Saturday, March 21, 2015

Kuching to host Asean International Film Festival and Awards 2015 on April 9–11


KUCHING: The city will come alive with cinematic magic at the second Asean International Film Festival and Awards (Aiffa), set to take place from April 9 to 11.

Themed Aiffa Movies and Networking Inspire Asean (Aiffa Mania), this second edition will see a star-studded list of celebrities which includes Nora Aunor and the Giuterrezz family from the Philippines, Zay Yar Aung (Myanmar), Pongsatorn Jongwilas (Thailand), Chy Thmor (Cambodia), Mello-Pham Thi Nhung, Siu Pham (Vietnam), Hanung Bramantyo (Indonesia), Tony Kern (Singapore), Datuk Yusoff Haslam (Malaysian Film Producers Association president) and chief juror U-Wei Saari (Malaysia).

“This Asean festival will definitely promote arts and performance in the state and country,” said its host Sarawak Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Korean film celebrities have also decided to ‘invade’ Kuching with a delegation of 11 directors making their way to Aiffa 2015.

The internationally popular ‘Running Man’ series will also be making an appearance in Sarawak, with its team checking out the Bakun Dam as a possible location.

Aiffa 2015 will also feature K-pop stars Nolza at Sarawak Cultural Village and at the gala dinner.

Ten member nations will use Aiffa 2015 as a platform to showcase, compete and collaborate with their best offering of films.

Aiffa is a growing film festival, which made its debut in 2013. The biannual event celebrates the best of films from around Asean region.

“We are very pleased with the participation of our Asean neighbours. Kuching is set to sparkle in the world map of the film industry,” Aiffa festival director Livan Tajang remarked.

Meanwhile, the ‘Awesome Sarawak’ short film competition, run in collaboration with Angkatan Zaman Mansang (Azam), will also be held in conjunction with Aiffa 2015.

Open to Sarawakians, this competition is rewarding winners with prizes of RM5,000, RM3,000 and RM2,000 sponsored by Sarawak Energy Bhd and Faradale Management.

Pre-event activities have already begun in Kuching with the free screening of films at the waterfront since early February.

The three-day event will see three programmes specially designed for film enthusiasts, academics, students and nature lovers.

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