Venue ACMI Cinemas: Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square,
Flinders Street, Melbourne
Date: 2nd – 6th October 2010
Bringing you the best in Malaysian cinema .. critically acclaimed and award winning ..
GALA LAUNCH NIGHT
Saturday 2nd October 2010
Reception: 7.00 pm
Official launch: 7.15 pm
Malaysia Kitchen food event: 8.00 pm
The gala launch night will feature guest speakers, special performances, and an art exhibition dedicated to one of Malaysia’s visionary film director Yasmin Ahmad, as well as authentic Malaysian cuisine from 5 selected Malaysian restaurants.
OPENING NIGHT FILM
Saturday, 2nd October 2010 , 9 pm
FOOD FILMS, presented by Fried Chillies Media
Favorite 5 Street Burgers
6 minutes
Malaysia has its very own street burger culture! It is truly unique and we love it not because of the predominantly processed Ramly patties.
It’s because of the individuality within the technique of cooking and the variety of embellishments our street-side entrepreneurs employ to make their customers hanker for more.
RABUN
Director: Yasmin Ahmad
Producer: Rosnah Kassim
Duration: 85 minutes
Special Note: “Rabun” is Yasmin Ahmad’s first ever telemovie, and to date has never been released on the big screen in Malaysia. Rabun, which translates to “blurry eyed”, was made after Yasmin’s father fell ill and became partially blind after contracting diabetes. It is a sweet tale of a free-spirited elderly couple’s life and their transition from the city to the village; one they assumed would be less complicated.
Like all films by Yasmin Ahmad, her portrayal of romance between an elderly couple is not one often represented in Malaysian cinema. Yasmin’s very first attempt at filmmaking was a personal depiction of the functions of her own family and it is in this film that the character Orked (named after her sister) was first introduced. This character later appeared in 3 out of 5 films directed by Yasmin Ahmad before her untimely passing on July 25th, 2009.
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Sunday, 3rd October 2010, 7 pm
THE INVIGILATOR
Director: Manesh Nesaratnam
Producer: Amy Lim Pei Yen and Roshan Ravichandran
Duration: 11 minutes 54 seconds
Special Note: “The Invigilator” is a light-hearted clash of pedagogical perspectives and at the same time it echoes societies’ frustrations with the inadequacies of available education systems. Starring local celebrities Cheryl Samad and Tony Eusoff.
15 MALAYSIA
Director (s): Yasmin Ahmad, Benji Lim and Bahir Yeusuff , Liew Seng Tat, James Lee, Khairil Bahar, Mussadiq and Jordan Suleiman, Tan Chui Mui, Ho Yuhang, Linus Chung, Nam Ron, Amir Muhammad, Desmong Ng, Kamal Sabran, Woo Ming Jin, Johan John
Producer: Pete Teo
Duration: 80 minutes
Special Note: “15Malaysia” is a collective short film project that features 15 films made by 15 Malaysian filmmakers, and was originally released on the Internet. The film features some of the best known faces in Malaysia including actors, musicians and top political leaders, such as Nik Aziz (Islamic Party PAS’ Spiritual Leader) and Khairy Jamaluddin (Head of UMNO’s Youth Wing Party). These films deal with various socio political issues in Malaysia. “15Malaysia” was screened at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival in 2009 to widespread acclaim.
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Sunday 3rd October 2010, 8.45 pm
Film/Acting Workshop with Hans Isaac 
(following screening of 15 Malaysia’s screening and Q&A)
Limited to 70 seats
Hans Isaac is one of Malaysia’s most acclaimed actors, directors and producers. He has been involved in the industry since the early 90s and has starred in many TV and theatre productions and over 20 films. His directing debut, CUCI won the Best Screenplay and Best New Director award in the 2008 Malaysian Film Festival. After the success of the film, CUCI was adapted into a musical which has just enjoyed its second successful run in July-August 2010. Hans has also won several acting awards including the Malaysian of The Year 2009/2010 Award for August Magazine.
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Monday, 4th October 2010, 7 pm
FOOD FILMS, presented by Fried Chillies Media
Soong Kee Beef Balls
8 minutes
What makes the most delicious beef balls? Join Kayli as she hangs out with the great people at Soong Kee, a local beef ball institution and discover the dedication to the craft of making top-notch bouncy beef balls.
SELL OUT!
Director: Yeo Joon Han
Producer: Yeo Joon Han
Duration: 110 minutes
Special Note: “Sell Out!” is director Yeo Joon Han’s debut feature film. In a clever and sometimes surreal mix of the musical, parody and art house genres, the film directly highlights both the evils of capitalism and the shameless pretensions of “art”. Joon Han depicts the psyche and way of life of many urban cosmopolitan Malaysian with stylized exaggeration, but in a manner that still resonates with today’s reality.
The sheer cleverness and the imaginative audacity of “Sell Out!” ensured the film’s rave reviews from prestigious film festivals around the world, including Melbourne International Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Barcelona Asian Film Festival and winner of the Netpac Award at the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival.
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Tuesday, 5th October 2010, 7 pm
FOOD FILMS, presented by Fried Chillies Media
The Good Ship S.S. Ali
8 minutes
Ever wondered how does your favorite popia place make those soft skins that burst with delicious fillings? Our host Riz was lucky enough to meet the main man of S.S. Ali and watch in awe at his dexterity, technique and speed. It’s all in the wrist folks!
NIYANG RAPIK
Director: Ahmad Idham
Producer: Azlan Shah Jaffril
Duration: 90 minutes
Special Note: “Niyang Rapik” is a supernatural and black magic driven suspense horror that follows the plight of four young men in their attempt to undo a sin from the past, which was committed by their recently deceased friend.
Their journey takes them back to an isolated rural village and unwittingly deeper into a world where spirits and jinn’s from the supernatural world play a powerful and very real role. In unveiling the truth of the past, the lines begin to blur between what is real and what is imagined, and the torment from the surrounding demons and those from within.
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Wednesday, 6th October 2010, 6.30 pm
FOOD FILMS, presented by Fried Chillies Media
World’s best Malaysian Restaurants
What does it take to leave all that is familiar and go into the restaurant business in a foreign country? Find out what motivates our restaurateurs overseas, their challenges and their innovative take on Malaysian dishes to excite the taste buds of their clienteles in this short film.
MALAYSIA KITCHEN FOOD EVENT & CLOSING CEREMONY 8.30 PM
SETEM
Director: Kabir Bhatia
Producer: Gayatri Su-Lin Pillai
Duration: 108 minutes
Special Note: “Setem” is an action comedy film of a heist planned by several gangs to obtain a valuable stamp valued at $4 million dollars. The stamp was actually wrongly designed and was thrown away by the Malacca Governer, Lord Arthus Barring in 1847 but was collected by his grandchildren.
Various groups including con men orphans, former prisoners and illegal moneylenders set their sights on the stamp during the exhibition at the Malacca museum. Their plan was however made more complicated by obstacles along the way. “Setem” won several awards at the 22nd Malaysian Film Festival 2009 and was very well received in the cinemas.
