Hazel Jasni
KUCHING: The three-day Asean International Film Festival and Awards (Aiffa) 2013 kicks off at Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) today with a 20-hour non-stop screening of films.
Called ‘Movies in the Rainforest’, film lovers will have a chance to view 100 excellent movies from Southeast Asia as well as some international films at just RM18.
Scheduled to start at 12 noon today, the movie marathon ends tomorrow morning.
Movies to be screened include Taxi!!Taxi!! (Singapore), The Boat Between Two Rivers in Bangka Ha Ut Sin Duwa Sapah (Philippines), Cinta Tapi Beda (Indonesia), Ada Apa Dengan Rina (Brunei), Kayan Beauties (Myanmar), Attahasa (India), The Down Home Alien Blues (United States of America) and Beyond Redemption (The Visitors) (Australia).
World Comm public relations and advertising manager Hazel Jasni yesterday said the ticket to the movie marathon can be obtained at SCV or World Comm Kuching office at Wisma Bukit Mata Kuching here.
At the media briefing on Aiffa 2013, she said Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg is expected to grace the opening ceremony at SCV tonight.
World Comm is the organiser of Aiffa to be held from March 28 to 30 here. It is endorsed by the state Ministry of Tourism and supported by federal ministries including Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture and Filem Negara Malaysia (Finas).
Apart from that, there would also be special screenings at Damai Central and Sarawak Tourism Complex.
Meanwhile, a two-day Aiffa 2013 seminar and exhibition would start from 9am to 5pm tomorrow at Pullman Hotel here.
Gary Levinsohn, executive producer for ‘The Patriot’, ‘Saving Private Ryan’, ‘Snakes on a Plane’ and ‘Jack Reacher’ is expected to conduct a workshop at the seminar apart from other notable filmmakers such as Kymber Lim, the visual effects producer for movies such as ‘Spiderman 2’ and ‘Mission Impossible II’ and Ted Kim, producer of ‘Love Lust’ and ‘Famous Crime Scene’.
The highlight of the event would be the Aiffa 2013 gala night at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on March 30.
Themed ‘Black and White Borneo’, a total 16 awards will be presented including Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Visual Effects, Best Screenplay and The Lifetime Achievement Award.
Malaysian-born Hollywood and Hong Kong movie star Datuk Michelle Yeoh is expected to attend the gala night to be graced by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
For more information on Aiffa 2013, call the toll free number 1800-88-96753 or visit the website www.aseanfilmfest.com.