysia had claimed 48 lives and shocked a nation. In unravelling the mystery surrounding the incident, Twelve 11 questions whether the loss of life and property could have been avoided. The aim is also to expose a legal loophole that begs urgent action in the call for justice.
Duration: 22 mins.
Share this film with your friends, embed it on Facebook and your blogs!
FFF at THE ANNEXE GALLERY
FreedomFilmFest2010 made it’s way back to The Annexe Gallery last weekend for the screening of the FFF2010 winning films in Kuala Lumpur!
Despite the heavy rain outside, the event started to a full house of audience who braved their way to watch the screening of the films.
The night started with an introduction by Maisarah Muhd Najib, FreedomFilmFest2010 coordinator who spoke briefly about the background of KOMAS, the organiser of this annual film festival as well as the history of FFF.
All of the three winning films screened – Pilih by Loo Que Lin; Hak Dinafikan by Abri Yok Chopil & Shafie bin Dris and Kisah Tauke Mancis & Minyak Tumpah by Sheridan Mahavera & Siti Nurbaiyah – was followed by a Q&A discussion whereby all of the filmmakers were present. Facilitated by Maisarah and Anna Har, Board of Director of KOMAS – the discussion sessions were fairly intense and had to be cut short due to lack of time.
FreedomFilmFest2010 would like to thank the host, THE ANNEXE GALLERY and all supporters of FreedomFilmFest who made the screenings a success throughout the year.
FFF2010 PENANG

The last leg of FFF2010!
The FreedomFIlmFest2010 was in Penang for the last leg of the two-day film festival on the 13 & 14 November, 2010.

Anna Har introducing KOMAS

Audiences listening to the discussion
Hosted at Caring Society Complex, this year’s Penang FFF2010 was co-organised with SUARAM PENANG in co-operation with the PENANG STATE GOVERNMENT. KOMAS is proud to announce that the tremendous support by the local authorities for civil societies in fostering social and human rights awareness among the public is one step closer to the change we need in society.

YB Wong Hong Wai, EXCO Kesenian launching FFF2010 PENANG
The main highlight of the two-day festival, which was the premier of the winning films in Penang was a hit among the Penangites. Over a hundred people thronged the heavy downpour outside the screening venue to catch the filmmakers live in action after the screening of their films.

Winner Que Lin assisting the team to document the night
As per the opening of the film festival in Petaling Jaya, films touching on various issues such as the rights of the migrant workers, application of Islamic laws in Malaysia and the rights of the poor was also screened in Penang.

Member of the audience sharing her views
KOMAS would like to thank everyone who dropped by the festival throughout the two-days, including those who traveled all the way from Kuala Lumpur because they couldn’t make it for the premier in Petaling Jaya!
Do check out this space for updates on how you can download the winning films soon!

Farewell for the FFF Penang team!
FFF2010 BAKUN
- KOMAS Freedom Film Fest goes to BAKUN Sarawak
KOMAS’ FreedomFilmFest has been journeying into grassroots communities including deep and remote communities to share the excitement and enlightenment from social human rights films. This is in line with our approach to “bring the film festival to the people”. By venturing into these grassroots communities we could share these films with people who would seldom have the opportunity to watch such social and human rights films.
Armed with a copies of DVDs, a video projector and DVD player, the KOMAS team together with Sarawak counterpart PANGGAU (a community-based organisation), made the long and bumpy road to the interiors of Bakun. The team made camp in Sungai Asap, Bakun to screen films to a mixed audience of indigenous peoples residing there.
Sg. Asap is a very interesting but sad tale because the few thousand people residing there were part of a massive displacement exercise by the State and Federal Government in the 1990’s when the Government pursued the construction of the trouble stricken Bakun Dam, said to be the largest in the South east Asian region.
The one night screening was attended by more than 200 people, including women children and elderly people. Tribal leaders and ordinary people all huddled together excitedly waiting for the big screen to work its magic, and it did!
One of the winning films, “Hak di Nafikan” (Rights Denied) especially touched their hearts because the film was about the Orang Asli in west Malaysia who faced similar land issues very close to their reality because they both share the same fate as victims of indigenous peoples whose ancestral lands have been forcibly taken from them
Another film “Ke Arah Hutan Lestari” (Towards Sustainable Forest), an informative documentary film produced by a local Malaysian NGO working together with local grassroots peoples in Sabah was also screened. The film talked about ways the indigenous peoples used their traditional knowledge to sustain and manage their forest and their natural resources.
The team also took the opportunity to screen another relevant but controversial film by former NTV7 film Producer Chou Z Lam regarding the Bakun Dam. It gave a glimpse of their issue viewed through the eyes of a West Malaysian. The audience had some counter views and opinions which were voiced out during the discussion which followed after the screening.
Of course the topic of land and displacement was the hot issue of the night because of its relevance and urgency these Sg Asap folks who have been living in the relocation settlement for the past 10 years or more. From the discussion, we could feel their sense of lost and plight as indigenous peoples’ who have lost their ancestral lands.
This unique experience in Sg Asap proved to be an eye opener and a valuable experience for the young staff members of the KOMAS team. Not only were we able to share our films with them but we also learnt a lot through our interaction with them and found out a lot about their lives and struggles living in Sg Asap Sarawak.






