FreedomFilmFest is back for the 7th year! The two-day festival will feature 14 award winning Malaysian and international human rights documentaries. FreedomFilmFest 2010 will be held throughout the month of October and November, gracing cities across the nation including Petaling Jaya, Johor Bahru, Miri and Georgetown! Watch the winners trailer below.

The main premier of FreedomFilmFest 2010 held in Petaling Jaya, organised by KOMAS in cooperation with the Selangor State Government under the care of Exco Kebudayaan YB Rodziah Ismail.

FreedomFilmFest 2010

16 & 17 October, 2010

@

Menara PKNS

17 Jalan Yong Shook Lin, 46200 Petaling Jaya

(Nearby Asiajaya LRT or Taman Jaya LRT. MPPJ shuttle bus will be on regular rounds to and fro nearby LRT stations to screening venue. Look out for poster/banner on the bus.)

This is a private closed door event.

Please REGISTER ONLINE to get your FREE tickets.

FFF 2010

Film Screening Schedule and Synopsis

All thematic sessions will be followed by a 20min facilitated discussion with exciting and knowledgeable resource persons. So come prepared with your questions, if any, and participate and share!

Sat, 16 October

2pm

  • THE STORY OF HUMAN RIGHTS Produced By United For Human rights(UHR) (10mins)

This striking short film defines – simpls and concisely – one of the world’s most misunderstood subject – human rights . If you are human, this film is about you

  • EVERY MOTHER’S SON By Tami Gold and Kelly Anderson (52mins) 2004

In the late 1990s, three victims of police brutality made headlines around the country: Amadou Diallo, the young West African man whose killing sparked intense public protest; Anthony Baez, killed in an illegal choke-hold; and Gary (Gidone) Busch, a Hasidic Jew shot and killed outside his Brooklyn home. Every Mother’s Son profiles three New York mothers who unexpectedly find themselves united to seek justice and transform their grief into an opportunity for profound social change.

The grassroots movement they inspired in New York is challenging the militarization of law enforcement and the erosions of constitutional protections. When police kill someone under suspicious circumstances, the mothers assemble to help the family deal with its grief and to seek the truth and accountability. The mothers have also become advocates for police reforms, including better training and more citizen oversight, and have connected to a larger national movement against police brutality.

Emmy Nomination, Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Directing (2005)

Audience Award, Tribeca Films Festival (2004)

Cine Golden Eagle (2005)

Gold Plaque, Social Political Documentary, Hugo Awards (2005)

Award Finalist, IFP Spotlight on Documentary (2004 Independent Feature Film Market)

UrbanWorld Film Festival (2004)

3.30pm

  • RAUL THE TERRIBLE By David Bradbury(55mins) 2006

Raul Castells was born in the city of Che Guevara. He admires Che’s convictions. Raul is a walking, talking force of nature. He fights the Government, big business, and invades buildings and casinos. And he has good reason. The average Argentinian does not have a job, a roof over their head or any means to provide for their family.

Australian Film Institute Awards, Best Direction in a Documentary 2006

Australian Film Institute Awards, Best Editor in a Documentary 2006

Australian Directors Guild Award, Best Direction in a Documentary, 2007

5.00pm

  • URANIUM – IS IT A COUNTRY? By S. Auth, I. Huber, K. Schnatz (55mins)

Many countries including Malaysia has recently embarked on a nuclear energy plan. However, the public has yet to understand or engaged in meaningful debate on the issue. By looking at Australia’s experience of uranium mining, this film presents the opportunities and risks posed by the production of nuclear energy.

7.45pm

LAUNCH EVENT – Premiere of FreedomFilmFest 2010 winners


  • PILIH By Loo Que Lin (30mins) 2010

Are our universities empowering future generations to participate in a democratic society, or are they nurturing disempowered and indoctrinated youths? Using a popular talk show format, Pilih explores the issue of campus election and exposes the reality faced by our students. It gives us insight as to why our youths may be apathetic, and a micro-look as to how democracy functions in Malaysia.

  • HAK DINAFIKAN By Abri Yok Chupil & Shafie Bin Deris (30mins) 2010

On March 17, 2010 more than 2,000 Orang Asli marched in a rare protest against a proposed new land policy, believed to be detrimental to their people. This documentary- made by a team of orang asli – contains their voices; many who are speaking out for the first time. Hear what they have to say in their own words

  • KISAH TAUKE MANCIS DAN MINYAK TUMPAH By Sheridan Mahavera & Siti Nurbaiyah (30mins) 2010

This is a story a two communities and the relocation of a temple. This film takes a look behind its sensational headlines to understand how the dispute came to be. It reminds us how extremism can easily be fueled when we fail to understand the context of the dispute, and manage such situations beyond the emotions.

(Watch out for an exclusive interview with the filmmakers and more trailers on LoyarBurok.com!)

Sun, 17 October

12.00pm

  • HUTAN KEHIDUPAN KAMI By Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia & Centre for Orang Asli Concerns(30mins) 2010

Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) is a method that allows Indigenous people to assert their land rights and to demonstrate that they are capable of working together with government authorities to protect the forest and derive subsistence and identity from it.

This video is the result of the efforts of young indigenousvideographers from 4 communities in Sabah that are using CBNRM, aspart of a capacity building initiative of the Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia (JOAS).

2.00pm

  • MENCARI KARTIKA By Norhayati Kaprawi and Ucu Augustin (40mins) 2010

First-time filmmaker Norhayati Kaprawi was inspired to make “Mencari Kartika” after surveys by polling house Merdeka Center found a large majority of Muslims in Malaysia supported the caning of Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno for consuming alcohol. This documentary explores the Muslims’s perception of “justice” in the context of Malaysia that is lauded for its modern, progressive, multi-racial image.

3.30pm

  • SPECIAL PASS By Vicknesh Varan (24 min) 2009

Indian national Anthonysamy Charles found work as a cook at a restaurant in Singapore. However, he worked for long hours without rest, was refused overtime pay and had to endure verbal abuses from his employer. MOM (Ministry of Manpower) ordered that the workers stop work at the restaurant and a Special Pass was issued to them while the investigations were carried out. In a foreign land with families back home to support, we follow Charles and his colleagues as they attempt to seek shelter and work.

Best Documentary, Singapore Short Film Awards 2010

4.30pm

  • BUDAYA TAK TERBATAS (Borderless Culture) By Kampung Halaman & IPMKR-Y (31 mins)

Does culture have borders? Can a nation claim a culture to be uniquely theirs? This film explores how this issue is played out in the context of Indonesia and Malaysia- two countries that share the similar malay culture.

5.30pm

  • HONGSHA’S SCHOOL BAG (25mins)

A touching short film based on the real experiences of life as an indigenous burmese migrant child who dreams of going to school in Thailand.

  • BURMA’S HIDDEN KILLERS By Sam Kalayanee (30mins)

The majority of landmine victims in Burma are not soldiers but civilians. This film gives us a rare glimpse of life in closed-door Burma where its people are still suffering from the effects of landmine usage.

8.15pm

  • PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL By Abigail E. Disney and Gini Reticker (72mins) 2008

Pray the Devil Back to Hell is a multi award winning documentary about the gripping account of a group of brave, visionary women who demanded peace for Liberia, a nation torn to shreds by a decade-old civil war. The women’s historic yet unsung achievement finds voice in a narrative that intersperses contemporary interviews, archival images, and scenes of present-day Liberia to recount the experiences and memories of the women who were instrumental in bringing lasting peace to their country.

2008 Tribeca Film Festival – Best Documentary

2008 Silverdocs – Witness Award

2008 Heartland Film Festival – Crystal Heart Award for Best Documentary Feature

2008 St. Louis International Film Festival – Best Documentary in the Interfaith Category

2008 My Media Award from the My Hero Festival

2009 Santa Barbara International Film Festival – Social Justice Award for Documentary Film

2009 Cinema for Peace – The Cinema for Peace Award for Justice

2009 One World International Human Rights Festival, Prague – Rudolf Vrba Award in the Right to Know Competition

2009 Women’s Film Festival, Brattleboro, VT – Best of Fest

2009 Wilbur Award – Film Documentary for 2009

2009 Movies that Matter Festival – Golden Butterfly

(and many more)


Check out our WEBSITE freedomfilmfest.komas.org for more screenings in Miri, JB, Penang, Annexe etc. Do email us [email protected] if you’re interested to host your own screening party on our behalf at your OWN hometown!

FreedomFilmFest 2010 is funded by the European Union in cooperation with Konrad Adenaur Stiftung.

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