MELBOURNE, Sept 24 — Yasmin Ahmad, the highly-acclaimed Malaysian film producer and director, may be gone but the tributes keep pouring in.
This year’s 3rd Australian Malaysian Film Festival to be held at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) here on Oct 4-7 is a case in point. It will open and close with the screening of her films, “Talentime” and “Muallaf” (The Convert).
“It is to celebrate her world-class body of work, which was always rich in substance and even richer in integrity,” said Kate Stephens, one of the organisers of the festival along with Ade Djajamihardja.
Yasmin, 51, who died after a massive stroke on July 26, is often regarded as Malaysia’s most celebrated film export as her films and advertisements had received many awards and special mentions at prestigious international film festivals, including those in Berlin, Cannes, Tokyo, San Francisco and Pusan.
“Yasmin’s films are laced with positive messages on racial integration that cross conventional cultural barriers. Because of this trait, she was at times surrounded by controversy and harsh criticism. Nevertheless, Yasmin always remained stoic in her belief that all people are seen as equals in the eyes of God,” said Ade.
“When asked about the themes of each of her films, Yasmin would always declare that they were about humanity and love — the two most important elements of mankind. I am very proud to have known her personally as a friend,” he added.
The opening night, which will feature Malaysian cultural music and dances, and cuisine, will end with Yasmin’s “Talentime”, her most recent work.
At the Malaysian Film Festival earlier this year, she received the best director award for “Talentime”, a love story about an Indian boy and a mixed-race Malay girl who met and fell in love during a talentime contest.
“This marque event will provide us with the opportunity to see some of Malaysia’s best movies and facilitate greater understanding of the Malaysian society, history and culture from stories told through Malaysian eyes,” said Stephens.
This year’s film festival is also part of the inaugural “Malaysia Week”, an initiative of various Malaysian student organisations in Australia to benefit some 7,500 Malaysian students in Australia, from Sept 27 and Oct 13.
Although there is always great interest in the festival from Malaysians living in Australia, especially students, special efforts are being made to encourage more Australian students to attend, especially those studying regional languages, culture and international relations.
The films chosen this year are from numerous genres — ranging from comedy to animation, action adventure and melodrama.
“We have chosen highly acclaimed films that not only showcase the rapidly developing technical expertise of the Malaysian film industry, but also their high entertainment value,” said Farah Azalea, the festival’s media liaison officer.
They include “Geng the Movie”; the highly acclaimed “Cicakman 2” and a short film, “My Telatori”, a work created by students of The One Academy of Malaysia which won the Best Animation award at this year’s Malaysian Film Festival.
Another film of interest is “Pensil”, a moving story of a handicapped man’s quest to succeed in life while faced with severe prejudice and adversity.
The festival will end with “Muallaf” (The Convert), another movie made by Yasmin in 2008, which tells of two Muslim sisters who escape from their abusive father to form an unlikely relationship with a Catholic boy carrying a very dark past. — Bernama
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