Special thanks to Pusat Komas for making Pecah Lobang possible

October 12, 2008 – 3:16 am

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Check out photos from FFF’s photo stream. There are separate sets for KL, Penang, JB and Kuching.

Special thanks to Leong Mei Yee, Elaine Foster, Brenda Danker, Anna Har, Chi Too and the Freedom Film Fest support staff and volunteers. “Pecah Lobang” and the Freedom Film Fest wouldn’t have been possible without them.

Freedom Film Fest is organized by Pusat Komas, a non-profit social justice media organization based in the Klang Valley. Every year, Pusat Komas awards three filmmakers RM5,000 each to produce documentaries about human rights in Malaysia. The films usually cover issues that are often deemed too “sensitive” by local mainstream media.

The three winning films in 2008 were:
Abror Rivai’s “Pilihanraya Umum Malaysia ke-12: Demokerasi atau rebutan kerusi,” which compares the election process in Malaysia, South Korea and Afghanistan; Justin Johari’s “Who Speaks For Me,” about a Muslim hip hop group searching for its voice in Islam; and of course, “Pecah Lobang.”

The festival also brings in other human rights documentaries from around the world. This year’s film selection included John Pilger’s “The War on Democracy” and William Neesen’s “Black Road.”

And it’s free! Festival go-ers do not have to pay a single cent to catch the films and interact with the filmmakers.

In addition to organizing the annual film festival, Pusat Komas also shoots and archives footage of various political, social issues that do not make it to mainstream media, as they are deemed too controversial by government-affiliated news networks and organizations.

Founded in 1993, the non-profit runs on a shoe-string budget and are dependent on individual donors and organizations like Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.

Without funding, there is no festival. Without continuous financial support, there won’t be anyone to care for archival footage that you won’t find anywhere else in Malaysia.

If you would like to support Pusat Komas please contact:
Pusat Komas (Community Communication Centre)
40-A, Jalan 52/18,
46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: 603-7968 5415
Email: freedomfilmfest@gmail.com

Terima kasih, kam siah, xièxie, nandri for your support.

Sincerely,
Poh Si

By pohsiteng | Posted in Updates | Comments (0)

DVD Pecah Lobang/FFF2008 available

September 29, 2008 – 2:54 pm

The “Pecah Lobang”/FFF2008 DVD is now available.

If you are in Malaysia:
- The price of one DVD is RM20 if you collect it directly from the filmmaker who lives in PJ/KL.
- If you want it shipped to your mailing address, it will cost RM20 + RM5 (shipping and packaging).
- Contact the filmmaker directly at pohsiteng@gmail.com

If you are NOT in Malaysia:
- The price of one DVD is US$15 + US$5 (shipping and packaging).
- For each additional DVD, US$1 (shipping and packaging) will be added to your total bill.
- You can purchase it via PayPal by clicking on the button below.

Thank you for supporting an independent filmmaker!

DVD — Pecah Lobang (FFF2008)





By pohsiteng | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Get your tickets — Pecah Lobang final screening at FFF Penang

September 23, 2008 – 7:08 am

Colours of Penang (Photo by moniquz)
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The Freedom Film Fest comes to a close in Penang next weekend.

“Pecah Lobang” is screening Saturday, 28 Sept. at Wawasan Open University on Northam Road. There will be a Q&A session after.

Look forward to bringing it home. See you.

Please make reservations with FFF coodinator, Elaine Foster: freedomfilmfest@gmail.com

State screening date, time and number of tickets in e-mail. You will need to arrive at 7:30 p.m. to collect your free tickets.

By pohsiteng | Posted in Updates | Comments (0)

Audience at Pecah Lobang and LGBT film screenings in Johor adopt negative stance

September 16, 2008 – 5:46 am

I couldn’t make it for the “Pecah Lobang” screening in Johor Bahru.

Friends from Komas said there was a heated discussion after.

Here’s an excerpt from a post on Yawning Bread about how the audience at the Freedom Film Fest responded to the LGBT films, including “Pecah Lobang”:

“… Islam figured strongly again during question time following three queer (LGBT) films. Except for two Malaysian women in the audience who identified as gay, almost all the other Malaysians who spoke adopted a negative stance, usually based on their religion, be it Islam or Christianity.

One young woman in a headscarf argued that in Islam, a person is not complete until he or she marries and procreates, and that is why being homosexual is wrong, because it frustrates the possibility of completion.

A young man, asked whether he would marry someone he couldn’t love — something often demanded of gay people — evaded the question, saying it was “hypothetical,” without explaining why he thought it was so.

The same negative attitude was seen after the screening of “Pecah Lobang,” Read More »

By pohsiteng | Posted in In the news, Updates | Comments (1)

Pecah Lobang photos at the Freedom Film Fest in KL

September 9, 2008 – 4:49 pm

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Hosts Effa and Fahmi at the Freedom Film Fest Night III (Photo from FFF)

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Taking home the Justin Louis Award.

With Brenda Danker from Big Pictures Production (Photo from FFF)

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Freedom Film Fest attendees (Photo from FFF)

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With Kak Ann and Natasha at the premier of “Pecah Lobang”

By pohsiteng | Posted in Updates | Comments (0)

Ongline Podcast: Pecah Lobang director on Mak Nyahs, apum and returning to Malaysia

September 8, 2008 – 12:56 am

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This is by far the most entertaining, enjoyable interview.

Penangite John Ong runs OnglinePodcast.com out of Kansas City. He kept me cracking up throughout the 45-minute interview. :)

We talked about “Pecah Lobang,” Mak Nyahs, apums, Penang-lang, visa issues and coming home.

Click on this link to hear the podcast

Enjoy!

By pohsiteng | Posted in In the news | Comments (0)

Pecah Lobang goes to Johor Bahru 13 September

September 7, 2008 – 4:09 pm

See you in Johor Bahru! Hope our friends in Singapore can join us too.

Johor Bahru (13 Sept. 2008) - 8:00 p.m.
Tropical Inn Johor Bahru
15 Jalan Gereja
80100 Johor Bahru, Johor
Tel: 07-224 7888

Please make reservations by sending an e-mail to: freedomfilmfest@gmail.com

State screening date, time and number of tickets in e-mail. You will need to arrive by 7:30 p.m. to collect your free tickets.

By pohsiteng | Posted in Updates | Comments (1)

Pecah Lobang screening Q&A — Why I didn’t answer several questions

September 7, 2008 – 7:02 am

Firstly, thank you so much for coming to the screening. I’m really glad that so many of you, especially those from the Mak Nyah community decided to support the documentary.

I’m sorry that I didn’t answer several questions about how I feel and where I want the issue to go. It’s not that I don’t have an opinion or am not informed.

It’s just that as a journalist, I strongly feel that it’s not my place to publicly talk about my opinion.

It’s about the Mak Nyahs, the religious officials, the registrar and the police. Ask them what they think and how they feel.

And ask yourself those same questions now that you’ve watched “Pecah Lobang,” and share them so that we all grow together.

Pertama sekali, saya ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kerana hadir ke tayangan perdana “Pecah Lobang.” Saya amat terharu apabila ramai daripada anda, terutamanya daripada komuniti mak nyah telah berkeputusan untuk menyokong dokumentari ini.

Saya juga ingin memohon maaf kerana tidak menjawab beberapa soalan tentang ke mana saya ingin membawa isu ini. Walau bagaimanapun, itu tidak bermakna saya tidak mempunyai pendapat saya sendiri.

Sebaliknya, sebagai seorang wartawan saya merasakan bahawa saya tidak patut mencampur-adukkan pendapat saya dengan laporan saya.

Dokumentari ini adalah mengenai komuniti Mak Nyah, penguatkuasa agama, Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara serta pihak polis. Segala soalan harus ditujukan kepada mereka.

Kemudian, tanyakan soalan-soalan tersebut kepada diri anda sendiri dan kongsikan pendapat anda dengan masyarakat. Harapan saya adalah supaya kita akan matang bersama-sama dengan perkongsian itu.

By pohsiteng | Posted in Updates | Comments (0)

Important: Ticket reservations for Pecah Lobang

September 3, 2008 – 6:29 am

Please send FFF coordinator Elaine Foster an e-mail to make reservations for the screening of “Pecah Lobang.”

Her e-mail address is: freedomfilmfest@gmail.com

State in your e-mail the screening date, time that you would like to attend. Please be advised that you need to claim your free ticket at least 20 minutes before each screening.

Many thanks and see you Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

By pohsiteng | Posted in Updates | Comments (2)

NTV7 — Pecah Lobang director on Mak Nyahs, expectations and the Freedom Film Fest

September 3, 2008 – 12:39 am

Part 1 - NTV7’s The Breakfast Show

Part 2

By pohsiteng | Posted in In the news | Comments (0)