MIRI: Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) is organising its first film festival – the Kenyalang Film Festival (KFF) to be held on May 3-4 this year.
According to its Department of Media and Communication Programme Coordinator, Dr Ngu Ik Ying, the Kenyalang Film Festival is aimed at inspiring and empowering budding young filmmakers and video content creators in Borneo.
It also seeks to foster creative collaborations between academia, the media industry and local communities.
It is a pilot project under the department’s strategic plan to position Curtin Malaysia as a creative hub in Northern Sarawak and Borneo where collaborations could lead to award-winning creative projects, she added.
“Miri is in the centre of Borneo and thus is strategically located to attract and link creative minds and talents in Borneo. We hope that through the film festival, there will be a greater representation of Borneo and its diverse ethnicities on cinema screens and digital media, and that there will more interaction between the people of Borneo in developing an enduring and dynamic screen culture,” said Dr Ngu.
The film festival will comprise a category for secondary school and tertiary students, and an open category for aspiring filmmakers in the public. It is open to all residents of Malaysia, including international students and foreign residents, and participation is free of charge.
Curtin Malaysia’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Simon Leunig joined Dr Ngu in inviting aspiring filmmakers to participate in the film festival.
“It will not only be a fantastic platform to showcase your work but also offer you an opportunity to engage with and learn from experienced filmmakers, as well as potential industry employers and sponsors.
“It is an event run by young people for young people. As long as you are young at heart and passionate about films, you should join the Kenyalang Film Festival,” he said.
The Kenyalang Film Festival is being organised in collaboration with TV Sarawak by a group of Curtin Bachelor of Communications students who call themselves the Pineapple Media Team.
Film creators and enthusiasts can submit their short films and documentaries of any length and recorded using any device to the festival until March 31.
Those interested to participate in the Kenyalang Film Festival can register at https://bit.ly/KFFRegistration. For more information on the Kenyalang Film Festival, follow the Pineapple Media Team’s Instagram at @pineapplemediateam2022, email the team at pineapplemediateam2022@gmail.com, or contact organising chairperson Melody at 6019-210 3806.
